Lil’ Gourmets is thrilled to announce our commitment to the Partnership for Healthier America (PHA), as they expand their Shaping Early Palates initiative, a campaign to promote early palate development in young children. The Shaping Early Palates program seeks to collaborate with brands with a similar mission: to expand availability and accessibility of veggie-forward baby and toddler foods in the marketplace.
It’s a sad fact that a recent study showed that 84.4% of infants and toddlers are consuming foods with added sugars and artificial sweeteners on a daily basis. As babies are born with a natural preference for sweetness over more bitter flavors, this disposition can lead to sweet foods being favored over more nutritious vegetable options as babies become toddlers.
lil’ones can learn to love their veggies!
Research continues to show that first foods are critical in introducing our children to the savory flavor of veggies. By introducing babies to tasty, veggie-rich options at an early age, it is possible to shape their palates to be receptive to not only a range of vegetables but also a whole new world of new tastes.
“I launched Lil’ Gourmets because of the very issue that PHA is trying to tackle - the lack of vegetables and high sugar content in most baby and kids’ foods.” said Shibani Baluja, founder and CEO of Lil’ Gourmets. “As a first-time mom, I saw firsthand the benefits of the early introduction of flavorful vegetables and, given my background in food, I knew the industry could and should do better.”
100% of Lil’ Gourmets recipes deliver a veggie-first promise
“A core tenet of Lil’ Gourmets is our ‘veggie-first promise,’ a commitment that 100% of our chef-inspired recipes will have vegetables or beans as their first and primary ingredients,” said Becky Graham, Chief Marketing Officer of lil’gourmets. “Our veggie meals and snacks are delicious, globally-inspired recipes that strive to not only teach kids that veggies can be delicious, but also to cultivate their curiosity of flavors and cultures from around the world.”
Lil’ Gourmets has signed on as a PHA Sustaining Partner, pledging support and resources to the Shaping Early Palates effort. As a partner organization, Lil’ Gourmets commits to always meet PHA’s nutritional criteria and use their platforms to educate parents and caregivers about the importance of early palate development.
about Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA)
PHA’s mission is to leverage the power of the private sector to transform the food landscape in pursuit of health equity. In 2010, PHA was created in conjunction with Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! effort. PHA identifies, accelerates, and celebrates voluntary business practices that improve or increase choice or lead to new norms and behavior around food and physical activity. For more information about PHA, please visit www.ahealthieramerica.org and follow PHA on Twitter @PHAnews.
about Lil’ Gourmets
lil'gourmets products are refrigerated, certified organic, non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, and cold-pressure processed. All 6 varieties are now available online and in select grocery and retail locations.
related links:
Explore the PHA Shaping Early Palates site: www.ahealthieramerica.org/earlypalates
Read more news coverage on the PHA Initiative from Food Navigator