A question from Mamasource :
Hi everyone, I am going to be taking my baby to a few swiss cities in May. she will be an year old then. She still has no teeth and gums stuff ok but still eats mostly baby food. I was looking to try to avoid carrying jars of baby food with me. Can anyone advice me on baby food available in Switzerland? – A.P.
Dear A.P.,
Beechnut baby food is actually owned by the Swiss company Hero.
Gerber is owned by Nestle, also a Swiss company.
Just because these Swiss companies sell baby food in the USA doesn’t mean that these brands will be on the shelf, but it is a good sign.
Do you have any friends there you will be visiting? They might have first hand info about what’s available at their grocery store.
Or, you might consider sending an email to customer services departments at Nestle and Beechnut asking them directly.
When I was in Japan last year, I had no problem finding baby food for by baby. They did have more food combinations we aren’t used to seeing here for babies like fish with rice and onions, but I was also able to find chicken and vegetables, too.
Remember, just because the food combination isn’t one we’re used to seeing doesn’t mean that it’s unhealthy. Your baby is at an age where she is exploring new tastes – she might surprise you and like something new!
Here’s another tip: I brought along a Magic Bullet food processor (we had an apartment for the five weeks we were there) and made a lot of baby food while we were there. You may need an adapter if you are using American appliances. OR, you can get a non-electric food grinder if you plan on eating at restaurants or don’t want to have the hassle of using an adapter – these can be bought at Amazon.com or Babies R Us.
You can also stick with soft foods like soup or oatmeal, mashed bananas, mashed peas, potatoes, bread soaked in juice or milk, yogurt. Canned veggies are also pretty soft. Foods mash better if they’re warmed or if they’re soaked in a liquid and with a little work, a fork can be an effective a mashing tool.
Best wishes!