droolicious : baby food

Freeze Your Own Baby Food With Fresh Baby

Heather Kuldell — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:02:00 GMT

Maybe it's the economy, maybe it's food-supply fear, or maybe it's that the parents who make their own baby food just enjoy it. The common ice-cube tray is a popular and cost-effective solution to freezing batches of self-made goodies, but Fresh Baby Food Tray offers a step up. What is that step?

A lid. Each tray can freeze 12 one-ounce cubes of breast milk or food, but the real appeal is the lid that helps keep accidental spills in check. Fresh Baby also makes the food trays out of "safe" plastic, so there aren't any BPA, PVC or other scary acronyms involved. Trays will set you back $12.95 each. While that's more than an ice-cube tray, it's probably less than the dozen of tiny containers you'd need as an alternative.

Shower 'Em With Tastybaby Gift Baskets

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Sure, we've already told you about some of the celebrity baby showers that've featured Tastybaby's alluringly packaged organic frozen baby food, but we're happy to report that you don't need to be a Hollywood A-lister to nab one of the company's gift baskets.

The "Hello, Baby!" basket ($75), pictured above, marks the low end of Tastybaby's line, but it doesn't skimp on the good stuff: Inside each reusable, indestructible metal basket (which also ships inside a colorful tote), recipients will find an 18-meal Tastybaby gift certificate; a set of recipes for grown-up foods that you can make using Tastybaby's baby foods; an assortment of vividly colored temporary tattoos; and two organic-cotton, veggie-themed treats, a beanie and a teething toy.

Moving up from there, you'll find the "You're So Tasty, Baby!" basket ($120), which includes everything in the "Hello, Baby" set as well as 18 more meals' worth of certificates; and the crown jewel of the line, the "Baby, You're The Best" basket ($295), which ups the meal count to 128. That's a lot of money, sure, but it's also a lot of food -- and if you caught our first peek at Tastybaby from last year, you can rest easily knowing the company ranks high on our list of natural num-nums.

Learn more at Tastybaby's site, and while you're browsing, be sure to request one of the company's "buy 1, get 1" coupons for January.

Free Food For Babies Born on Jan. 1, 2009

Lisa Mulcahy — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:30:00 GMT

To launch its 2009 “Advancing Nutrition” program this baby food maker is offering free food for New Year’s babies.

It might not be a lot, a $5 coupon it fact, but these days every little bit helps. So if you gave birth on January 1 cash in on Beech-Nut’s website.

Cooking for Baby: The Cookbook

Erin Behan — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:57:00 GMT

So you've got your babycook in hand but have no idea what to cook? Once you get beyond basic purees and cereals (although the book has info on that, too), you might want to move onto stews, risottos, muffins and waffles, all detailed in Cooking for Baby ($19.95), a Williams-Sonoma exclusive.

Easy Feeding with Babycook

Erin Behan — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:29:00 GMT

I've just started to jump into the solid foods arena, and while it's easier than I thought (save the constipation issues), I can definitely see the value in a compact, all-in-one device to help you make your own baby food. The very popular in France, BPA-free Beaba Babycook ($150) steams, purees and even reheats or defrosts if you make in bulk and freeze. The bowl and basket are dishwasher safe and it also comes with a spatula and recipe booklet. It's new to the U.S. and yet there's 30+ glowing reviews at Williams-Sonoma.

ABC Kids Expo 2008: The Wean Machine Portable Baby Food Grinder

Chris Ford — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:03:00 GMT

Fortunately, everything I saw at the ABC Kids Expo wasn't fancy furniture and strollers. I also saw some interesting and innovative smaller products as well. At the top of the list for me was a little portable baby food grinder called the Wean Machine. Explanation and a better photo after the jump.

The Wean Machine is basically like an enormous garlic press that you use to make food mushy enough for your baby to eat. The best part about it though is that it's totally portable, small enough to fit in a handbag or diaper. And it's as simple as a garlic press too. You just put the food you want your baby to eat in the bottom, press it up through to the top and use the built in spoon for feeding. There's also a cover that goes over the whole contraption which is good for keeping the food fresh inside, or just for keeping the inside of your bag clean if you're not able to clean it up on the go. According to the inventor, it will handle just about all the types of foods you would feed a baby that's new to solid foods (bananas, strawberries, peas etc.). It's not going to handle a steak or a pork roast, but you're probably not going to be carrying that with you anyway.

