Do popular food pouches put the 'squeeze' on infant and toddler nutrition?

Squeezable food pouches for infants and toddlers are a popular item among parents as they are easy to use, transport and clean up.

But are they healthy for your kid? It all comes down to the main ingredients, says a Purdue University social scientist.

Kameron Moding is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies in Purdue's College of Health and Human Sciences, studies temperament, eating behaviors and obesity risk in early childhood. She researched ingredients and nutritional value in food pouches compared with jars and other containers while a postdoctoral researcher in The Children's Eating Laboratory at the University of Colorado's Anschutz Medical Campus.

"Our research team found higher levels of sugars in infant/toddler food pouches compared to products in other packages," she says. "This is likely due to the higher fruit contents of pouches compared to jars and packs. When we examined only products that contained fruit and vegetable blends, there were no differences in levels of sugars between pouches and other packages."

The takeaway: Look, Moding says, at not only the label on the front of the package but also the ingredients list and the nutrition facts panel to determine the main ingredients.

Kale, spinach or other dark, leafy greens are lower in calories, rich in vitamins and good sources of folate and fiber. If fruit is one of the first ingredients, it likely contains more sugars, she says.

"The sweetness found in fruits can dim the bitterness found in some vegetables, like dark, leafy greens. Fruits likely increase the palatability of these products. At the same time, fruits also provide other beneficial nutrients, such as vitamin C, potassium, and various phytonutrients," she says. "We encourage parents to to make sure that the nutrients and ingredients in the product match what they are hoping to buy for their child."