Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro What Did Babies Eat Before Baby Food was Invented? with Amy Bentley, PhD
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Jul 15, 2021 In this engaging discussion, Amy Bentley, a Professor of Nutrition and Food Studies at NYU and author of "Inventing Baby Food," dives into the rich history of baby food. She reveals how commercial baby food emerged from industrialization and societal changes. Bentley critiques modern feeding practices, emphasizing the need for whole foods over pouches that compromise family meals. Listeners will learn about shifting guidelines for introducing solids and the marketing myths that shape today’s parenting choices.
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Amy Bentley's Food History Journey
- Amy Bentley became interested in food history through her mother's WWII stories and archival research.
- Her curiosity about baby food origins sparked while shopping for her own infant.
Early Infant Diet Fears
- Before the 1920s, babies were fed soft foods much later, often 9-12 months old, with no fruits or vegetables until age two.
- Fear of diseases like diarrhea made early feeding of fruits and vegetables uncommon despite their later recognized nutritional value.
Vitamins and Industry Revolution
- Discovery of vitamins in 1910s increased value of fruits and vegetables for infants.
- Industrialization enabled mass production of pureed baby foods by companies like Gerber in the 1920s and '30s.
