Keep it honest, make it real.
I want to show you why fruit and veggie pouches are the ultimate mom hack!
Let me start off by saying baby food pouches are NOT a replacement for the real deal. The real deal being whole foods; steamed broccoli, cut up grapes, etc. But, I do think there is a time and place for them, and I appreciate the option being available for me to buy at the grocery store.
At around 4-6 months, our pediatrician told us we could start introducing solid foods to Harper. I panicked. Nursing her for the last 6 months was so carefree. I didn’t have to plan out her meals or worry about not getting enough nutrition. But it was time for solid foods and working 40-50 hour weeks while being a new mom did not leave me enough time for making my own food.
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1. Convenience
My husband and I both work pretty demanding jobs with long hours. Between work, exercising, our 70 pound Goldendoodle, and Harper; I rarely even have enough time to go grocery shopping. I still feed my toddler real fruits and veggies daily but I discovered SPROUT organic baby food and we have been hooked ever since.
Important disclosure regarding any pouches:
According to Dr. Robin Jacobson, a pediatrician at NYU Langone Pediatric Associates at Irving Place; they’re not a replacement for regular fruits and veggies.“Developmentally, kids aren’t learning how to eat different textures and how to chew foods,” she tells GoodHousekeeping.com. “Instead of them eating peas and carrots, it’s all mushed up in the pouch and they’re just sucking it up. They don’t learn to eat a diet. They learn to drink a diet.”
Sprout pouches are quick and mess-free. Of course its better for your toddler to such down peas and pears instead of chips, just make sure you are not substituting pouches for real fruits and veggies as well.
2. Variety
Babies in the earliest months of eating solid foods are still getting their main calories and nutrition from breast milk or formula. The most important thing for us was to establish healthy eating habits and positive food associations. With SPROUT, I was able to introduce Harper to a variety of ingredients full of nutritional benefits.
3. Perfectly Mapped Out
I love how SPROUT offers guides to the food your child should eat based on age and development.
The Starter Stage
They start you off with Stage 1‘; single fruit and veggie purees. You can easily puree your own single fruits or veggies and serve them to your baby with a spoon. We didn’t start until we reached 2’s but if these are too convenient for you to turn down, by all means, start with the starter stage.
It is recommended that parents try new foods one at a time for 3 to 5 days to test for allergies to any food ingredient while the baby is still primarily breast or formula feeding. Some parents like to add baby’s usual breast milk or formula to a 1st stage food to ease the transition and add a bit of familiarity to a new experience. We did that with rice cereal and single ingredient foods.
Intermediate-2nd Stage
Stage 2 is for babies 6 months and up. Stage 2 offers plant protein blends, fruit and veggie blends, and fruit veggie and grain blends. We still love stage 2 pouches. Harper loves pear, kiwi, peas, and spinach; and I’m not mad about it.
These recipes are combinations of two or more ingredients. Nutritionally, these foods are designed to complement continued breast or formula feeding as your baby is exploring even more foods and flavors.
Advanced-3rd Stage
Stage 3 is designed for 8 months and up and leaves your baby feeling fuller and more satisfied. Stage 3 has ingredients such as butternut chickpea quinoa & dates. Yum. It offers veggie and grain blends and hearty blends. These recipes are designed for children comfortable with more texture in their foods. These recipes also provide more balanced nutrition including more protein and calories for babies eating more food and less breast milk or formula.
Toddler-4th Stage
Then you have the Stage 4 Toddler Purees called SPROUT Power Pak or Smoothies. Sprout’s Power Pak purees are made from 100% plant-based sources such as pear with a super blend, blackberry, and banana. They are designed to accompany or to be served in between, your little one’s mealtimes.
Sprout uses only USDA certified organic and non-GMO ingredients, and contains no concentrates, preservatives, additives, or anything artificial! My toddler eats better than I do. And that’s okay with me!
I find Sprout pouches on sale regularly at Publix. They often do 10 for $10 and buy one get one. When they go on sale, stock up! (Just remember to check the expiration date).
If you can swing it, make your own. I found a few reusable pouches.
If you can do reusable pouches, they are more environmentally friendly. It is cleaner and more cost-effective than disposable ones.
The Healthy Planet Reusable Pouch
XOXO
Mackenzie