Babyfood, meat, beef, strained
Whole food · Baby Foods
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a smooth, savory purée of finely ground beef, offering a mild, meaty flavor and a soft, spoonable texture designed for easy consumption. It's a nutrient-dense powerhouse, delivering an impressive 12 grams of high-quality protein per 100g with minimal fat and no added sugars.
Calorie split: 60% protein · 12% carbs · 28% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
It's valued as a straightforward, nutrient-packed first food that introduces babies to the savory, umami flavors of meat. For caregivers, it offers a reliable, no-fuss way to incorporate high-quality animal protein into a diet.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The plain, singular flavor can be unappealing to some, and its smooth texture may be rejected by babies preferring more texture. To enhance acceptance, mix it with a small amount of vegetable purée (like sweet potato or pea) or a fat source like avocado for flavor and nutrient absorption. Ensure it's from a reputable source to avoid excessive sodium.
Key benefits
- Excellent source of complete protein for growth and muscle development.
- Rich in bioavailable heme iron, crucial for preventing anemia.
- Provides essential zinc for immune function and cellular repair.
- Contains naturally occurring B vitamins, especially B12, for energy metabolism.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
Commercial strained beef baby food often uses cuts like chuck or round, which are lean but can be tough; the intensive straining process breaks down muscle fibers to create its signature ultra-smooth consistency.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 82.4 g |
| Energy | 81.0 kcal |
| Energy | 337 kj |
| Protein | 12.0 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 2.5 g |
| Ash | 0.57 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 2.4 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.00 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 5.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.98 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 11.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 93.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 187 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 41.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 2.2 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.15 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.04 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 2.9 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 2.1 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.01 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.14 mg |
| Niacin | 2.5 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.08 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.04 mg |
| Folate, total | 8.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 8.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 8.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 37.6 mg |
| Betaine | 3.1 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 1.3 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 0.00 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.37 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, beta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, gamma | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, delta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, alpha | 0.04 mg |
| Tocotrienol, beta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, gamma | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, delta | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 15.0 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.40 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.60 ug |
| Vitamin K (Dihydrophylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (Menaquinone-4) | 1.0 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 1.2 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 | 0.06 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.53 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.04 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.54 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.95 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 15:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.07 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.02 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.86 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 24:1 c | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.16 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.09 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.04 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 21:5 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 51.0 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
Is this the same as ground beef?
No. Strained beef is cooked, puréed, and sieved to an extremely smooth consistency, whereas ground beef is simply minced and retains its granular texture.
Why is there no fiber or sugar?
As a pure meat product, it contains no plant-based carbohydrates (fiber/sugar). Its carbs (2.43g) come from small amounts of naturally occurring glycogen in the muscle tissue.
Can I use this in my own cooking?
Yes, but it's specialized. It can be stirred into sauces, gravies, or casseroles as a protein thickener, but its pre-cooked, puréed nature means it won't brown or behave like raw ground meat.
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 0.81 kcal/g · 59% calories from protein · 0.0 g fiber · 0.0 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: 0.22 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.