Baby Food – BurritoBuzz

BurritoBuzz Mom Approved: Ella’s Kitchen

Published on October 12, 2016October 11, 2016 by Casey Sehm1 Comment

We want the best for our babies. When it comes to food, I try to make sure my 6 month old is getting the best possible nutrition. Some say the best way to know what your baby is eating, is to make their baby food yourself. Well, I don’t have the time or patience to make her food. I know it’s not that hard, I just don’t want to. So how do I know that my little one is being fed the best possible food for her little sensitive belly? Ella’s Kitchen!

Ella’s Kitchen is 100% USDA certified organic baby and toddler food and drinks that is handy for mom and dad. Ella’s Kitchen makes food that appeals to all of the senses of little ones, from the texture, colors, taste, the packaging, and even their names. Made with natural ingredients, Ella’s Kitchen shows that food can be both healthy and yummy, even for the pickiest of eaters! You can even do a product search on their website for special diets; gluten free, lactose free, and vegetarian products can be searched for here. Ella’s Kitchen also takes care of our planet. You can send back your used pouches and caps, and they’re then made into unique products and of course the cardboard boxes can be recycled.

Ella’s Kitchen offers foods for babies from 4 months (Ella’s 1) and from 6 months (Ella’s 2) to toddlers 1+ year and Big Kids. There are no baby food jars, just easy and convenient pouches. Baby foods are made with all kinds of savory fruits and vegetables. There are so many combinations available for baby food, toddler snacks, and drinks, there are too many to list! Check out what Ella’s Kitchen has to offer here!

My almost 7 month old loves everything she has tried from Ella’s Kitchen and my toddler loves their delicious nutritious drinks and shakes and devours their toddlers snacks. I love knowing that both my girls are eating healthy and that they love what they’re eating.

I am so glad I found Ella’s Kitchen and that my family loves it. And while it costs more than Gerber or Beechnut baby food, you know that your little one is getting certified organic food and getting the best for his/her little belly. Check out your local grocery store or find out where to buy here. Your little one will love Ella’s Kitchen, and so will you!

Don’t forget to follow Ella’s Kitchen on Facebook and Twitter!

– Casey

**BurritoBuzz received these products at low or no cost for the purpose of review or testing. No compensation for a positive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences and we never guarantee a positive review.**

The Original Squeeze Company {Review + Giveaway}

Published on October 9, 2016October 9, 2016 by Casey SehmLeave a comment

As parents, we all love the convenience of squeeze pouches. Whoever thought to put food in pouches for kids is a genius in my book and deserves an award of some sort. Whether they’re pureed baby food pouches for babies, or applesauce pouches for toddlers and big kids, being able to take the cap off and hand it to your child with no spoons involved is awesome. My big problem is they’re not cheap (as you all know I’m a cheapskate). Puree pouches cost more than a jar of baby food and you can often get a big jar of applesauce for the same price you’d pay for 4 pack of pouches. And if you want organic pouches, you’ll be paying a lot more. So why not make your own puree baby food or buy a big container of yogurt or applesauce and put it in a reusable pouch? I recently discovered a company that has allowed me to do just that! The Original Squeeze Company created the original reusable pouch and they were sweet enough to send me several of their products to review!

The Original Squeeze Company is a family owned company located in Idaho, started by mom Kristin Ahmer. Kristin created The Original Squeeze (for babies 6+ months), the original spill-proof reusable squeeze pouch that is made of durable silicone and is 100% toxin-free. They will last for years growing with your child, while also saving you money instead of purchasing one-use pouches! They make pouches for everyone, Original Squeeze with Eeeze for kids 2+ and the Sport Squeeze for all ages!

All Squeezes are:

Dishwasher safe (top rack only)
BPA, PVC, and Phthalate free
Easy-to-assemble components
Naturally non-stick for easy cleaning
Freezer safe
Come in several sizes and colors
Not for liquids

I received all three squeezes for my family to try. The Original Squeeze was perfect for my almost 7 month old. It’s available in 2 ($13.99) or 4 ($14.99) ounce pouch and several colors. The spill-proof nipple-like spout makes eating a lot less messy. My little one loves yogurt but is quite messy, as she likes to grab the spoon and try to feed herself, but with the Original Squeeze, it’s a lot easier and more convenient to have her suck out the yogurt. I’ve also made my own purees and spooning them in the pouch is super easy because the neck is pretty wide. My four year old loves her Original Squeeze with Eeeze. The spout is free-flowing, making it easy for her to get her yogurt, smoothie, or applesauce out. It’s available in 2 ($13.99), 4 ($14.99), and 6 ($15.99) ounce pouches and is perfect for school lunches! Its lid (that is attached to the pouch so you won’t lose it) allows it to be closed and not have to worry about it spilling out. I was sent the Sport Squeeze ($18.99) which is so awesome! It an 8 ounce pouch and is great for smoothies. If you work out, this pouch is a must for protein shakes! It’s flip-top lid is interchangeable with any Original Squeeze, too. The included carabiner attaches to anything, so you can just clip and go.

