The Deal with Dissolvables
You may be reading this and going “wait… what is a dissolvable?” A dissolvable solid is a type of food that does just what its name implies: it dissolves in the mouth. As adults, we eat them all the time: crackers, pretzels, shortbread cookies, freeze dried fruits, etc. Once the food mixes with our saliva, it starts to break down into a mushy consistency and becomes a lower texture.
Dissolvables are a great texture for little ones learning how to chew because it starts off as a chewable food, but ends up a mashed texture before swallowing! It’s what I like to call a “teaching texture,” because it helps littles practice chewing and can help them get better at managing higher textures like soft solids and harder solids.
But, there are some things to keep in mind with dissolvables because, just like a lot of snacks, there can be “less-than ideal” ingredients within these foods. Since every bite counts when it comes to feeding baby, we want to make sure those bites are filled with the best ingredients as possible. So, when choosing a dissolvable solid, think about these things:
Does it have fillers?
Lots of dissolvables contain fillers like rice or wheat-based ingredients as the main ingredient, and then other foods are included, as well. While those aren’t “bad,” those filler foods don’t pack as good of a nutritional punch. Picking a dissolvable with minimal ingredients, and ingredients that contain lots of nutrition is key. Amara Organic Smoothie Melts for example, only contain fruit, vegetables, and coconut milk. These are the ingredients on their Mango Carrot Smoothie Melts: Organic mango, organic coconut milk, organic carrots, organic lemon juice.
Does it have allergens?
If baby is on a dairy-free, nut-free, or gluten-free diet, picking a dissolvable solid that is free of those allergens is key! Lots of dissolvables contain rice as a main ingredient, which is a good allergy-friendly option, but again doesn’t offer as much nutritional value. Finding a dissolvable that offers nutrient-dense ingredients can be hard. Amara’s Organic Smoothie Melts are free from fillers and are a great option for dairy-free families in particular. These are the ingredients for their Mixed Red Berries Smoothie Melts: Organic banana, organic apple, organic coconut milk, organic red currant berries, organic strawberries.
Are the ingredients organic?
While we know that organic doesn’t mean that fruits and vegetables are FREE from pesticides, we do know that, if any, natural pesticides were used in place of chemical or artificial fertilizers. Offering organic foods to baby when possible is a great way to limit exposure to toxins and other chemicals. Picking a dissolvable with organic ingredients can be harder to find. Amara’s Organic Smoothie Melts are a great option. Here are the ingredients of their Mighty Sweet Greens: Organic mango, organic apple, organic coconut milk, organic spinach, organic spirulina.
Can my baby self-feed these?
Lots of dissolvables are small and bite-sized, which can be hard for baby to manage when first starting solids, as their fine motor skills are still developing. I recommend introducing dissolvables like Amara Organic Smoothie Melts to baby on the tray around 7 months of age when the raking grasp starts to come in. Even if they aren’t successful with grabbing and bringing to their mouth, they are getting practice raking and maybe even pinching! You can also offer half of a dissolvable and help baby make it to their mouth by holding the piece along with them.
And remember, if they get too big of a piece in their mouth- they have a reflex built in that pushes out pieces that are too big. Baby’s mouths were designed to eat- so try and trust the process!
Offering dissolvables are a great way to support baby’s chewing skills, especially as they are learning! Click this link to check out Amara’s Organic Smoothie Melts, as well as their baby food pouches, and you can use code “EATPLAYSAY” to save 15% at checkout.
