The Baby Food Diet
Today I learned from Jezebel and Elastic Waist that Reese Witherspoon diets by eating baby food. My reaction, of course, was along the lines of what the hell!?!?!?
I looked into this a little further and found the text of an article in Marie Claire about this “phenomenon.”
Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Marcia Cross are among the celebrities who are spoon-feeding themselves with toddler tucker. The idea of substituting one, and sometimes two, regular meals a day for the tiny fruit and vegetable meals originated from New York fashion guru Hedi Slimane… [he] is said to have first coined the phrase ‘baby eating’ by sticking to baby food for days on end to maintain his slimline figure.
A-listers are snapping up the vitamin and mineral-rich snacks from organic ‘designer’ labels such as Earth’s Best, which are now being sold in the healthfood sections of high-brow supermarkets. Jennifer Aniston believes the ‘purer, nutrient-packed, gluten-free’ pots help to maintain her trim figure; Reese Witherspoon told a US TV show she’s careful not to crash diet on infant food and makes sure to have one adult meal a day; while Marcia Cross ditched junk food snacks for baby food to keep hunger pangs at bay.
According to one nutritionist (from, where else, L.A.), it’s perfectly okay:
There’s nothing wrong with anyone eating baby food,’ LA-based nutritionist Dr Marty Edwards tells the newspaper. ‘It’s nutritious and delicious as a snack. But adults require a minimum daily calorific intake, so it would be absolute folly to dine only on these little jars. Substituting them for chips, crisps or burgers as a healthy snack alternative does, however, make a lot of sense.’
Here is a page of baby food nutrition information, if you are curious. The peaches have 51 calories. The macaroni and cheese has 83. The prunes have 15.
Is anyone else tempted to go to the Gelson’s in Hollywood and check out the organic baby food line? Maybe run into Jen Aniston while you’re there? I should totally do a taste test. Maybe baby food is not actually as disgusting as I remember.
Posted by mo pie
Filed under: Celebrities, Food, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Weight Loss
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I remember eating babyfood in jr high school, but only the fruit flavors. I didn’t eat it to lose weight, I ate it because it was cheap and it tasted really good. The non-fruit flavors looked and tasted nasty.
I don’t think I’d ever do a diet of eating only baby food though. I like chewing food….
Classmates of mine did this in 9th grade to lose weight – but I never jumped on that bandwagon.
When I was 18, I got braces on my teeth and had to eat baby food for the first three weeks because my mouth hurt so badly. The fruit stuff is delicious, but the other stuff (spaghetti w/ tomato sauce, etc.) is absolutely disgusting! Yuck!
Even though it didn’t hurt me, I still feel that there is a reason why it’s called “baby” food: Grown-ups are supposed to chew their food – that’s why we have teeth! So if I want to eat a peach, I’ll buy one and eat it. *shrugs*
The fruits aren’t that bad. I remember when i was about 8 or 9 – for some reason my grandma was eating baby food and i always wanted her to share a jar of the fruit. the veggies however are BLECH!
When i was 9, we got a kitten; turns out the kitten hadn’t been weaned properly and didn’t know what to do with dry crunchy food – if kitten food existed back then, we were either too poor or too cheap to buy it. So we fed him Gerber baby food instead.
One time, out of curiosity, i tried it – i thought it was kinda gross, but we were giving him mostly meat-based ones. I’ve never tried the fruit ones.
This whole thing is kinda strange, but hell – Hollywood isn’t anything remotely resembling reality anyways.
LMAO @ Reese not crash dieting on baby food by eating “one adult meal a day.” hahaha!!
Funny, I just posted about feeling like food is a burden and an inconvenience… this is an extreme example of exactly that. I mean, it’s trendy, but it’s also saying “I’m doing the least I possibly can to attempt to get some nutrients.” I had a friend in college who ate basically nothing but soy milk with protein powder and sometimes a little granola, and it was a manifestation of the same thing — “I recognize the need to eat, but I’m going to do it in the most perfunctory way possible.”
Ew. Ridiculous as a dieting method. That is nowhere near enough calories for an adult in any context (except possibly the “snacking” one) and I really hate that it seems to be gaining some “traction” and legitimacy. Is everyone in the world crazy except me?! What a ridiculous, dangerous idea… not because baby food is not nutritious, but because you will starve if a jar or two here or there is all you’re living on.