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If you have little ones who use pouches a lot or you just like the convenience of them without the high price, Original Squeeze products are for you! The quality is phenomenal and they will hold up through wash after wash. Since we received our pouches, all three of us have used them at least once a day. I love that you can also build your own Squeeze by choosing between 3 spouts (spill-proof, free-low, or flip spout) and ten trending colors. Little ones will love to pick their favorite colors! They’re super easy to wash and store, asor empty. The prices are a little high, but if you buy store-bought pouches often, it will soon pay for itself. Not to mention all the waste you’ll be saving our precious Mother Earth!

We love The Original Squeeze Company pouches so much, we’re giving away one of each to a lucky BurritoBuzz reader! One winner will receive: (1) The Original Squeeze, (1) The Original Squeeze with Eeeze, and (1) Sport Squeeze! It’s super easy to enter:

Follow both @BurritoBuzz and @TheOriginalSqueezeCompany on Instagram
Like the giveaway post
Tag a friend (one per comment)
That’s it!

The giveaway will start at 12pm on October 9th, 2016 and will end at 12pm on October 11th, 2016. The winner will be announced shortly after on the original giveaway post. Best of luck! **This giveaway is in no way sponsored by Instagram.**

Best sure to follow The Original Squeeze Company on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest, too, for sales and new products! Check out their recipes for applesauce blends, yogurt blends, purees, and more here!

– Casey

**Burrito Buzz received this product at low or no cost for the purpose of review or testing. No compensation for a positive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences and we never guarantee a positive review.**

NurturMe Baby Food {Review}

Published on August 27, 2016August 26, 2016 by Ryan + Kate PhotographyLeave a comment

I was recently asked to sample and review NurturMe blended dry cereal meals with my 8 month old and I was thrilled for the opportunity. Have you strolled down the baby food aisle lately?! As a new mom walking down the baby food aisle, it can be overwhelming with all the options for your little one. I was unfamiliar with the choices for dry baby food, but fortunately my son has been a wonderful eater, so I was anxious to try out NurturMe organic dry meal pouches and explore new flavors and foods.

The dried baby food comes in a simple easy-to-tear open pouch. Pour the food into a bowl and you add either water, breast milk, or formula to create your desired consistency (one pouch calls for 7 to 8 tablespoons of liquid and will make a typical amount of food). I prepared NurturMe carrots, raisins, and sweet potato baby food with water and was immediately impressed. As any mom would, I tried the new food before offering it to my little guy and was surprised at the amount of flavor – it was delicious! My little one ate nearly the entire amount prepared. I was thrilled because I knew he was getting a ton of nutrients.

Like most baby foods, the remaining prepared food can be stored for 2-3 days in the refrigerator. I would definitely recommend NurturMe organic gluten free dried baby food, not only because of the ingredients used, but the convenience as well. I think their lightweight pouches would be great for on-the-go families. These pouches can easily be stored and stashed in your pantry, car, diaper bag, etc. and you have the satisfaction of knowing your growing little one is getting powerful nutrients. Check out their website to learn about all of their product offerings and to find their food in a retailer near you!

– Allyson

EZPZ Happy Mat {Review}

Published on June 2, 2016June 14, 2016 by Ryan + Kate Photography2 Comments

I’ll admit it: I’m a Shark Tank addict.

I had no idea that EZPZ was on Shark Tank until I saw their website. They’ve really run this thing from the ground up, which I so admire as a founder of this website!

This idea was totally new to me, and I was pretty excited to try their trays with my (very) messy toddler.

My trays arrived quickly, and I was impressed with the sleek design and truly high-end quality of the silicone. The mat is heavy, so even though my toddler had an interest in picking it up, he wasn’t successful.

