9 tips to puree pouches that your toddler will love!
One of the most stressful parts, currently for me, as a parent is making sure my daughter is healthy (and happy and meeting milestones and making friends… ok ok back to it).To help a child be healthy and do all the things… have a nutritious fuel system. Food is the fuel that powers our bodies, immune system and impacts the way our brain develops. A fan favorite in our house and on the go are puree pouches! Involving our toddlers in the prep process helps them learn life skills for more information see my post 5 ways you should involve your toddler in meal preparations. Here are 9 tips that I have found to be the most helpful in making pouches.
Find a local produce store (shop local) and read their sales ad every week. Between my school and my daughters there is an amazing little gem of a produce store. I review their sales ad every week. Then on the weeks they have a major sale I plan a trip. Plan your puree pouches recipes based on what is on sale and get started!
Choose a main ingredient for each blend that you can buy in bulk (and on sale) to help make your money last longer and work harder! Produce that is a household favorite and a filling choice is key. Some examples: apples, bananas, carrots, mango and sweet potatoes. Mangos are a harder prep than many but they are so yummy!
Knowing what your child likes is a trial and error system that can change (and often). Having options on hand that are go to favorites is always a good idea. For my toddler, bananas or blueberries in a blend always makes it a hit! Other options for making blend choices are having simple tried and true combinations. Example: Sweet potatoes and cinnamon or apple and cinnamon… even better sweet potato, apple cinnamon! Finally produce choices that match in color appearance tend to go well together in flavor pallets. Examples; Banana, pear and sweet potato or Asparagus and apple.
For picky eaters hide extra nutrients in the delicious blends you have created. I add a small amount of spinach to every single puree pouches I make for my daughter for a little extra dose of nutritional goodness. (For spinach it is good to steam it ever so slightly so it is easier/smoother to blend in.) You can add other nutrient dense food in small amounts to increase nutritional value and not change the flavor. Examples: spinach, kale, beets or blackberries. These may change the color of the overall blend but if used in moderation it will not change the flavors.
The old saying consistency is key also applies to making pouches. Finding the consistency that your baby needs and likes can be a learning curve. I have found that the smoother the blend the less gagging from texture there is. If your blend is too thick, it will not be removed easily from the pouch BUT don’t just scrap it! You can add water (if your babe is old enough), breastmilk or prepped formula.
Add extras that are not produce (when your babe is ready for them!)
Oats, quinoa, spices, chia and flax are great additions! You can try different options to spice up the flavors (Heehee see what I did there?) and make your babe want the pouches even more. Bonus this helps create a wider more mature pallet for them to enjoy for a lifetime!
Choose produce that will not only fill the pouch but fill your child’s belly is important. When you are trying to spend a little and get a lot choose a produce that will be nutritious, filling and easy to combine with other flavors. Bananas, carrots and sweet potatoes go a long way and many toddlers like the sweetness added to their blends. In addition, you can get a lot of produce for a little (especially if you plan ahead with sales!)
Have a system for creation and storage. Currently I used the Kiinde brand twist pouches(affliate link below) and the system it came with. This system has an easy process for filling the pouches, great material to label on and reusable spouts to avoid excessive plastic use. If you make the pouches in bulk it is cheaper and they can be easy to freeze… if you plan to have the space ahead of time. You will need to freeze them because they only last about 3 days when made fresh and stored in the fridge.