That being said… I used to eat Earth’s Best baby food as a side dish with my lunches in high school. I have to admit that the fruit ones are pretty tasty and the smooth texture is pleasant. It’s probably not that different from an applesauce snack cup. But my mom pointed out that I probably shouldn’t eat it all the time because it wouldn’t be good for my digestive system to keep it from having to… well… digest anything. I wasn’t doing it to lose weight, I was just fascinated by the smoothness and in some ways the neatness of the uniform jars, all lined up and looking the same, in a rainbow of colors. I also think baby food can be useful in baking, sauces, etc.
I love the taste of the bananas, the peaches. I used to buy it all the time, but sort of as snack treat, never in substitution for, you know, real food. ;-)
It’s amazing how this “diet” finds a way to both infantalize and starve women at once. Yay, both misogynistic cultural imperatives achieved at once! Good grief.
Well, I suppose that’s one way to deal with the problem of portion control!
It’s amazing how this “diet” finds a way to both infantalize and starve women at once.
My thoughts exactly!
It’s nothing new. My mom used to take baby food to lunch in high school in the 60s. I imagine it would be hard to come up with a truly new way to diet, though.
It’s amazing how this “diet” finds a way to both infantalize and starve women at once. Yay, both misogynistic cultural imperatives achieved at once! Good grief.
That’s pretty much what I was going to say (except you phrased it better)!
Once when I was babysitting (so it had to be eons ago), I tried the apricots and was really surprised at how tasty they were. But, as somebody said above, if I want to eat apricots, I’ll just, you know, eat an apricot.
I remember reading one of those “model profiles” back in Cosmo in the late 70’s (I know, I know!) where she claimed to eat nothing but soup and baby food to stay slim. After feeding baby food to my son (and often ending up with both of us wearing much of it) I have a really hard time not gagging when I smell it.
I use baby food carrots to make an awesome carrot cake! Saves you from having to puree the stuff yourself. I have to admit though that when my daughter was a baby, I’d occasionally enjoy a spoonful of the custards.
No meats for me though! YUCK!!!
I have a very ill cat. The only thing I’ve been able to get her to eat for the last month or two is the meat and broth baby food. That stuff is foul smelling. I can’t imagine feeding it to a human of any age.
I can’t imagine eating baby food of any kind. Texture is just as important to me as taste and I find food that’s too finely pureed to be disgusting. I also agree with the comment about this kind of diet infantalizing women. It always seemed to me that the societal pressures to be thin and beautiful are just one more way that the patriarchy keeps women under control
Baby food was one of the few things I could eat after I had my stomach stapled 10 years ago (that stapling failed miserably). If I had stuck to eating the baby food, my stomach probably wouldn’t have come undone since it was the adding of regular food that made me sick all the time. However, I think I’ll take being fat and able to enjoy what I eat now over being thin and having to eat everything pureed.
Vesta, I was just coming here to mention that my mom used to eat baby food right after she got her stomach stapled. (And that surgery didn’t work out so well for her either.) I remember trying some and thinking that it wasn’t too bad. Of course, if you have to eat it all the time it’s another matter entirely.
Intruiging: a peach contains about 50 calories (had to look it up, but most fruits I remember are around that area of calories). I definitely prefer a real one then, fresh and juicy.
I was really amazed at this page with baby food nutrition information you linked to – I don’t have children myself, but have always thought that infants at least still “know” what they need, and will eat accordingly – intuitive eating/demand feeding at its best, before all of them “break that habit” and get into “culturally accepted” eating patterns. So what’s with this calorie listing? Neurotic mums afraid they’re little kid will get fat after eating one too many spoons of apple yogurt dessert (first one in the list)? That’s really sad …
Dutchy,
I suppose the calorie listing could be used by those neurotic moms, but it also serves a legitimate purpose – my parents are foster parents, and we had a couple of babies come through our home over the years. One of them had been born very premature, and then her”mother” pretty much starved her the first few months of her life. She was so small and weak when we got her, she couldn’t even cry properly.
So the doctor put her on an eating regimen that required a certain amount of calories a day, and when she was able to tolerate baby food, it was handy to have a list of how many calories were in what kind, so we could make sure she got enough to eat, and make sure she gained weight.
She’s 6 now, and while she’s still a little on the thin side and has some digestive issues, she’s pretty much good as new. :-)
-Z.
Sadly, I read the first part of that and was like “oooh, maybe that would work for me!” Then I came to my senses, because baby food is expensive. And also I’d rather just eat a real peach than a jar of mushed-up peaches.
im 6st 3lbs and have been on this diet for 6months. i ost 1 and 1/2 poounds a day, its amazing. ive just been asked to model for vogue!
This type of diet seems very unnatural, not so different from the unnatural thinness we see on these actresses.
