I figured the nutritional info for my homemade cereal (the recipe can be found in Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron) so I could compare it to Gerber. The Gerber cereal values are in ()
Calories 100 (120)
- Total Fat 1.5 g (1 g)
- Potassium 13% (6%)
- Carbohydrate 16 g (24 g)
- Dietary Fiber 3 g (0 g)
- Sugars 0 g (2 g)
- Protein 3 g (2 g)
Vitamin A 12%
Vitamin C 1%
Vitamin K 4%
Magnesium 49%
Phosphorus 32%
Biotin 48%
Calcium 3% (20%)
Iron 13% (120%)
Vitamin E 3% (16%)
Thiamin 37% (30%)
Riboflavin 24% (40%)
Niacin 23% (40%)
Vitamin B6 23% (20%)
Folate 100% (20%)
Pantothenic Acid 9%
Vitamin B12 8% (30%)
Zinc 15% (20%)
The homemade cereal higher in protein and fiber. The Gerber cereal is higher in calories and sugar. The fat content should be 35-55% of a baby’s diet and it is only 8% of the Gerber cereal and 13% of the homemade cereal. Both are too low (this can be made up by feeding baby healthy high fat foods).
Neither cereal is a source of Vitamin D.
Only the homemade cereal is a source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Biotin, and Pantothenic Acid and it is a better source of Potassium, Thiamin, Vitamin B6, and Folate.
The Gerber cereal is a better source of Calcium, Iron, Vitamin E, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B12, and Zinc.