It’s important to note that the dietary needs of children are different from adults. Children are not mini adults; they require different nutrients and a different balance of nutrients. Children eat smaller portions and therefore need nutrient dense foods such as whole-fat milk and dairy, meats, and eggs. The period of child’s early life is particularly important for brain and functional development. A poor diet providing either insufficient energy or an insufficient amount of specific nutrients can have an adverse effect on both growth and development.
A diet considered healthy for adults, which is low in fat and high in fiber, is not suitable for young children because of its low energy density and high bulk. In addition, young children’s stomachs can’t cope with high fiber foods such as whole wheat pasta and brown rice, and too much fiber can sometimes reduce the amount of minerals they can absorb, such as calcium and iron. Up to this point, children have also been accustomed to a fairly bland diet, and once they begin to eat ‘real’ food they tend to prefer simple foods, sans the butter and sauces so many adults enjoy.
Bon Appétit Kids allows you to feed your child fresh, nutritious meals that are customized for their little palates. At the same time you, the adult, can continue to dine on your low-carb, high fiber, and richly flavored meals, without having to cook separately for your little one; leave that to Bon Appétit Kids.
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Organic refers to a method of growing and processing foods without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides or irradiation. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. We elect to use organic ingredients purchased from certified organic growers and distributors, reducing your children’ exposure to harmful contaminants. We are working diligently to become one of the very few ‘Certified Organic Handlers’ in South Florida.
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It’s important to note that the dietary needs of children are different from adults. Children eat smaller portions and therefore need nutrient dense foods such as milk and dairy, meats, and eggs. In addition, young children’s stomachs can’t cope with high fiber foods such as whole-wheat pasta and brown rice, and too much fiber can sometimes reduce the amount of minerals they can absorb, such as calcium and iron.
Providing your child with the proper nutrition at this critical stage in life can prevent many medical problems, including becoming overweight, developing weak bones, and diabetes. It will also ensure that your child physically grows to his/her potential. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has created dietary guidelines to provide practical advice on how to give your child a healthy, balanced diet. Baby Bon Appétit makes this easy for you, so that you do not spend hours in the kitchen preparing the variety of foods that are so beneficial to your child. Just read through our menus and you will see the wide variety of food and nutrients that your Child will enjoy. Each meal will include a list of key nutrients, so, that you will be confident that Baby Bon Appétit meets your little one’s nutritional needs.
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Includes foods like bread, cereal, rice, and pasta, and should provide the majority of the energy your child needs each day. Grains are high in complex carbohydrates, which give your childs energy, and they also provide other important nutrients such as vitamin B-complex (folate), which help your child’s body use the protein needed to build muscle. At least half of the grains your child consumes each day should be whole grains, such as oatmeal, and brown rice. Your child will enjoy grains in delectable Baby Bon Appétit goods, such as fresh baked multi-grain bread, whole wheat pancakes and sweet potatoes, just to name a few.
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Vegetables provide many of the vitamins and minerals children need for good health, and they provide fiber to aid digestion. So, it is important to have a variety of them in your child’s diet. Baby Bon Appétit makes vegetables appealing to its child clients by making them tasty, and at times creatively sneaking them into other foods. Organic vegetables are used much of the time in our meals, and all of our vegetables are scrubbed with an all natural vegetable wash that removes unwanted chemicals and wax.
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Fruits are especially good sources of important vitamins like A and C, and add minerals such as potassium and fiber, which aids digestion. Fruit tops the list of foods that reduce cancer and heart disease risk. The good thing about fruit is that it is naturally sweet and kids love it, but, unfortunately children don’t eat enough of it. At Baby Bon Appétit, we incorporate many fresh fruits in your child’s meals and snacks. Similar to our vegetables, the fruits are organic and are cleaned with all natural fruit wash. Occasionally you will find what appears to be a sweet in a menu, such as a carrot cupcake, but, Baby Bon Appétit replaces sugar in the recipe with Agave Nectar. So, your child will enjoy the sweet taste without the high calories and energy crash.
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This food group, which includes milk and other foods like yogurt and cheese, is an important source of vitamin A, Vitamin D, calcium, and protein. Vitamin A helps build healthy eyes, skin, and hair. Vitamin D helps your child’s body absorb calcium and use it for healthy bones and teeth, along with muscle and nerve functions. Baby Bon Appétit will include dairy in daily menus, however, your child will need to meet the daily recommended amount by drinking milk that you serve throughout the day.
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This food group provides your child with protein, which helps your child’s body maintain and repair body tissues and build muscle. Foods in this group also provide vitamin B-complex and iron, which helps build strong bones and teeth and support muscles. It can be quite time consuming to prepare fresh sources of protein for your child, and to keep it varied from day to day. Baby Bon Appétit prepares delicious meat and fish dishes for your children that will always have different flavors derived from fresh herbs, and spices. We proudly serve fresh, organic meats that are antibiotic, hormone and nitrate free. The fish is locally caught (except for the Alaskan Salmon) and is always super fresh. Beans are also a great source of protein and will appear throughout our menus. Baby Bon Appétit does not serve nuts to its children, but, it is possible that there are traces of nuts in its recipes (e.g. almond extract).
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Fats and oils are essential nutrients to maintain body function but should be used sparingly. Fats help the body absorb vitamins A, D, E, K, and beta-carotene. Even though fats may be needed to maintain good health, it may be a good idea to limit them because of the high calorie content. Most oils are high in monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats. These fats raise your child’s level of (good) HDL cholesterol, which prevents heart problems, and do not raise levels of (bad) LDL cholesterol, which can lead to heart problems.
Solid fats, like butter, shortening, and margarine, contain more saturated fats or trans fats, which can raise (bad) LDL cholesterol levels in the blood and increase your child’s risk for heart disease. Keep in mind that the developing brain and other organs of the child need a certain amount of fat for proper development, so Baby Bon Appétit will not restrict them completely. Sugars are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream to provide your child a quick dose of energy. Parents should limit the amount of sugar they feed their children from candy, sweets, and other foods. This is because the body stores the extra sugar it doesn’t immediately need as fat, and that can lead to weight gain and other health problems. Again, Baby Bon Appétit will replace raw sugar in its recipes with Agave Nectar.
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