The Wean Machine should be available in the US in early January but you can check it out now at JuvenileSolutions.com

The Babble Review: Bumkins Bibs with Giveaway!

editors — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:37:00 GMT

Perhaps you’ve seen these stylish bibs on the sidelines of Drool. Look! They’re right over there →. We got to see them in person and yep, they’re cute! The Bumkins come in a wide variety of hip design options; we especially like Chunky Monkey, as seen above. These durable bibs are waterproof so you can just wipe them off after a dousing of butternut squash mush - a most appealing alternative to damp, smelly cloths piling up around the house. (Although they are also machine washable if you’re the disinfecting type.)

You can feel good about wrapping these soft bibs around your babe's neck, as Bumkins are vinyl, PVC and Phthalate free and made in the USA. They are also available super sized and with sleeves. All sizes and shapes of Bumkins come with “the pocket” - that catch-all device on the bottom of the bib that grabs the big chunks before they hit the floor and your cocker spaniel gets a second dinner. Or maybe that’s just my house . . .

We've got the new paisley design in Super Bib style to give away! Drop us a line at babblecontest@gmail.com and tell us how many loads of laundry you do now that you have your kiddo on solids (or even on drippy bottles) and we'll pick a random Babble reader and send one right out! Good luck. - April Pevteaux

Get the Bumkins Starter Bib for $5.95 at Bumkins.

Related Posts

Baby Bottle Bibs

Dining Out With Baby

Babble Best: Organic Baby Food

Calling All Aspiring Baby Food Chefs

Lisa Mulcahy — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:58:00 GMT

There’s a new French import in town and it just might change your mind about preparing baby food at home. Again, I’m going to file this under, “Why does all the really cool stuff launch in Europe?”

Now at Williams-Sonoma, you can get the Beaba Babycook, $139.95. Not just another kitchen gadget, this one has the goods to deliver. It multitasks as a steamer, blender, warmer and defroster. First it steam cooks vegetables, fruits, meat and fish in less than 15 minutes, then purees or blends them to the desired consistency. You can also use it to quickly reheat or defrost precooked foods. Sign me up for Baby Food Making 101, this seems easy.

5 Ways Not to Kill Your Children With Baby Products

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:15:00 GMT

Born Free glass bottle: one of many safe alternatives.

As I type this, I'm eating lunch from a curiously soapy-smelling plastic container that I've just pulled out of the microwave -- physician heal thyself, indeed. When it comes to what my kids ingest, however, I'm far more cautious -- and, no doubt like you, I'm becoming overwhelmed by news stories about hormone disruption, lead poisoning, choking hazards and other potentially deadly undersides to what've long been considered staples of parental consumerism (read: affordable plastic baby crap). Here, then, a round-up of five sources to help you understand why some old-fashioned methods of feeding, washing and playing with your child are becoming increasingly dangerous.

Baby Shampoo Awash in Chemicals? (WebMD): While you're trading your plastic sippy cups for glass bottles, you might want to check the baby powder, lotion and shampoo in your cupboard, as well: More and more pee-analysis studies are showing a correlation between the use of such plastic-bottled products (to say nothing of plastic toys) and elevated levels of phthalates in little ones.

Recent Magnet Ingestion and Lead/Lead Paint Press Releases and Recalls (US CPSC): Complete with a function that allows you to search back to October of 2001, this list is a convenient, if terrifying, way to stay up to date on the latest in lead and choking-hazard recalls, as well as a sound argument for boycotting Chinese-made products, Olympics and corporate cost-cutting be damned.

9 Child Safety Products That May Cause Harm (MSNBC): So you've thrown away your #7 plastic cups, bought stock in glass baby bottles, and resolved only to buy wooden toys made by Haba. Great -- now turn an eye to your plastic outlet covers, crib bumpers and other child-safety/childproofing implements, as they may be just as likely to turn fatal.

Baby's Toxic Bottle (Center for Health, Environment & Justice): Download a PDF of the study that's helped to make bisphenol-A a household term, and when you're suitably mortified, head to Consumer Reports' site for a primer on safer baby-bottle purchasing.

