It can be so hard to find nutritious protein foods for kids who struggle with meats. Tinned or cooked beans are great replacements, but sometimes they can be a little bland. Baked beans are great, but they tend to be pretty salty. Edgell have just released a range of small cans of flavoured beans. We tried them this week and today’s Chewsday Review features Chick Peas with Zesty Vinaigrette.
🔶Ingredients:
🔷Cooked chick peas (71%), water, sunflower oil, vinegar (3%), spices (chilli, celery, black pepper, cumin), sugar, garlic, food acid (citric), parsley (0.2%), salt, lemon juice concentrate.
🔷Common allergens include: nil
🔶The positives:
🔷 The saturated fat and sugar are well within healthy guidelines. Yes, there’s a teeny bit of sugar added to this but it’s hardly anything.
🔷Sodium content is also within healthy guidelines at 271mg/100g. This is similar to salt reduced baked beans (which you know I love to recommend).
🔷 Decent amount of dietary fibre per can, at 2.9mg. This provides 21% of a young child’s fibre requirements and 16% of an older child’s fibre requirements.
🔷 Good source of plant-based protein with the small tin providing 50% of a young child’s daily protein requirements and 36% of an older child’s requirements. Remember that most Aussie kids get wayyyyyy more protein than they need, so this is rarely an issue.
🔷 These chick peas seem to be softer than some of the other brands. They were super easy to squash, which makes them a decent option for toddlers (obviously always supervise and only offer if your child can manage similar textures already).
🔷 Convenient! I now have a tin in my bag for emergencies, and they don’t even need to be drained once you open them.
🔶The negatives:
🔷 Chick peas cooked from dry, or purchased in a tin with no added salt will have a better nutritional profile overall, so I can’t declare the Snack Time ones ‘the best’.
🔶The marketing:
🔷”All natural ingredients” this claim is plastered on practically everything at the moment!
🔷”Fibre”. Yes it has fibre. Technically they could still write this, even if it only had a teeny tiny amount of fibre. To be able to say high in fibre A good source of fibre has to have 4g per serving (this has 2.9g per serving).
🔷 ‘No drain, ready to eat’ This is what got me over the line actually!
🔶The alternatives:
🔷These are a real winner in my eyes. I really enjoyed them. Elsie ate about 6, which is 6 more than she’d eat if they were plain chick peas! I like that the tins are small so I can share them with her, without wasting any.
🔷 Obviously, chick peas with no added salt or sugar would be a more nutritious option, but if this flavour helps you to eat more beans, then I’m all for it!!
About Toddler Mealtimes
Toddler Mealtimes is an online subscription for parents who want to feel confident about teaching their toddler to enjoy a variety of foods. It's particularly helpful for those who are noticing their toddler becoming increasingly fussy, but they're not quite sure to handle it. The 12 month subscription guides you through managing toddler fussiness with confidence with regular tips and tricks via videos and photos. Sign up here www.toddlermealtimes.com.au
About Baby Mealtimes
Baby Mealtimes is an online subscription for parents with babies aged 4-12 months. It’s your one-stop-shop for everything you need to know about introducing solid food to your baby. The monthly subscription (or 8 month package) guides you through what to offer and when, with meal ideas and a photo gallery of over 120 finger foods organised by age. Sign up here www.babymealtimes.com.au
About Mealtime Building Blocks
Dr Kyla Smith and Liz Beaton are paediatric dietitians specialising in fussy eating, feeding difficulties and childhood nutrition. Lauren Pike is an occupational therapist working in fussy eating and feeding difficulties. They have a private practice called Mealtime Building Blocks in Perth, Western Australia. You can connect with Kyla, Liz and Lauren here www.mealtimes.com.au
