Soon after Felix turned one, he finally started enjoying foods other than breast milk.
Unfortunately, by this point I was pretty burned out from preparing and then throwing away homemade pureed fruits and veggies that he refused to eat. With Wolfie I was way chiller and basically did baby-led weaning.
But back to 2010, when I discovered squeezy fruit/veggie baby food pouches sold everywhere.
Baby food pouches are much easier to handle than jars of food, and both my kids still enjoy them in packed lunches on occasion. In addition, they are probably more nutritious than jarred foods (more on this below).
My Favorite Baby Food Pouches
I’m partial to the 100% organic White Leaf Provisions baby food pouches because they are biodynamic. You’ll read more about this brand below, under “The Good Stuff.”
From: $65.99 every 2 weeksBuy Now
The Problem with Baby Food Pouches
My only real issue with baby food pouches is that they are made of plastic.
All of the brands mentioned below use the same basic materials for their pouches, which is a combination of BPA-free polypropylene (this is the part that touches the food, and what the spout is made of) and foil.
Fortunately, polypropylene seems to be the safest type of plastic, and is probably non-toxic, but from an environmental perspective, it’s not ideal
Glass Jars Versus Plastic Baby Food Pouches
Safety & Nutrition
- According to the companies that use them, plastic pouches “better protect flavor and nutrients, and require lower, shorter heat times, one of the effects of which means we can naturally preserve…products without adding additives and preservatives.”
- Although pouches are free of BPA, substitutes for the chemical may be toxic as well.
- While glass is always the safest material, the lids of jarred food may contain BPA.
Environment
- Pouches are roughly ten times lighter than a classic glass jar, so they require that much less energy to produce and ship.
- Pouches cannot be recycled, but they use more than 75 percent less materials than traditional baby food containers.
- The spouts on the pouches are #2 plastic, which is recyclable.
The Good Stuff
Beech-Nut Baby Food Pouches
Beech-Nut recently went organic, and I assume this is a result of consumer demand–so, nice job! Beech-Nut makes mixed fruits, veggies, and some that just one ingredient like organic carrots or organic sweet potatoes.
Happy Baby Food Pouches
Many Happy Baby/Happy Tot blends contain vegetables and grains, including salba (a type of chia seed). The salmon used by Happy Baby is wild Alaskan. Note that some other Happy Baby snacks contain sugar (the yogurt snacks and some of their frozen kids’ meals). Happy Baby food pouches are widely available in grocery stores as well as on Amazon.
Sprout
Sprout doesn’t use sugar in any of their pouches; and none of Sprouts products contain starchy fillers. I love that their grain blends contain actual whole grains (i.e., cooked quinoa instead of quinoa flour). Sprout also avoids all fruit concentrates. While Sprout offers a range of meat blends, they also have a Plant Protein line for those who prefer only vegan options, with vegetable-based proteins from organic chickpeas, lentils, and beans.
How to Get Some
Sprout pouches are available in many grocery stores, as well as on Amazon.
Plum Organics Baby Food Pouches
Felix always seemed to prefer the Plum flavors to all other brands, his favorite being the mango and pear. Some of the newer flavors include grains–such as oats and brown rice–or organic meat and dairy.
Water is often the first ingredient in Plum’s pouches, and it’s a little sneaky that the “grains” are actually grain flours (i.e., millet flour, oat flour, etc.) (One other bone I have to pick here: Some of Plum’s other toddler snacks contain sugar.)
How to Get Some
Plum Organics pouches are widely available in grocery stores, as well as on Amazon.
Ella’s Kitchen Baby Food Pouches
I like that the cardboard outer packaging (when you buy Ella’s in bulk) is 90 percent recycled and 100 percent recyclable. Some newer varieties include grains, yogurt, vegetables, and/or meat–honestly, pureed Vegetable & Lentil Bake in a pouch sounds pretty gross to me, but it’s definitely healthful! I love that even Ella’s cookies and biscuits for older kids are free of sugar.
How to Get Some
Here in New York, I can find Ella’s Organics in my neighborhood grocery store or at Whole Foods. They are also available on Amazon.
Once Upon a Farm
You’ve probably heard of this one, since it was co-founded by Jennifer Garner. I’m happy to say that Once Upon a Farm is legit Good Stuff!
What makes these blends unique is that they are cold pressed to lock in the nutrients, which means Once Upon a Farm pouches are always refrigerated.
How to Get Some
You can buy Once Upon a Farm pouches in select grocery stores and on Amazon.
Peter Rabbit Organics Baby Food Pouches
These were Felix’s favorite baby food pouches, and the apple/grape was his favorite flavor. Peter Rabbit never dilutes its purees with water, but some flavors contain juice concentrate in addition to fruit purees.
How to Get Some
You can buy Peter Rabbit Organics pouches in select grocery stores and on Amazon.
Revolution Foods Mashups
The Good
The cardboard outer packaging is 100 percent recyclable and made of 100 percent recycled paperboard.
The Bad
Some Mashup flavors contain juice concentrates. Most other snacks by Revolution Foods contain sugar and various (natural) preservatives. I wouldn’t recommend any other Revolution products.
How to Get Some
It seems that this brand no longer makes baby food pouches.
Serenity Kids
This new line of Paleo-inspired baby food. They use organic vegetables and grass-fed and pasture- raised meats. All blends are free of hormones, antibiotics, GMO’s, gluten, fillers, grain, dairy, corn, allergens, eggs, and nuts. I personally don’t think babies need to be eating meat at all but if you disagree, this is probably the best line there is!
