ANCHOR LEAD:
MANY OF US HAVE GOURMET TASTES WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD - BUT WHAT IF YOU'RE ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD? MORE MOMS ARE MOVING AWAY FROM TRADITIONAL BABY FOOD -
AND OPTING INSTEAD FOR FRESH, FANCY CUISINE FOR THE DIAPER SET.
________ __________ SHOWS US WHAT'S ON THE MENU FOR BABY.

TRACK ONE Length: 04
WHEN IT COMES TO FEEDING NINE-MONTH-OLD ROBBIE - HIS MOM DOESN'T CUT CORNERS.

SOT
KEY @:06 Tamra Loeb, Buys Gourmet Baby Food
"He doesn't eat baby food for very long. And I'd like him to have the best food available for his body."

TRACK TWO Length: 08
UNHAPPY WITH THE IDEA OF TRADITIONAL JARRED BABY FOOD -TAMRA WAS THRILLED TO FIND A PRODUCT CALLED "HOMEMADE BABY" IN THE COLD SECTION OF HER FOOD STORE.

SOT
KEY @: 21 Tamra Loeb, Buys Gourmet Baby Food
"It looked like something I would make myself. And I was really excited to see a product that looked as fresh as something I could make in my kitchen."

TRACK THREE Length: 10
'HOMEMADE BABY' FEATURES FRESHLY MADE FOOD AND UNIQUE FLAVOR COMBINATIONS THAT APPEAL TO LITTLE TASTE BUDS.ROBBIE LOVES THE ONE CALLED, "SQUAPPLES," --- A BLEND OF SQUASH AND APPLES…

NATS Length: 01
(NATS) "Want some more?"

TRACK FOUR Length: 24
'HOMEMADE BABY' IS AMONG A GROWING NUMBER OF FRESH AND 'FRESH-FROZEN' PRODUCTS---MOST OF THEM ORGANIC--- BEING MARKETED FOR LITTLE APPETITES.
…PRODUCTS LIKE "EVIE'S ORGANIC EDIBLES" - SPECIALIZING IN 'HOME-STYLE' DISHES LIKE SWEET POTATO RUTABEGA.
…OR "HAPPY BABY," WHICH COMES IN COLORFUL FROZEN CUBES, OFTEN WITH A HINT OF SEASONING, TO MAKE VEGGIES A LITTLE MORE INVITING. BUT ARE THESE 'DESIGNER' FOODS OKAY FOR BABIES' LITTLE STOMACHS?

SOT
KEY @: 1:04 Tiffani Hays, Pediatric Clinical Nutritionist Johns Hopkins Children's Center
"They're at least as healthy as our conventional baby foods and perhaps more healthy for our children. We just don't know. We don't have the studies to back that up."

NATS Length: 01
"Yummy."

TRACK FIVE Length: 06
FOR THOSE MOMS WHO OPT TO STAY WITH TRADITIONAL JARRED BABY FOOD - NUTRITIONISTS SAY-THAT'S FINE TOO.

SOT
NO KEY
"They do deliver healthy, balanced diets for many infants."

TRACK SIX Length: 10
TAMRA IS GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE OPTION.SHE HOPES THE FRESH AND INTERESTING FLAVORS WILL SET A PATTERN OF HEALTHY EATING FOR ROBBIE.
FOR NOW, HE SEEMS PRETTY SATISFIED WITH WHAT'S ON THE MENU.

(NATS, gives baby a kiss)

TAG
MOMS MAY PAY ABOUT TWICE AS MUCH FOR THE FRESHLY MADE BABY FOOD COMPARED TO TRADITIONAL JARS. THEY CAN BE FOUND MAINLY IN NATURAL FOOD STORES, WHICH SAY THEY PLAN ON ADDING TO THEIR SHELVES IN THE COMING WEEKS.

SOURCES
FOR CLIENT-STATION USE ONLY
The information provided below is for client-station use only. It
is provided to help you obtain answers to any additional
questions you may have and to help you localize a story. This private contact information,
including phone numbers, addresses and email addresses, cannot be given to
viewers nor posted on your Website. It is for internal station use only. Any exceptions to this will be clearly noted. Thank you.

Tiffani Hays
Pediatric Clinical Nutritionist
Johns Hopkins Children's Center
600 N. Wolfe Street
Baltimore, MD.
21287
(410)955-5177

Tiffani Hays holds a Master's Degree in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Maryland. She is currently Senior Clinical Dietician at Johns Hopkins Children's Center. She counsels families with children about a range of dietary needs.

EXTRA BACKGROUND

Johns Hopkins Children's Center

*** Nutritionists say babies and toddlers often refuse new foods of any
type, and it may take dozens of exposures before it becomes appealing
to them. Parents may be surprised at the variety of flavors they like.

*** The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children at
risk of allergy should avoid all peanut, nut, and shellfish products until
they turn 3 years of age.

*** Babies can handle "chunkier" or more textured foods as their oral
motor skills mature. But all babies move through these stages at
different rates. Parents should observe how their infant handles food
in their mouth as they're eating to judge when they are ready for the
next stage.

*** Experts say babies may not even be able to distinguish added
seasonings because their taste buds are still developing.
.

  Coming Soon!

FANCY FOODS FOR TINY TUMMIES HUM0609-12
Release Date: September 18, 2006
Run Time: 1:32