Babyfood, carrots and beef, strained
Whole food · Baby Foods
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a smooth, savory puree of finely strained carrots and tender beef, designed for easy infant consumption. It has a mild, sweet earthiness from the carrots balanced by a subtle, savory depth from the beef, with a uniformly silky texture. Nutritionally, it's a compact source of protein and fiber for its low calorie count.
Calorie split: 23% protein · 39% carbs · 38% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
Parents value it as a convenient, nutrient-dense first food that combines vegetable and protein in one jar. The naturally sweet carrot flavor is often well-accepted by infants transitioning to solids.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The texture can be overly uniform for older babies ready for more texture, and the flavor is very mild, which may not excite all palates. Some infants may have sensitivities to new proteins; introduce beef separately first to rule out allergies. To enhance nutrient absorption, a tiny drop of healthy fat (like olive oil) can be added.
Key benefits
- Provides a balanced mix of protein, carbs, and fats for infant growth.
- High in dietary fiber relative to its calorie content.
- Naturally low in sugar, with only 2g per 100g serving.
- Offers heme iron from beef and beta-carotene from carrots.
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The straining process for this type of baby food was popularized in the early 20th century by companies like Gerber, using specialized mills to create an ultra-smooth consistency from cooked meats and vegetables.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 87.3 g |
| Energy | 59.0 kcal |
| Energy | 247 kj |
| Protein | 3.4 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 2.5 g |
| Ash | 0.70 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 5.7 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 2.6 g |
| Total Sugars | 2.0 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 22.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.50 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 13.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 45.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 226 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 69.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.80 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.05 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.14 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 2.8 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.80 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.02 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.06 mg |
| Niacin | 0.93 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.10 mg |
| Folate, total | 17.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 17.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 17.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 15.9 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.30 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 723 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 6813 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 3716 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 14452 iu |
| Lycopene | 1.0 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 139 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.65 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 1.0 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 7.4 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.96 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.07 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.55 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.28 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 1.1 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.09 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.92 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.13 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.07 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 8.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Babyfood, grape juice, no sugar, canned — USDA does not publish this profile for Babyfood.
| Threonine | 0.02 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.01 g |
| Leucine | 0.02 g |
| Lysine | 0.02 g |
| Methionine | 0.03 g |
| Cystine | 0.01 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.02 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.02 g |
| Valine | 0.02 g |
| Arginine | 0.06 g |
| Histidine | 0.03 g |
| Alanine | 0.04 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.10 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.18 g |
| Glycine | 0.03 g |
| Proline | 0.03 g |
| Serine | 0.04 g |
FAQ
At what age can I introduce this?
This strained texture is typically suitable for infants aged 4-6 months who are just starting solids, as recommended by pediatric guidelines.
Is this a complete meal?
It's a nutritious component but should be part of a varied diet. Pair with iron-fortified cereal or soft fruits for a more complete meal.
How should I store leftovers?
Once opened, transfer to a sealed container and refrigerate. Use within 2-3 days. Do not store in the original jar.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 0.59 kcal/g · 23% calories from protein · 2.6 g fiber · 2.0 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.31 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.