Keeping Baby's Food Safe (Consumer Reports): When your little one's finished with her YoBaby, do you put the uneaten yogurt back in the fridge for later? And what about that homemade baby food you're making -- have you properly cleaned the food processor beforehand? While not quite as scary as the other sites here, this overview of how and what not to feed your baby is still worth committing to memory.

If you're curious about safe alternatives to some of the above, check out our recent 7 Days of BPA-Free Plastics for a great jumping-off point.

Jessica Alba Gives Tastybaby

Chris Ford — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:58:00 GMT

Mom-to-be Jessica Alba had a baby shower last weekend, and as a party favor to the guests she gave out goodie bags from Tastybaby. I'm not sure exactly why most shower guests would want or need a blue "eco-tote" bag full of organic baby food and recipes, but I'm guessing it didn't cost Jessica Alba much anyway. [UPDATE: According to a rep from Tastybaby, the bags contained a bottle of champagne and the "Life's A Peach" baby food - the makings for the Bellini's that were served at the shower. Baby food and booze? Now you're speaking my language. -mdd]

Tastybaby is an organic baby food company, and if stuff like that matters to you (organic, that is) it looks like they have some good products. Most of the items come frozen and have cute names like "Life's A Peach" and "Peas On Earth". You're going to have to be ready to pay for it though - most items cost $5.99 for three 3.5 oz servings (or $0.57 an ounce).

Tastybaby is available at select Whole Foods, Bristol Farms and online here.

Also, check out Aaron's comprehensive break down of organic baby food on Droolicious: Baby Food Porn: 10 Sources of Natural Num-Nums

Baby Food Porn: 10 Sources of Natural Num-Nums

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:03:00 GMT

(Happy Baby frozen organic baby foods; photo by Maren Caruso)

It's easy, convenient and, perhaps best of all, really cheap to load your cart with 50-cent jars of pureed, cooked-to-within-an-inch-of-its-life sustenance, but for parents seeking something more than Beech-Nut or Gerber, the main option has traditionally involved a food processor, frequent trips to the produce aisle, and lots of trial and error. (We won't even get into growing your own food...)

All things considered, that's still the smartest way to ensure your baby is getting the highest-quality nummers, and if you'd prefer just to scroll to the end of this list, we've even got the links to prove it. For those of us who are pressed for time, however, there's an ever-growing number of flash-frozen, refrigerated and nutrient-packed food available, much of it with the organic and all-natural clout to match its good taste.

Here, then, are 10 healthful baby-food lines even we at Droolicious would eat -- and many we already have. (Burp.)

1) Earth's Best Organic: This list excludes corporate behemoths like Gerber (too easy), so based on sheer market penetration, Earth's Best is looking like the 800-pound gorilla of organic baby foods. Though the company has teamed with Sesame Street to offer toddler-friendly frozen organic breakfasts, snacks and meals, most of us are probably familiar with Earth's Best via the jarred and boxed foods we've plucked off the shelf at Target, Whole Foods and other big retailers. The other companies in this round-up, of course, swing the opposite way toward the cold aisles. (Store Locator)

2) Happy Baby Premium Organic Baby Meals: One of the longest-running U.S. distributors of frozen organic baby foods, Happy Baby also makes some of the yummiest mushy concoctions out there. From the squash/apple variety pack (pictured) to the chunkier, DHA-supplemented Baby Dhal and Mama Grain, Happy Baby's wares are nummy and vividly colored enough -- thanks to flash freezing, which also keeps valuable vitamins intact -- that even Mom and Dad may find themselves taking a nibble. (Store Locator)

3) Homemade Baby: Though we're swooning over Homemade Baby's description of its organic num-nums as "hand prepared and kettle-cooked under a chef's supervision," the stuff looks as mushy as any other food here. Available in three stages, from smooth to semi-chunky, Homemade Baby's foods do have a neat feature in their "Meal Integrity System," which is a fancy way of saying the company can trace the ingredients used in your kid's food via a production number. (The true test of a type-A, anal-retentive parent is how many of you will.) Look for it in the refrigerated section. (Store Locator)

4) Maddy's Organic Meals: It may not mean much to parents living elsewhere, but for Midwesterners, it'll be good to know that Maddy's flash-frozen organic baby foods -- which, like many others featured here, also come in three stages of chunkiness and flavor complexity -- come from ingredients grown in America's heartland. Unfortunately for the rest of us, Maddy's distribution hasn't yet extended beyond that same heartland, but if you're in the Midwest, you can help spread the word online. (Store Locator)

