Baby food should be simple — just real food, nothing else. But walk down the baby food aisle in most stores, and you'll find jars and pouches filled with sugary fruit purees, low-quality oils, and ingredients you’d never cook with at home.
At Simple Steps Market, we believe your baby’s first foods should be as close to nature as possible — nourishing, clean, and free from anything that doesn’t belong in a baby’s body.
Here’s what we require from every baby food brand we carry — and why it matters.
✅ Organic
Why it matters:
Organic baby food is grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers — meaning no glyphosate, no GMOs, and no chemical residues. Since babies are still developing detox systems, they’re far more sensitive to environmental toxins. Organic is the first line of defense.
✅ Real Food — Not from Concentrates or Reconstituted Purees
Why it matters:
Most baby food is made from cheap fruit and vegetable concentrates or watered-down purees that are heavily processed and stripped of natural fiber and nutrients. We only allow baby food made from whole, real food ingredients — just like you’d make at home.
❌ No Added Sugar
Why we avoid it:
Babies don’t need added sugars — not now, not ever. Early exposure to sweeteners can lead to sugar cravings, insulin resistance, and a preference for overly sweet foods later in life. We look for foods that support balanced blood sugar and natural taste development.
❌ No Added Vegetable Oils
Why we avoid them:
Seed and vegetable oils (like canola, sunflower, or soybean oil) are high in inflammatory omega-6 fats and can oxidize during processing. That’s the last thing we want in a baby’s growing body. Instead, we prioritize healthy fats from egg yolk, grass-fed meats, and olive or coconut oil (when used minimally and properly).
✅ Nutrient-Dense Ingredients
Why it matters:
Babies need more nutrients per bite than adults, which is why we look for baby food with ingredients like:
- Pasture-raised meats & organ meats (rich in iron, zinc, B12)
- Wild-caught fish (for DHA and brain development)
- Organic root veggies & squashes (gentle, fiber-rich)
- Bone broth, ghee, or coconut cream (for healthy fats)
We go beyond just avoiding harmful ingredients — we look for true nourishment.
✅ No Fillers, Gums, or Preservatives
Why it matters:
Many shelf-stable baby foods are preserved with citric acid, ascorbic acid, or gums to extend shelf life and preserve color. These can irritate sensitive digestive systems. We only allow baby food that is preserved naturally through freezing, pressure cooking, or safe heat sealing — never at the cost of your baby’s gut health.
✅ Transparent Sourcing & Labeling
Why it matters:
We require brands to be honest about where their ingredients come from and how their food is processed. No vague terms like “natural flavors” or “fruit blend.” If you wouldn’t cook with it in your own kitchen, it won’t be on our shelves.
Final Thoughts
Your baby’s first bites shape their long-term health, taste preferences, and metabolism. At Simple Steps Market, we make it easy to choose foods that are real, nourishing, and 100% free from the junk hiding in most mainstream brands.
Every baby food product we carry is:
✅ Organic
✅ Made from real, whole foods
✅ Free from added sugar, seed oils, concentrates, gums, and preservatives
✅ Designed to nourish — not just fill
Because your baby deserves more than just “safe.” They deserve truly clean.
Simple choices. Real food. Healthier beginnings.
