August 05, 2019

What to Feed your Baby to Boost Brain Development

In the first year of life, your baby's brain is growing faster than ever. Learning where their mouth is, learning to walk, saying their first words, - their little brains are working overtime in those first 12 months. Here are our top foods for fuelling and boosting this massive period of development and growth.

1. Leafy Greens

Dark, leafy greens like spinach and kale are rich in Vitamin K and lutein - powerhouse nutrients linked to improved brain functioning. Baby pulling a face? Try mixing with oil and spices to improve palatability and flavour. It's why we mix kale with coconut butter in our Banana, Kale & Coconut Butter meal and use avocado oil & turmeric in the Hearty Veg & Quinoa mix!

2. Avocado Oil

On that note, we're crazy about avocado oil - much like babies are crazy about avocados! A healthy source of unsaturated fats, avocados support brain functioning. Wahoo!

3. Quinoa

A fab source of plant-based protein and fibre, i.e. key for muscle development and digestive health. Oh, and did we mention they're a great source of iron (your baby's natural stores begin to decline after 6 months, soooooo you're welcome!)

4. Turmeric

We're huge fans of spices in baby food. Turmeric supports memory and normal brain functioning, whilst minimising inflammation - i.e. promoting healthy hearts and improving immune systems. We use turmeric in our Hearty Veg & Quinoa mix - so you needn't fear the next play group!

5. Apples

We know, we know - apples seem to be everywhere when it comes to baby food. But there's good reason. Apple peels are rich in quercetin, an antioxidant compound that promotes healthy brain activity. We put it to work in our Carrot, Apple & Ginger mix (ginger's another brain-boosting food!).