5) Mom Made Foods: If you remember Oprah's show about Moms Who Made Millions (I don't, but that's what Google is for), you may recall this little Virginia-based company, which, after just two years in business, has racked up enough awards and press coverage (including a 5-Minute Time Out on Babble) to make the competition take notice. The concoctions, also frozen to lock in their flavor, color and nutrients, have until recently been limited to the basic flavors above, but the newly announced Mom Made Meals and Mom Made Munchies lines will expand MMF's flavors to include burritos, cheesy mac and pizza -- all organic, of course. (Store Locator)

6) Nummy Nums Baby Cuisine: Besides their great name, Nummy Nums offer some of the more complex flavors we've found among frozen baby foods, including Orzo Pasta with Sauce Bolognese and Broccoli, White Cheddar and Quinoa pilaf. The company uses the term "all natural" to describe its ingredients -- no emphasis on what, if anything, is organic here -- and if your little one isn't quite at the adventurous stage yet, pick up some of the delicious, milder Mango Vanilla (pictured) or Strawberry Banana Purees: Whatever baby doesn't eat, you will. (Store Locator)

7) Peas of Mind: Peas of Mind foods also live in the freezer aisle, but you won't find any simple purees here. The company's "Puffets," firm, hand-held casseroles bursting with ingredients like organic fruits, veggies and legumes, are a great way to sneak nutrients into your kids' bellies. Because of the size and texture, Peas of Mind's foods are aimed at little ones 12 months and over, and if your child suffers from food allergies, you'll want to pay attention to the ingredients list, as whole milk and yolk-free egg noodles abound. (Store Locator)

8) Plum Organics: While the well-distributed (Target and Babies 'R' Us) Plum offers simpler and single-ingredient organics for delicate palates, the company's more complex flavors sound good enough for the grown-up dining table. Black Bean Tomato Ragout, Mango Mueseli and Turkey with Harvest Vegetables are among Plum's newest additions for the 9- to 12-month crowd, but if you ask us, the 6-month crew has it even better with Pumpkin Banana. (Store Locator)

9) Tastybaby: If Tastybaby's website, packaging and overall image seem like the perfect pairing of culinary creativity and whip-smart communications, credit the moms behind the company: One is a world-class chef who worked under Wolfgang Puck; the other, an Ivy League journalism grad and former TV reporter. Between 'em, they've found ways to make baby food appealing not just to kids (fun names like "Peas on Earth" belie the presence of mint and brown rice in the dish), but also to parents (thanks in part to celebrity endorsements from Jessica Alba, Law & Order alum Elisabeth Röhm and others). Plus, what other company would recommend adding its purees to a Bellini? (Store Locator)

10) Wholesome Baby Food: When natural and organic ingredients are important, the convenience of prepackaged food can be its own reward; but if you're the DIY type, this site shows how much cheaper it can be in the long run to buy, puree and freeze your own baby food. There's a ton of info here, not the least of which will school you on the hidden costs, financial and otherwise, of pre-packaged food; easy age-appropriate recipes (from mush to solids); and the do's and don'ts of freezing and heating your own num-nums. You don't need to spend a penny, unless you want to grab the site owners' e-book or visit one of their partner links, such as the one for the freeze-and-store cubes above.

Got another brand you prefer? Tried and liked/hated any of these? Let us know in the comments.

Organic Baby Food Invented by Designer Mom

Karen — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 13:31:00 GMT

Fifibear's Brasserie was created by designer-turned-mompreneur Roxanna Bina. Picky son Felix (nickname Fifibear, hence the company name) had Roxy making all his meals from organic food, and pretty soon her creations caught on with her friends.

All meals are prepared and immediately frozen, and are made without salt, oils, additives, preservatives or fillers. Definitely a healthier choice than those Hungry Man dinners you've been heating up for baby. The entire product line is Stage 2 food, suitable for 6-18 month olds.

Available online and at several stores in the Los Angeles and Santa Barbara areas, for $48/case of 12 recyclable plastic containers. Shipping within California, the delivery charge is $48 per case; throughout other parts of the country delivery increases to $79 per case. 5% of sales go to Cure Autism Now.