Mark Salter shares his passion getting little ones to enjoy a diverse, healthy diet as they grow

Our ‘taste adventuring’ journey started some years ago now, in an ASDA store in the Lincolnshire town of Grantham. Whilst looking at the baby food options that were available to parents back then, it was evident that the choice for parents to serve to their little ones was extremely limited. With many spaghetti bolognese and fish pie options, the foods were bland and we wanted to bring some life, flavour and healthy ingredients to new families.

So travelling and taking recipe inspiration from exotic locations, we crafted recipes that would delight the taste buds of little ones and help them to eat a wider variety of healthy ingredients as they grow.

The first dish that we created is still to this day our No1 best seller. India is a diverse land which has for many years been synonymous with wonderful food and vibrant ingredients. Having won several taste awards, for aisha’s Chicken & Sweet Potato Curry is a complex authentic Indian recipe fusing together chicken with sweet potatoes and red lentils.

It also offers a range of nutritional benefits: sweet potatoes contain Vitamin A which is important for eye function and bone development. They also contain potassium, which is good for the heart and kidneys, and also Vitamin E, to help protect against cell damage.

A wide range of mild spices such as turmeric, cinnamon and nutmeg also bring a wonderful smell and taste to the dish, whilst adding a range of health benefits for little adventurers. Turmeric in particular is very much on-trend with parents at the moment.

The antioxidant properties of this spice are well established, but it’s also known to have antibacterial properties, which help to protect against infections and boost immune functions.

All these elements come together in our recipes, and are important for helping little ones to be vibrant, healthy and happy during their important early years.

You can read more about for aisha’s Stage2 and Stage3 recipes online at foraisha.com/babyfoods

Mark is the founder of for aisha baby food – a major UK infant food brand, pioneering exotic tastes for little ones foraisha.com