Baked beans - salt content?

[matana]

6.5 months DS has galloped through weaning and despite only starting 3 weeks ago is already on 3 meals a day and giving him lumpier things. He loves his food and will try anything. I have prepared meals and frozen them but he isn't that keen on salmon which i've got him out for tonight. I need a quick and easy back up plan (avoiding scrambled egg for now, which he loves, because he's been a bit constipated) and thought i'd try him on baked beans. But is this appropriate food? Is the salt content too high and, if so, is there a baby version they do instead? I know most children love baked beans so they must be ok for them, but wanted to check.

I use the reduced salt and sugar baked beans, I think only Heinz do them. Still not sure if they are reduced 'enough' iykwim but I only use them occasionally.

Ds2 loves them (12 mnths) .

I used to get the reduced salt/sugar ones from Heinz at my local Tescos. I think the salt content is high in the usual ones. I used to chop through some cherry tomatoes in them and serve with toast fingers. Yum.

they are reduced by 30%, but am still not sure how much it is, would need to look at a tin.

I'd be a bit careful, but if you are only using them as a back-up very occasionally probably ok. I'd steer clear of the low salt and sugar ones because they are full of artificial sweetners. I used to have a couple of those baby convenience meals in the freezer for days when I wasn't organised or just plain lazy - they cost an arm and a leg but they are made carefully and have low sugar, salt etc.

yousank.. are they really? I think if you are eating anything out of a can then you are aware that it is a processed food.

You could make a homemade tomato sauce, and add butter beans to it, maybe some softened onions? Make a big batch and freeze?

If you are looking for a quick back up meal, what about avocado on toast?

I checked the actual salt content on the low salt beans and the difference wasn't huge so I reverted to buying normal Heinz beans. Your LO isn't going to sit and eat a whole tin in one sitting. Everything in moderation. My DD loves baked beans and has them once or twice a week. The rest of her diet is low salt so the odd splurge doesn't matter too much.

Actually, I'll fess up that I said that as if it was an actual scientific fact but actually I was just assuming! Loads of tinned things that claim to be low salt, sugar etc are packed with sweetners instead.

Loving the sound of your homemade ones though - might try those.

ah OK, i remember looking into it all when i was weaning my DS, so was a bit unsure of what you said as i did not recall that. the homemade ones are really nice, more like american boston beans.

worldgonecray 30% is quite significant I would say, no?

gapants - like the sound of the avocado and i actually have some of those in the kitchen, thanks! He's never tried avocado, but could be a good time to try.

Half a can of reduced salt baked beans (sainsburys) contains a little over a gram of salt which is too much for an under one year old who should have less than a gram of salt per day. It might be ok if he is happy with a quarter of a can . It is really easy to make your own and if you start by doing it your lo won't expect them to taste like Heinz. Just chop an onion finely, fry it until soft and add coriander, cumin and paprika, a rounded dessertspoon of tomato puree and a tin of cannellini or kidney beans and a little water. Simmer for about 20mins. You can also put in some veg after the onion.

Low salt and sugar alternatives do not necessarily contain artificial sweeteners; Heinz beans certainly don't. Ingredients are here
www.heinz.co.uk/ourfood/beans/healthylivingbeanz/reduced-sugar-and-salt
plus they taste better than the regular ones!

gapants 30% is a big number but it's for tiny amounts, so it's the difference between 0.25g in quarter of a can of reduced-salt baked beans, and 0.35g in quarter of a can of normal baked beans. That's 0.1g or 1/10th of the recommended daily guideline for babies under one year old. That's why we didn't bother with the low salt beans. If we ate them every single meal it might be a different ball game.

Moo, that sounds great. Will have to give it a go for dh and me! Do they freeze well?

Ah, Ok thanks worldgonecrazy that is interesting.

OP what did you end up making for dinner tonight then?

Tried the salmon again - he had a few mouth fulls and then stopped eating it. But earlier in the day i'd made some mushroom, yellow pepper, onion and tomato pasta and hadn't frozen it all so i gave him that and he was happy!