Apple and cinnamon oat blend

Interestingly, traditional baby cereals are processed! More specifically, the grain undergoes a process called enzymatic hydrolysis. Following this transformation, the starch (a polysaccharide) is broken down into smaller sugar molecules to make digestion easier. Hydrolysis also sweetens the mix. Luckily, we collaborated with a food chemist to understand all these complex terms! So, during the cereal R&D process, we questioned whether marketing a traditional cereal (with an understanding of what this product actually is…) aligned with Belov's values ​​and the evolving landscape of infant nutrition. After careful consideration, we concluded that it didn't! Moreover, Belov's innovation must be evident across all our products. Therefore, we focused our resources on developing textured oat mixes for toddlers that would be fortified just like traditional cereals (this benefit being undeniable!). Did you know that iron deficiency is most common up to 24 months? We therefore needed to develop a product that could support parents until their child reaches 2 years old! By choosing oat flakes instead of powdered cereal, we're embracing TEXTURE! Furthermore, it's important to introduce lumpy textures by 9 months at the latest to prevent the child from developing food aversions. So, with textured blends, we're helping parents meet their child's daily iron needs for longer!

YES, all our oat blends are organic! The best part is that our oats come from a local family business!! Yes, from St-Félicien, Quebec, Canada!

When it comes to irreversible delays in cognitive development, the situation cannot be taken lightly. Therefore, we were committed to helping reduce the risk of iron deficiency by developing iron-fortified oatmeal mixes to help parents meet the recommended frequency of iron-rich foods for their babies up to 24 months of age. Here is an excerpt from Health Canada's Infant Nutrition Guide: At approximately six months of age, the iron stores of older infants are depleted (IOM, 2001; Butte, Lopez-Alarcon, and Garza, 2002; Dewey and Chaparro, 2007). The risk of iron deficiency increases between six and 12 months of age because rapid growth during this period requires a large amount of iron (Institute of Medicine, 2001). The risk persists from 12 to 24 months of age. Indeed, studies indicate that the nutritional quality of a young child's diet and their intake of key micronutrients, such as iron, tend to decrease (Picciano et al., 2000). The risk of iron deficiency can be reduced by introducing iron-rich complementary foods at the right time and regularly consuming them, such as meat or meat substitutes and iron-fortified cereals (Butte et al., 2002; Dewey and Chaparro, 2007; Meinzen-Derr et al., 2006). Between the ages of 6 and 12 months, infants should be offered iron-rich foods at least twice a day. From 12 to 24 months of age, children should consume iron-rich foods at every meal.

First and foremost, our greatest desire is to be your everyday NINJA ally. In other words, to support you as a parent for as long as possible and not leave you unprepared by offering a solution that becomes outdated too quickly! To be a daily nutritional ally, we felt it was essential to offer products that would be suitable for your baby as early as possible in their development and that would continue to meet their ever-changing nutritional needs. Therefore, rather than opting for pureed meals, we focused on TEXTURED MEALS! That being said, it's true that everyone has their own preferred texture; there's no accounting for taste, as they say! Our intention is to offer nutritious meals to all little ones, so the good news is: OUR MEALS ARE VERSATILE! You can offer them in their original form, in pieces, or adapt the texture according to your baby's preference and developmental stage: mashed or pureed. We can't stress this enough: every baby is unique, and it's essential to listen to their needs rather than imposing one texture or another (chunks, mashed, pureed). We highlight the word "textured" on our packaging, but in reality, we're referring to ALL textures, as long as the one chosen suits your baby 😊 Introducing different textures should be safe and enjoyable for our little ones. Regarding our oat blends, we wanted to offer babies the comforting experience of a more traditional oatmeal! What's more, Belov is committed to innovation! Putting another traditional cereal on the shelves, which we might call "powdered," wasn't aligned with Belov's mission. Our delicious blends can even be added to your baby's favorite recipes: muffins, pancakes, and more! OHH YESSS! By being fortified with iron, we help you contribute to your recommended daily intake! OHHH WOOOWWWW!