White Leaf Provisions
White Leaf Provisions is my favorite line of baby food pouches–and the only brand we’ve chosen to carry in our online store. The reason?
White Leaf baby food pouches are even better than organic (although it IS organic), because they’re also Biodynamic. Biodynamic farms are built to integrate every living organism within the system, and aspires to transform and maximize the health and vitality of the farm’s every aspect. A biodynamic farm aims to produce everything on the premises, including seeds, fertilizers, natural control agents for pests and even feed for livestock.
Choose from a range of fruit and veggie blends–all of which are free of concentrates and fillers.
From: $65.99 every 2 weeksBuy Now
The Bad Stuff: Less Healthy
Gerber is maybe the only brand that makes a non-organic version, so I’m calling that Bad Stuff. (Note that their organic pouches actually are fine!)
The Sneaky Stuff
Earth’s Best puree pouches, while appearing equal to the Good Stuff above, are not as clean. Even their simplest flavors (pears, for instance) are fortified with all sorts of stuff, including zinc sulfate, and citric acid. The yogurt varieties have fewer ingredients than the plain fruit/veggie blends.
Baby-Led Weaning
Proponents of baby-led weaning argue that babies should skip purees all together and go straight to “real” food as soon as they are ready to begin eating solids. There are tons of resources on baby-led weaning, and one good place to start is here.
Read our review of
frozen baby food.
Read our review of
jarred baby food.
Cynthia B. says
Thank you so much! I love coming to this site for suggestions on what’s safest for my baby. It’s so hard to find the “good stuff” with all these brands out there all claiming all to be “good” for your little one. I came across this short article though, and got concerned since “Sprout” is one of the brands listed on this post: http://newjersey.news12.com/story/36679736/study-most-baby-food-products-test-positive-for-arsenic
Jenny says
Was just about to post a similar question and see you and others are asking the same. I love this site too and have exclusively buying Sprout pouches when I can’t make something homemade or need an easy snack.
Stacy says
Hi, do you think your reviews of baby foods including puffs will change since the news story broke yesterday about foods containing BPA and arsenic? Sprouts and Happy Baby were on the list which has me in a panic because we feed our 8 month old the happy baby puffs and I have looked at their purees a few times.
Lital Gilboa says
Has this guide been updated? I too am a big fan of this website, and would love some guidance on navigating the puree pouch world in light of these recent studies. Thank you!
Annmarie says
Have you seen this new study that came out about baby jar foods and pouches as well as toddler snacks? It’s called the Clean Label Project. It’s changing the way I offer all snacks to my 2 year old!!
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/10/25/these-baby-foods-and-formulas-tested-positive-arsenic-lead-and-bpa-new-study/794291001/
Stacy says
Hi, what are your thoughts on Little Spoon foods? I think they are rather new?
Carrie says
What do you think of the added vitmain E in Plum Organics Mighty 4 Tots? It says 30 percent. I know too much vitamin e can be toxic and my one year old is on toddler formula and sometimes has 2 of these a day
Olivia says
Could you report on Aldi’s Little Journey baby line? They have organic food pouches, diapers, wipes and more. I’d love to get yoyr take on them.
Aisling McDonagh says
Hello! Are there any reusable food pouches you recommend? I see loads on Amazon (ChooMe, Squooshi & WeeSprout). My almost 2-year old loves them for her daily yoghurt and snacks on the go (busy single, full time working NYC mama here!). Appreciate any insight you may have.
Thanks from Battery Park,
Aisling
Jackie says
What are your thoughts on the most recent study? Every day is a new worry.
https://www.consumerreports.org/food-safety/heavy-metals-in-baby-food/
Sean BL says
I think this page needs to be updated in light of recent testing by Consumer Reports that found unacceptable levels of heavy metals in jars and pouches in most baby food, including organic ones. Here is the link to the report: https://www.consumerreports.org/food-safety/heavy-metals-in-baby-food/
I personally and tossing all my pouches, jars, and teething biscuits.
Maia says
Generally, the ones highest in concerning metals/arsenic are those with rice or rice powder, sweet potatoes, and apple juice.
Amy says
Another great thing about Once Upon a Farm is that they are partnered with Terracycle so you can order a postage paid return envelope from their site to return the used containers for them to recycle!
https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/onceuponafarm
Julia Wilkinson Manley says
Our baby is on a keto-like diet for seizure control. Do you happen to know of any trust-worthy low carb packets? The Serenity Kids is likely the closest on your list, but I didn’t look at the label. Would be helpful to have packets I can easily stash in the diaper bag for emergencies or for days when I’m stressed to the max.
Batia Lavi says
Most pouch ingredients mention “fruit puree” and “vegetable puree” instead of whole food, which means the brand buys the food as pureed and then create their own flavor mix. All of that cooking and recooking and pasturizing must kill most of the nutrients and turn the food to sugar concentrates, any research on the actual benefits in the food?
Meghan says
Hi, I use the Earth’s Best pouches because they are the only ones I can find (although I will now check out Beech Nut) that have options that are just veggies, versus a mix of veggies and fruit, so there is about 10 grams less sugar in them. On the package the only ingredients listed are the two veggies and water. Are you saying that the other additives are in there but not required to be listed on the packaging? Thanks!