I quickly chopped up all of his favorite fruits and veggies for lunch, threw them in the tray, and set it down. He loved the compartments and that his food was all separated. The tray didn’t stain, even with the biggest culprits blueberries and blackberries. It has held up so well in the dishwasher, and literally looks brand new each time it’s washed.

The best part for me? When my toddler decides he’s done eating, he usually starts tossing food off of his high chair tray. By utilizing this mat, I can quickly grab the entire thing away from him and he’s left with a clean tray. Win-win for everyone.

The price is a little steep for the product, at $24.99. In all honesty, I’d love to have three of them for those particularly chaotic days when I can’t wash it fast enough. I’d love to see a multi-pack or a price break as the company grows. They also have a mini-mat for high chairs and travel, which I plan on reviewing soon. Overall, a great purchase and I plan to use it daily! Thanks to EZPZ for making my life a little easier!

To buy it, click here:

ezpz Happy Mat – One-piece silicone placemat + plate (Blue)

UPDATE!

So, I loved this mat so much that I ended up purchasing the bowl and the mini mat. I have no regrets! I’ve had them both for about a week now, and I can tell you that I’m getting a ton of use out of them.

The bowl is ideal for snack time in our home. My son has a toddler table, and I set the bowl down and leave it there most of the day. It suctions to the table, so my son can’t toss the bowl like he does with his standard bowls. I periodically add snacks to it throughout the day, and he loves it! He’s running to his table non-stop to grab a handful of the latest treats. At the end of the day, I simply toss it into the dishwasher to clean it for the next day.

The mini mat: this is what I really was looking forward to trying. My son still needs the 5 point harness on the highchair, so I wanted a mat that would fit on his tray. Not only did this mat accomplish that, but it has a nice little travel bag for going out to restaurants/travel. It suctioned to his highchair tray, and when he decides he’s done eating I can quickly take it off and dump the contents and toss it into the dishwasher (seriously, what would we do without dishwashers? The thought of not having one gives me anxiety.)

Again, the price point of $19.99 for either the bowl or mat is a little high for the typical consumer, but I can say I’m a total fan of EZPZ now and am using all three of my mats every day that we’re home.

For an EZPZ Bowl:
ezpz Happy Bowl – One-piece silicone placemat + bowl (Lime)

For an EZPZ Mini Mat:
ezpz Mini Mat – One-piece silicone placemat + plate (Coral)

-Katie

Kizingo Kids Self-Feeding Spoon Review

Published on March 15, 2016March 14, 2016 by Ryan + Kate Photography2 Comments

Teaching your child to self-feed… easy enough, right? Not usually. It’s a slow process, and often takes teaching over the course of many months. My son is just now 13 months, and started self-feeding quite a bit around 8 months. He has great motor skills at this point to use his pinchers with both hands to grab foods. However, he’s really lacking teeth so he’s still eating a decent amount of pureed food.

I wanted to start getting a spoon in his hand. I know that most littles don’t really “self feed” with a spoon and fork until about 18 months and up, but being proactive never hurt anyone!

That’s where the Kizingo spoon comes in. They were kind enough to send me a trial spoon in “kiwi” (the spoon comes in a variety of colors.) The design of this spoon works so well to help babies get the right angle to actually get food into their mouths. I particularly liked that the spoon itself wasn’t a deep spoon, because my LO seems to have some issues getting food off of spoons that have a deep cup.

I started putting things onto the spoon that are thick and would stay on (peanut butter and cream cheese were great for starters.) My son did so much better than I expected! With some coaching, he got this into his mouth a few times on his own. I’m sure he’ll continue to improve as the months go on.

Kizingo Kids uses #whykizingo and explains that self-feeding is essential in helping to avoid childhood obesity. “Of children aged 2-5 years old, nearly 23% are overweight or obese. Among those that are, there is a 60% chance that they will stay overweight or obese throughout childhood, and into adolescence. There is a large and growing body of research that show that the period of time when kids are learning to self-feed – when they are transitioning to solid foods – is a crucial period when food habits are established.”

I’ve often wondered if I’m ever under/over-feeding my LO. I really let him guide me in when he’s hungry or had enough, and that seems to have worked well. As he starts self-feeding more and more, he’ll be able to learn his limitations on his own. Having a good tool for him to learn to self-feed will no doubt help this process. A standard straight-handled spoon certainly wouldn’t work as well for him as this curved spoon has.

So thanks to Kizingo for a product that seems very feasible! Can’t wait to see these on the shelves. For now, you can purchase them here.

-Katie