Baby Food in Phuket
The most common myth about Thailand is that children are fed only spicy food there. This is accompanied by the phrases “food in Thailand is not suitable for baby food at all” and “all baby food should be brought with you” . Unfortunately, this misconception has taken root among inexperienced tourists and bloggers who need to shock the public. I will refute and dispel this myth with the help of facts.
Formula milk instead of breastfeeding
There is practically no maternity leave in Thailand, they don't even use the concept there. Mothers continue to work, and have to leave their children with relatives, most often with grandmothers.
It is clear that breastfeeding is impossible in such a situation. That is why milk formulas come to the rescue.
The main brands under which milk mixtures are produced and sold are: Danon Dumex, Wyeth Nutrition, DG (goat milk is present). The products of the Nestle company and its brands are well represented: Nestle Bear Brand, Nestle Cerelac, Nestle Nan.
Any young mother or relative can find these products in large retail chains: Big C, Lotus's, Tops and 7/11.
Is it possible to find milk porridges?
Yes, no problem, but the choice will not be that big. Especially Nestle Cerelac is the most popular brand in Thailand. There are such flavors as rice/wheat with apple and banana, just with banana. Rice with prunes is sold, as well as with tomato and corn. For those children who do not mind exotic - there are even options with fish.
There is no buckwheat porridge, but Russian stores (for example, Silena Food ) sell buckwheat. It will not be difficult for you to cook it yourself, because all stores sell cow's milk and soy milk, including strawberry, banana or chocolate flavors.
Dairy-free porridges
If your baby is just starting to eat solid food, then the only dairy-free option is rice porridge, which is good for this and is actively sold out. To find them on the shelves, look in the hypermarkets BigC, Tops or Villa market.
Among the organic mixtures you can find Xongdur Baby - this is brown rice with banana, pumpkin and grated carrot.
However, there is an alternative, the safest option for those who need to get baby food without any chemicals - cook any cereal and grind it in a blender. Then the porridge will be natural. Many young mothers or relatives looking after children do this. Moreover, it is cheaper than buying a ready-made mixture from Nestle or another brand.
What to do with kefir and baby cottage cheese?
On the one hand, things are not so simple with them, and many people really believe that there is a shortage of tasty dairy products. On the other hand, there are many expats living in Thailand and Phuket in particular. They produce and deliver cottage cheese to your home or hotel, and thanks to them, this business is well-established here.
Sour cream is sold in supermarkets and is called sour cream. There is also natural unsweetened yogurt - natural yogurt.
If you prefer the familiar fruit yogurts Activia, Meji or Dutch ilk, there will be no shortage of them either.
Where to find baby food
Heinz fruit purees are in great demand: pear, banana, apple, apple-banana, pear-banana, apple-pear, exotic ones like strawberry-banana, etc.
For the especially sophisticated, there is mashed potatoes with egg custard, carrots and sweet potatoes, even with corn and pumpkin.
Big C and Tesco Lotus supermarkets sell Peachy fruit purees, and there are products with pieces or mass of meat and fish.
It is difficult to find a single-ingredient puree made only from vegetables or only from meat. However, you can make it yourself, since vegetables are grown and sold freely in Thailand.
The main thing is to buy a blender and a steamer with which you can cook all this.
Not everyone likes meat purees, as local supermarkets like to sell them with unusual combinations of products. For example, not all mothers will agree to give their child mango with chicken the first time. And how about vegetable risotto, which also contains chicken? It is better to make do with more traditional options.
What if I want to buy some baby cookies?
No problem, in any baby food section. But we highly recommend reading the ingredients - many of them contain a lot of sugar, which is not suitable for everyone.
We present to your attention dried fruits, nuts, which are suitable as a healthy snack. You can buy them in all stores and supermarkets.
For older children
In this case, you can remember about cafes and restaurants, of which there are plenty. In addition to Thai non-spicy food, there is a children's menu, European cuisine is presented.
Pelmeni, which Russian children are accustomed to since childhood, are also prepared in Thailand. This dish is served in Russian establishments: for example, the Spice House and Veranda restaurant chains.
The 7/11 supermarket chain offers nutritious food for children: various puff pastries, buns, sandwiches, sausages, dried fruits and even boiled eggs.
Finally, there are many places in Phuket where you can buy fruits, but you shouldn't eat them often in the first few days after your arrival. They can cause allergies.
