Baby Solids: Easier than Homemade Baby Food

So while I do love to make homemade baby food for my little girl, whether purée or steamed veggies, meats etc, it takes a lot of time. For me it was finding a balance. I wanted to enjoy making her food and not get bogged down by the frequency and quantity of it.

I found the balance thanks to two companies that are making & delivering fresh baby food to your doorstep.

Fresh Baby Food Delivered

Thank goodness for my weekly Yumi orders. This company makes fresh purées, using all low sugar, organic and nutrient dense ingredients. They offer Stages 1, 2 and 3, based on the age of your child. Each stage also takes into where your baby is in her/his development, so they use ingredients that, for example, have more calcium for those starting to walk. You can edit your order and select the jars that you want. They arrive perfectly chilled and ready to serve. The hard plastic jars do make it easy to bring them with you if you are out as well.

One of the best (and worst things) about the Yumi jars? They do go bad quickly. However, that’s because they are super fresh and contain ZERO preservatives. It does mean that I make sure to use them as soon as I can, or freeze them if I cannot. Generally, I make sure to have at least 1 jar of Yumi present at every meal.

I started with the Stage 2 as I really liked their unique combinations and found that it was easier for me to whip up a batch of one ingredient purées found in Stage 1 and outsource the more difficult combinations. Whipping up just sweet potatoes for example, is way easier than combining dragonfruit, chia seeds, coconut milk, Japanese sweet potato, quinoa, banana, wheat germ oil and pineapple for the Dragonfruit Chia Pudding in Stage 3.

 

As Aurora’s appetite grew, we went from using just a little bit of the jar (maybe over 3 or 4 meals), to now using half or a whole jar during meals. I also add in other items at each meal, including BLW foods, but if I didn’t, I bet she’d eat the whole jar every time.

I also found that she preferred some foods right away and others, she liked more and more over increasing exposure. That is how babies are with all foods so don’t give up on a food or a Yumi flavor, if they don’t take to it right away. For Aurora, the more fruity flavors definitely were instant hits but she now takes down her savories like the Jon & Vinny’s Polenta Mushroom Bolognese like a champ.

 

On the Go

Now that we are on 2 naps per day (HALLELUJAH), we have about 3 hours of awake time. This means I can get us out of the house! Our lunch is almost always somewhere else. Usually, we go to a playground or a park, so it’s more picnic style. In this case, I find it the most convenient to use our Once Upon a Farm pouches.

I LOVE these pouches. I stumbled upon them while looking for yogurt as they are in the refrigerated aisle. They are delivered monthly right to our door, and contain only fresh, organic, cold pressed ingredients.

They often contain fruit but that doesn’t mean they are too sweet. The balance is key here as there is usually a fat (avocado, coconut milk, chia) to give it heft plus they use unique flavors like turmeric, spearmint and rosemary.

I like that I don’t have to think about adding rosemary myself but am still gaining the benefits of Aurora’s palate being exposed to different flavors.

For her age, we are in the Stage 2 to Stage 3 area and she’s loving the combinations. I have tried all of them too and I have to agree. The Wild Rumpus Avocado is a personal favorite–that combo with pineapple, mint and avos is SO delicious.

The pouch makes it easy to use in the car seat, the stroller and at a restaurant. Aurora learned quickly how to feed herself with these so I just make sure to be next to her and help her push up more of the goodness to the top when she is running low.

 

What is different about the Once Upon a Farm pouches vs Yumi?

Well the obvious pouch versus jar makes the OUAF easier for traveling and Yumi better for sit down meal time. I’ve also found that the OUAF are a little more fruit based, while Yumi has some jars that are strictly savory. OUAF can last a bit longer in the refrigerator which can be helpful when you are in between groceries, whereas Yumi is pretty much good under a week. Both have their strengths and weaknesses and for me, the the sweet spot is having both on hand because since they both serve different functions for Aurora.

 

Other brands that I use? 

HappyBaby (for Oatmeal)

Plum Organics pouches (when traveling or I run out of Once Upon a Farm)

Peter Rabbit pouches (when traveling or I run out of Once Upon a Farm)