Commercial Baby Food has more nutrients than homemade baby food

Myth: Commercial Baby Food is more Nutritious than Homemade Baby Food

Truth:  We have complied a comparison of nutrients for Commercial Baby Food and Homemade Baby Food to show you that Homemade Baby Food is not nutritionally inferior to commercial baby food.  To make these comparison of commercial baby food nutrients versus simple homemade baby food (sweet potato in this instance) we utilised the USDA Nutrient Database.  Our Search Terms were:

(1) Sweet Potato - Commercial Baby food, vegetables, sweet potatoes strained - .14 per 100 grams = 14 grams

(2) Sweet potato, cooked, baked in skin, without salt .14 per 100 grams = 14 grams

14 grams is approximately equal to 1 tablespoon when considering a liquid or fluid substance.  Technically, tablespoons cannot be measured in grams as a measure of a tablespoon is for volume, not for weight.  Most often the conversion of grams to tablespoons applies to dry goods.

Have a look for yourself!

The table below outlines the nutritional makeup of commercial strained Sweet Potato baby food

Baby food, vegetables, sweet potatoes strained
Refuse: 0%  
Scientific Name: 
NDB No: 03108 (Nutrient values and weights are for edible portion)

Nutrient (1)	Units	1.00 X 1 tbsp ------- 14g
Proximates
Water	g	11.87
Energy	kcal	8
Energy	kj	33
Protein	g	0.15
Total lipid (fat)	g	0.01
Ash	g	0.11
Carbohydrate, by difference	g	1.85
Fiber, total dietary	g	0.2
Sugars, total	g	0.57
Minerals
Calcium, Ca	mg	2
Iron, Fe	mg	0.05
Magnesium, Mg	mg	2
Phosphorus, P	mg	3
Potassium, K	mg	37
Sodium, Na	mg	3
Zinc, Zn	mg	0.03
Copper, Cu	mg	0.011
Fluoride, F	mcg	0.1
Selenium, Se	mcg	0.1
Vitamins
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid	mg	1.4
Thiamin	mg	0.004
Riboflavin	mg	0.005
Niacin	mg	0.050
Pantothenic acid	mg	0.055
Vitamin B-6	mg	0.013
Folate, total	mcg	1
Folic acid	mcg	0
Folate, food	mcg	1
Folate, DFE	mcg_DFE	1
Vitamin B-12	mcg	0.00
Vitamin B-12, added	mcg	0.00
Vitamin A, IU	IU	901
Vitamin A, RAE	mcg_RAE	45
Retinol	mcg	0
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)	mg	0.07
Vitamin E, added	mg	0.00
Vitamin K (phylloquinone)	mcg	0.2

The table below outlines the nutritional makeup of a baked Sweet Potato - without using the skin

Sweet potato, cooked, baked in skin, without salt
Refuse: 22%  (Skin)
Scientific Name: 
NDB No: 11508 (Nutrient values and weights are for edible portion)

Nutrient (2)	Units	Value per 14 grams	Number of Data Points
Proximates
Water	g	10.61	8
Energy	kcal	13	0
Energy	kj	53	0
Protein	g	0.28	4
Total lipid (fat)	g	0.02	5
Ash	g	0.19	4
Carbohydrate, by difference	g	2.90	0
Fiber, total dietary	g	0.5	4
Sugars, total	g	0.91	0
Sucrose	g	0.32	12
Glucose (dextrose)	g	0.08	12
Fructose	g	0.07	12
Lactose	g	0.00	4
Maltose	g	0.44	0
Galactose	g	0.00	0
Starch	g	0.99	4
Minerals
Calcium, Ca	mg	5	67
Iron, Fe	mg	0.10	68
Magnesium, Mg	mg	4	68
Phosphorus, P	mg	8	67
Potassium, K	mg	66	68
Sodium, Na	mg	5	68
Zinc, Zn	mg	0.04	68
Copper, Cu	mg	0.023	68
Manganese, Mn	mg	0.070	68
Selenium, Se	mcg	0.0	58
Vitamins
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid	mg	2.7	4
Thiamin	mg	0.015	3
Riboflavin	mg	0.015	4
Niacin	mg	0.208	4
Pantothenic acid	mg	0.124	4
Vitamin B-6	mg	0.040	4
Folate, total	mcg	1	4
Folic acid	mcg	0	0
Folate, food	mcg	1	4
Folate, DFE	mcg_DFE	1	0
Choline, total	mg	1.8	0
Betaine	mg	4.8	2
Vitamin B-12	mcg	0.00	0
Vitamin B-12, added	mcg	0.00	0
Vitamin A, IU	IU	2691	0
Vitamin A, RAE	mcg_RAE	135	0
Retinol	mcg	0	0
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)	mg	0.10	3
Vitamin E, added	mg	0.00	0
Tocopherol, beta	mg	0.00	3
Tocopherol, gamma	mg	0.00	3
Tocopherol, delta	mg	0.00	3
Vitamin K (phylloquinone)	mcg	0.3	3

Information complied from the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference

 

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