It’s sometimes difficult to find your way through all the technical terms. That’s why Mother Hen offers you a summary that is concise, clear… and as simple as our recipes 😉

Nutrients, in short, are the nutritive elements assimilated by the body during the nutrition process. They are the organic and inorganic compounds our bodies need to sustain life. When they are digested, they are absorbed by the cells in the intestine and find their way into the bloodstream.

Vitamins and minerals are sub-categories of nutrients. Vitamins, for their part, have no energy value, but are essential for the proper functioning of our bodies. They help regulate metabolism, facilitate the release of energy and contribute to the synthesis of bones and tissues. You should know vitamins D and K are the only ones that can be synthesized other than through food. That’s why it’s important to eat foods that are full of vitamins!

Minerals, which are also essential for the proper functioning of our bodies, can be found in unlimited quantities, in natural water or soil. They are part of the composition of enzymes and hormones; help build bones and teeth; help maintain heart rate, muscle contraction, neuronal conductivity and the body’s acid-base balance. Quite a job!

Finally, trace elements are mineral substances that make up less than 1% of our body mass. They play a key role in our body’s chemical reactions, regulating physiological functions, promoting exchanges between tissues and boosting defense functions! Vast project for such small workers 😉

Difficult to make up your mind on this subject? We thought of everything! You can consult our chart (downloadable PDF) for more information!

We all know that life goes by very quickly, and that eating well can become a real parental headache. This is actually the reason behind the creation of Mother Hen, so that feeding your baby becomes simpler, without ever compromising on the quality of his food. Nevertheless, one may be tempted to opt for a vitamin and mineral supplement as a convenient little boost. If you are tempted by the idea, you should first know that a rich and varied diet will always remain your best ally, but if you are experiencing a particular situation, such as pregnancy, it can be an interesting option.

Since our children are growing so fast, it’s worth considering whether they need vitamin and mineral supplements. First of all, breastfed babies need a vitamin D supplement to meet their needs. For other children, it depends on their individual circumstances. A rich and varied diet (see PDF chart) normally provides everything a growing child needs, and would make a multivitamin unnecessary. BUT! Children who are at risk of deficiency could benefit from a supplement, such as children with chronic illnesses, eating disorders, numerous food allergies or those with a less balanced diet or a strict vegetarian diet. In these particular cases, a supplement may be necessary, but this will vary depending on your child’s reality, so it is wise to discuss this with your child’s doctor.

Supplements: the particular case of pregnancy

Of course, pregnancy is on the list of special cases! If a varied diet is once again the key to success here, it is nevertheless suggested not to shy away from supplements. As folic acid is essential, it is recommended to take it as a supplement 3 months before conception. Once pregnant, we opt for a multivitamin specially designed for pregnant women throughout pregnancy.

Why are our purees deep-frozen? First, it is important to know that freezing and deep-freezing are two different processes. If freezing gradually lowers the temperature (like in your home freezer, for example), deep-freezing allows you to quickly cool food, in a few minutes to an hour, to preserve all its nutritional value.

The molecules contained in food are affected by storage conditions. That’s why fresh products are popular, and with good reason! The sooner the food is eaten after it is harvested or basically processed (say, in the case of meat), the fresher and more nutrient-filled it will be. At Mother Hen, we offer you a product that we want to be of exceptional freshness, and that’s why we choose to deep-freeze it. Since picking an apple from our garden, mashing it and consuming it immediately is not everyone’s reality, we recreate the experience by deep-freezing our products to ensure optimal preservation of their nutritional value while they are on their way to you!