What is important to you when buying infant or toddler foods?

[Anonymous]

I'm starting non-profit organization that connects children and families to education and resources to make quality nutritional choices in the Washington, DC metro area. Central to the organization will be the sale of fresh, local, naturally grown infant and toddler foods. Does anyone have any suggestions on what you look for in your children's food? Also, would you be willing to take a survey to inform me on what the desire is for these foods in the Washington, DC metro area?
http://kwiksurveys.com/s.asp?sid=0bif7vmyfz47ojw13101

[Anonymous]

It has to be organic.

[Anonymous]

That the fruits and vegetables don't come from China.

[Anonymous]

Knowing that my child will eat the food. Many toddlers are extremely picky.

[Anonymous]

So how will you differ from Slow Food DC, Washington's Green Grocer, Capital Area Food Bank, or DC Hunger Solutions?

[Anonymous]

I never fed my kids premade meals. They get the same foods that we adults eat, including herbs and spices (not chilies). My kids hate bland food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So how will you differ from Slow Food DC, Washington's Green Grocer, Capital Area Food Bank, or DC Hunger Solutions?

I recognize that there is a lot of overlap in what many of these organizations are doing, which is a good thing. Overlap allows for greater access in such a large region. The specific difference with TasteBuds is that it is focused on young children and their families. Just making fresh, local, organic produce available does not necessarily mean that these foods are consumed by children. Over 57% of children in the DC area spend the majority of their waking hours durring the work week at childcare facilities. In the typical early childhood environment, children are fed but they are not necessarily taught/shown what they are eating. These foods also usually come from large distributors, so instead of building their food likes and dislikes with fresh flavorful, higher nutrient foods, they are often deterred from eating foods because all they know of food is the bland apples and bananas and nearly tasteless carrots. By educating care providers in how to teach and expose very young children to fresh, healthy foods and making access to these foods easier for child care centers, children are set up for a life time of healthy choices. With our infant and toddler foods, we hope to also help parents who don't have the means or time to cook fresh food at home to have the opportunity to give their children fresh, nutrient rich foods.

[Anonymous]

1. not from china
2. no BPA in packaging
3. organic
4. don't put fruit in all of the veggies to sweeten them

[Anonymous]

Reasonably healthy and reasonably priced. I don't care about the organic label. I would probably not go out of my way to buy from an organization.

[Anonymous]

Low in salt, try to avoid processed foods, maximum vitamins and minerals, low sugar

[Anonymous]

So you're basically selling food to daycares?