Babyfood, vegetables, mix vegetables strained
Whole food · Baby Foods
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a smooth, homogenized blend of cooked vegetables—typically carrots, peas, potatoes, and squash—strained to a velvety, spoonable consistency. It offers a mild, naturally sweet flavor with a subtle earthy undertone, designed for easy digestion. Nutritionally, it's a low-calorie, fiber-rich source of complex carbohydrates with minimal fat.
Calorie split: 10% protein · 80% carbs · 11% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
Parents and caregivers love it for its convenience and reliability as a first-food introduction, offering a consistent texture and mild taste that babies often accept. It's also valued as a quick, healthy base for homemade soups or sauces.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The strained texture and very mild flavor can be unappealing to older toddlers or adults seeking more complexity. For those monitoring blood sugar, the concentrated carbohydrates from starchy vegetables like potatoes and carrots can cause a quicker spike. To counteract this, pair a serving with a source of protein (like yogurt or beans) or healthy fat (like avocado) to slow digestion and create a more balanced meal.
Key benefits
- Provides a gentle, easily digestible source of fiber for digestive health.
- Offers a low-calorie, nutrient-dense base for adding other ingredients.
- Contains naturally occurring vitamins from a mix of vegetables.
- Serves as a convenient, no-prep vegetable serving for busy caregivers.
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The process of 'straining' baby food was popularized in the early 20th century with the advent of the first commercial baby food brands, which marketed smooth textures as both a safety feature and a sign of modern, scientific feeding.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 89.8 g |
| Energy | 36.0 kcal |
| Energy | 150 kj |
| Protein | 1.0 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.50 g |
| Ash | 0.45 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 8.3 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 1.5 g |
| Total Sugars | 1.6 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 13.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.32 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 10.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 22.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 127 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 0.00 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.15 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.04 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 0.70 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 1.7 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.02 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.03 mg |
| Niacin | 0.33 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.25 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.06 mg |
| Folate, total | 4.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 4.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 4.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 9.8 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 158 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 1550 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 699 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 3166 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 381 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.24 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 7.0 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.09 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 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.07 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.12 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.12 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.19 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.18 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 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 | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
| Tryptophan | 0.01 g |
| Threonine | 0.04 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.05 g |
| Leucine | 0.08 g |
| Lysine | 0.04 g |
| Methionine | 0.02 g |
| Cystine | 0.02 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.05 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.04 g |
| Valine | 0.06 g |
| Arginine | 0.08 g |
| Histidine | 0.03 g |
| Alanine | 0.05 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.14 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.31 g |
| Glycine | 0.05 g |
| Proline | 0.09 g |
| Serine | 0.05 g |
FAQ
Is this just mashed vegetables?
Not exactly. 'Strained' implies a finer, smoother texture achieved by passing cooked vegetables through a sieve or food mill, removing any fibrous bits or skins. It's smoother than a typical mash.
Can I use this as an ingredient in my own cooking?
Absolutely. It's a fantastic shortcut. Use it to thicken soups, add creaminess to sauces without dairy, or boost the vegetable content in casseroles, stews, and grain bowls.
What's the best way to store leftovers after opening?
Transfer unused portions to an airtight container and refrigerate. It will keep for 2-3 days. For longer storage, freeze in ice cube trays or small containers for up to 3 months.
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 0.36 kcal/g · 11% calories from protein · 1.5 g fiber · 1.6 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: 0.00 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.