'I will be doing a mix of BLW and puree'. Discuss.

[Aitch]

oh yes it WAS about the water, wasn't it? so does that have no bearing on puree at all then?

[scotrail]

I have seen some theoretical papers from nutritionists saying that liquid(er) foods sort of bypass the fullness reflex and sneak nutrients into the body, thereby encouraging overeating. Still, I have yet to find a peer-reviewed paper actually comparing intake of the same meal in puree and solid form. It appears however that heating food changes its ratio of soluble to insoluble fibre, reducing the latter and making it more easily digestible. So basically serving a well-cooked carrot reduces its insoluble fibre content, mashed or not. But not sure about this. PhD in the making for some interested BLWer!

[Jelly Belly]

oh yes it WAS about the water, wasn't it? so does that have no bearing on puree at all then?

For the smooth purees you need to add water to your cooked veg to get it to actually blend. I only know this from watching a friend do it!

[Aitch]

oh well that is interesting... so they are taking in the same amount of carrot but it's making them fuller cos of the water? OR they are taking in the same amount of carrot and it's making them feel fuller cos of water BUT it's making it more digestible? the two things seem to run counter?

[scotrail]

I guess that depends on whether soluble fibre passes through the stomach more quickly than insoluble fibre? We need a nutritionist!

[Jelly Belly]

oh well that is interesting... so they are taking in the same amount of carrot but it's making them fuller cos of the water? OR they are taking in the same amount of carrot and it's making them feel fuller cos of water BUT it's making it more digestible? the two things seem to run counter?

May I refer you back to Jem's smoothie observation that you can consume more in liquid form so they may well be eating more carrot than they would if picking it up and gnawing on it but they then stay fuller for longer (due to the combined water thingamy) leaving less room for milk...

Do you just love how scientific I am?

[scotrail]

Can I just add in here that when I make mash (partner and daughter love mashed potatoes, carrots and swede equally, so who am I to argue), I usually don't add liquid, so she can eat it with her hands (that must be maximum laziness, not wanting to be bothered with loaded spoons.. ahem). I just add a bit of butter. I never thought of that as breaching the BLW, but hey, maybe it is? However, I think it goes to show that mashed foods don't have to be wet, to further complicate things.

[Aitch]

hahahaha at 'i just add butter'.

me too. dh adds milk and it makes me want to hurl. just FATS, please, darling.

[scotrail]

You probably noticed I didn't specify the size of the "bit", yes..

[Aitch]

now i am hungry

[Jelly Belly]

However, I think it goes to show that mashed foods don't have to be wet, to further complicate things.

Mashed is the stage after puree. Then you do lumpy mash. Then - who the hell knows? I stopped even pretending to listen!

[Aitch]

yup. still hungry.

[scotrail]

What's the difference between smooth mash and a puree? When does puree become smooth mash? I think we need a philosopher. Here in Norway I think even the puree people generally mash up a bit of their own dinner to a smooth concistency with a fork and feed it. I didn't realise there was a stage before that! Pre-masticating with saliva? (Although I have been known to lick every single frency fry before handing it to baby when out and they were salted.. nice, eh)

[Jem]

Can I just add in here that when I make mash (partner and daughter love mashed potatoes, carrots and swede equally, so who am I to argue), I usually don't add liquid, so she can eat it with her hands (that must be maximum laziness, not wanting to be bothered with loaded spoons.. ahem). I just add a bit of butter. I never thought of that as breaching the BLW, but hey, maybe it is? However, I think it goes to show that mashed foods don't have to be wet, to further complicate things.

Unless you're spooning it in mouths, I don't think mash "breaches" anything. Mashed potato is a legitimate food choice. Pureed chicken pie with veg is not.

I add a splosh of milk to mashed tatties

[TinLIN]

I add milk and butter to my mashed potatoes!