Dutchy and Z,
My theory about the calorie thing: I think that there could be a law/regulation that states that everything that is edible (and thus can be considered “food”) has to have nutritional information posted on it. So I’m not sure that the calorie information has to do with neurotic moms (at least I hope so!)… ;-)
I am doing the baby food thing and i don’t see anything wrong with it before i ate babyfoos i used to just eat dinner and snacks because i only like eating fish and junk food. I didn’t eat breakfast or lunch and now I do. I suppose you could say that I am using it as a healthy snack alternative. I still heat my fish for dinner and i really think there is worse things i could be eating. And i am a student and it is very cheap. And i have alway drank bay juice even if you are not going to try to baby food diet you should really try the juice its all I like to drink.
i to am doing the baby food diet just to lose flab from my stomach, although it is said that its not healthy for adults to be eating and that we should stick to adult foods but has everyone forgot about the amount of salt and fats that are in the adult foods i dont think they are healthy either but no one says anything about those foods. im glad hat this babyfood diet wooks and i am going to stay on it, call me crazy call me what ever you want but at the end of the day its my decision to do this and its all the celebs decision to so if you dont agree with it the thats ok y bother making a big fuss over nothing! its not effecting you so just stay out of it!! GOD!
Wow.
I have to add a chuckle (laughed out loud at the “GOD!” part) laden “amen” to tasha’s post. :-D
I wonder if they are using the baby snacks. They are pretty good and very nutritious/low calorie. Baby food itself is gross and I didn’t really feed too much of it too the kids. Just a month or two then I started steaming foods till they were really soft and mushy. I lost lots of weight eating what I would give my son. My favorite is to steam an apple. It makes it really sweet and is better than canned apple sauce. We still eat the toddler snacks and I find them helpful when I have that urge to eat even though I’m not really hungry. I really like the cereal bars. The only drawback is that they are expensive, but what diet isn’t.
Funny thing is I came here to find the nutrition labels cause I ate some of the kids snacks today! I need to log my calories. LOL.
No wonder babies spit it out when you feed it to them. Nasty stuff.
I hate to think of the next idiot diet child who invents the pet food diet.
I just started the baby food diet today.
I’ve found so far that I dislike the vanilla custard, but I LOVE the apple strawberry banana. It’s cheap and not too totally horrible.
If texture is a big deal to you, what I did is by some plain granola to add into it for a little crunch. I’m also taking a daily multivitamin.
I’ll come back in a few days and let people know how it’s going if I remember.
Depends on what baby food your eating. I am a MMA fighter and I use it to compliment other parts of my diet. I am eating 5-6 small meals a day and sometimes it is not practical to carry around a piece of fruit or a bag of veggies. I compliment one meal a day with baby food, usually right before a workout to get some good clean energy. Eating “deserts” packed with sugar probably isnt doing much to help, but I can definetly see the ability to portion your food more effectively. Provided your getting the calories you need to stay healthy, the excersize you should be doing (even if minimal) and the protein requirements then there is nothing wrong with eating baby food. There are a lot of holier than thou’s out their trying to preach to people about dieting practices. Well, when your dogging on Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and others who look great, feel great and like the diets they have adopted you have issues yourself. Especially considering how many chronically obese people we have in America. Its a sad day in a fat America when we are critiquing people finding convenient ways to reduce their calorie intake instead of those finding reason why not to limit their excessive calorie intake. Of course, eating baby food exclusively in small amounts over long periods is not healthy, but supplementing or using it for short periods is not hurting anyone.
Way to go Keoni!
I am on baby food diet myself, but I use baby food as a snack. I not only find it tasty but also wholesome and filling. It has helped me with problems like acidity and indigestoin. Moreover, I definitely feel better than I feel after feeding myself empty calories from a burger or chips.
And yes, It is nobody else’s business as to how one keeps herself healthy, as long as they look and feel good.
I love thr fruit baby food – and actually I have a rat that eats nothing BUT the squash (nasty crap) But the fruit, I eat a fruit baby food daily for breakfast, and it really fills you up actually..!
Oh and my friends just had a baby… and baby food is rank no matter what!
I will start my baby food diet on sunday and hopefully everything will go fine, as far as sophie I will officially make u my inspiration 1 1/2 pounds a day is wonderful, It seems as if there is no “good” diet anymore according to health professionals, even some fruits they claim you need to look out for, my whole motto is if you are healthy it really shouldnt matter. I will keep everyone posted with the udated.
Wow. How can you end up on a fat acceptance website and talk about dieting? Are these people blind as well as bad typers?
I’m going to start the baby food diet tomorrow. Unlike many of you, I will absolutely come back to update!
I also plan to start the baby food diet, but first I have to stock up on all those nice, juicy babies who will serve as my food.
