Growing up with Cerelac

MANILA, Philippines – It’s a 150-year-old global brand that’s been in the Philippines for over 30 years. Chances are, you were fed Cerelac when you were an infant. Kirby Neri, Nestle nutrition marketing manager, relates how he used to help his mom feed Cerelac to his infant sister, who was 10 years younger. In fact, he recalls his mom telling him that she fed him Cerelac when he was an infant.

“It’s a heritage brand. We have generations of babies who were fed Cerelac,” Neri says. “Through the years, we’ve kept improving the product. This year, we reformulated Cerelac. We increased its iron level so that now, it meets half of the infant’s daily iron requirement.”

Four out of 10 babies in the Philippines are suffering from iron deficiency anemia,  Neri says. “Iron is important in cognitive development as well as in promoting the child’s vitality. By fortifying Cerelac with iron, we are addressing the number one problem of micro-nutrient deficiency in infants.”

Among the natural sources of iron are fruits and vegetables such as squash, which mothers usually cook and mash to give to their babies. “But you will need much more vegetables and you are not certain if you are getting the adequate amount of iron that your baby needs,” Neri points out. “With Cerelac you are assured of the level of iron fortification.”

Cerelac comes in different flavors such as Brown Rice and Milk, and Rice and Soya. Wheat Banana and Milk is the most popular flavor. “Cerelac is made from natural ingredients,” Neri explains. “With the Nestle patented process, we make sure that we get the ingredient’s natural goodness, which is then fortified with vitamins and minerals.”

Cerelac comes in seven flavors. It contains Iron Plus, which provides half of your baby’s daily iron needs.

Cerelac is recommended for babies six months to two years old. It’s a supplement to breast milk and helps the baby transition to solid food. “It exposes them to different tastes and textures,” Neri remarks. “It’s recommended to feed the baby the same flavor for at least three consecutive days, so he will get used to it, before introducing another flavor.”

It may seem at first that the baby is rejecting the solid food, but this is a natural reaction. “It takes at least five to 10 times of feeding before the infant gets used to the food,” says Dr. Celeste Gomez, a pediatrician. “It’s good to start with just one kind of food, and if there is no allergic reaction, you can move on to other kinds.”

“Starting solid food feeding at four months may be too early. “It increases the risk of obesity later on,” Dr. Gomez says.  “Starting at nine months, on the other hand, may be too late. This may result in underdeveloped jaw muscles. It may also result in picky eaters.” Six months is the ideal time to start feeding babies solid food

Cerelac, which is made by Nestle, is cereal that contains wheat flour, milk, vitamins, and minerals. It is easy for the baby to digest. “With Nestle’s latest technology, the cereal starch in the wheat flour is pre-digested. Its natural sweetness comes out so that there is no need to add more sugar,” says Ditas Sagarbarria, Nestle nutrition advisor. “It has probiotics that keep the baby’s digestive system healthy. It also helps in the immune defense system. 80 percent of immune cells that produce antibodies that protect us from illnesses are located in the tummy.”

“Cerelac is safe and easy to prepare. It dissolves easily in water. It has no preservatives, no artificial coloring. Its packaging keeps its freshness,” Sagarbarria adds. “Cerelac gives mothers an option for complementary feeding. We are not saying that you should give your baby only Cerelac. Just keep in mind to add at least one bowl of Cerelac to your baby’s daily feeding. When you prepare it strictly, following the instructions found on the label, you’re sure your baby gets consistent nutrient delivery in every bowl.”