And get a deep fryer so I can make them into donuts.
Be sure to report back on your progress, O.C.! Hee.
Oh, you bet! You know, it’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle choice!
Mmmm… babies…
My o my, yuckies. For anyone who is trying this, here’s a helpful hint, Refrigerate the baby food. It goes down much easier, and the taste is easier to deal with. But keep a glass of lemon water near to chase the flavor away haha.
Okay, for all the “Closet” baby-fooders and the “sheeple” who want to agree and go along with what everyone else says…..let me bring up a few points.
First: What if one has IBS? No preservatives, chemicals, antibiotics or steroids in their food would make them feel mighty fine. Unfortunately….there aren’t many dishes out there which would make someone of that sort, relieved by diet alone.
Second: Hmmmm maybe for medical reasons baby food is needed. For example: What if someone has the inability to chew food for say….a temporary jaw issue. Say they are a business owner and absolutely DO NOT have the time to sit for hours on end and prepare their meals in the blender. (This is me if you couldn’t tell). I cannot chew food. I own a business that runs from 9 in the morning to 7 in the evening. Now let me just tell you, opening a few jars of baby food and chowing down…is much easier and time friendly for me, than watching my blender puree everything, then having to jar it up myself. I am on the go!
Besides: You can only eat so much Cream of Chicken, Celery, or Mushroom soup. Oatmeal…..I do enjoy oatmeal in the morning.
Okay….so get over yourselves. I don’t know why you are all “Nazi’s” about it anyway. If you don’t like the idea then don’t eat it. Hahaha
Whoa, this is the worst infestation I think I’ve ever seen here. I kept scrolling and reading, feeling like I was in the twilight zone and hoping for a punch line. And what’s stranger still is that they don’t seem to understand where they are. Maybe it’s the lack of nutrients in their systems? But who cares about nutrients when Vogue is knocking on your door, am I right?
Though I do sympathize. Sitting in front of a blender for HOURS ON END really can be tiresome.
Sitting in front of a blender for HOURS ON END really can be tiresome.
But when that blender contains a delightful combination of chocolate, strawberries, and ice cream? It’s soooo good! ;-)
Ok so dieting on baby food is really silly. You can just eat a frickin banana and it is the same thing as eating a jar of banana baby food.
I must say, however, that I babysit my nephew 5 days a week and I always try the new things that I am feeding him. It is mostly out of uncontrolable curiosity and boredom.
I am a little bit sad that he has grown out of baby food though. The plums are delicious and do not even get me started on the blueberry-apple medley of LOVE!
Lately he has been mostly eating what I eat for breakfast and lunch because he loves scrambled eggs and toast [and a sippy cup of chocolate milk cause I am his aunt and it is my job to give him things his mom won’t!] and whatever whole wheat pasta and chicken thing I cook for lunch. He is 17 months and is obsessed with pesto…go figure.
He still rocks the baby snacks though–apple flavored puff rice pinwheels, Gerber Graduate Cheese Puffs (NASTYYY). Oh and those Gerber Graduates Yogurt Melts should really be marketed for adults too. They are such an easy, transportable way to get all those live active cultures or whatevs and they taste like peach yogurt heaven.
I’m not on this diet but I will add a jar of baby food fruit (bananas, usually) and some Splenda to plain Fage greek yogurt. Quick and tasty.
What i really like to do is cook up some fruit to like a jamlike or marmalade-like consistency and add that to my yogurt, but when I am time-pushed, the baby fruits do just fine
Plain baby food doesn’t sound appetizing, but try adding it to your meals to add extra nutrients! (Just like in Jessica Seinfeld’s cookbook “Deceptively Delicious”) I add baby food carrots to our family’s chili, or spread a thin layer of squash or chicken on the inside of kids’ grilled cheese sandwiches, etc. They gobble it up without ever knowing. ;)
After reading the ingredients in canned and processed food and looking up what they contained and how it affects the physiological and psychological makeup it was scary. Many ingredients include MSG and all the hidden names of MSG causes cancer, makes us eat without filling full, and other chemical enhancers. I started eating baby food because its the only food I know that I can trust that don’t include all the additives that might harm me in some way. Check out the ingredients in baby food and in what you see on the shelf. You decide.
I have been on this baby food diet for some time, it is alot more healthier, doesnt have all that crap that the “adult” foods have, and very filling. I dont think there is anything wrong with eating it. Its very convienent, and if you get the fruity ones they are delishious! And great portion control! I lost 15 pounds but that is also me craming the gym everyday. The calories on these things are really low. I really do recommend this diet!