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Ella's Kitchen - how bad are they?

34 replies

delilah88 · 01/08/2013 16:43

We've been using a few recently for convenience and DD quite likes them but [super-dense question her] I don't understand how they last for so long if they don't contain preservatives? There's a brekkie one that says it has 47% yoghurt -- but how could that work out of the fridge?

Could some bright spark tell me please, and if they're generally bad for baby or not.

OP posts:
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Dackyduddles · 01/08/2013 16:46

Dunno. Never occurred to me to question it. Personally I think they and Plum are great! I've used twice and really think they are tasty, suitable and work well.

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TwasBrillig · 01/08/2013 16:48

Same as most jarred food I think. I'd rather fresh food than processed but I don't think there's anything actually wrong with it.

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Rowanred · 01/08/2013 17:45

I think they're pretty bad. I bought 3 just to see what they were like and when I tasted them I just couldn't feed them to my baby! They were pretty rank and "fake" tasting!

I don't think they're bad as in will be bad for your babies health really. They are just bad as in they don't really taste like real food!

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SpooMoo · 01/08/2013 18:55

Vacuum packed?

Why don't you email their customer services and ask?

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Insomniac80 · 01/08/2013 19:00

There seems to be lemon juice in a lot of them and they're vacuum packed. The use by dates are often a year away from the date if purchase. I use them regularly when I'm busy but my brother pointed out to me that they couldn't really have any nutritional value because of their long life. This has not stopped me using them though!

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dyslexicdespot · 01/08/2013 19:05

I just bought some reusable feeding pouches, a much cheaper and healthier alternative to Ella's. I make my own smoothies for DS with a blend of fruit, oats and milk.

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LittleBearPad · 01/08/2013 19:07

I think they are superheated once sealed, a bit like UHT milk which is why they last so long. Bit like ready to feed formula cartons which last for months unopened.

I used them sometimes, they were handy. Never occurred to me to taste one - they smelt a bit weird, especially the fish one but dd loved them.

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sweetiepie1979 · 01/08/2013 19:12

I always use the fruit ones especially when dd is sick with glands and throat. I think they are fine. I'd never have used jar food though.

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MissStrawberry · 01/08/2013 19:13

Babies probably love them because they haven't had much real food and maybe they are quite sweet?

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tomatoplantproject · 01/08/2013 19:16

They are vacuum packed and heated to blast nasties away. Think they are great - dd is really difficult with food and I am far less emotional giving her ready made than slaving away over purees and then chucking them away. I have progressed to only using them when out and about. I should have shares!!

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LoganMummy · 01/08/2013 19:30

They are pasturised so last a long time.

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PassTheCremeEggs · 01/08/2013 19:34

Unless you cook fresh for your baby every day they're no worse than your (probably) frozen and defrosted purées/meals. They're heat treated to keep them fresh which I believe has no worse an effect on nutrients than freezing. I used them for ages when I was first pregnant with DC2 and was so sick I couldn't face cooking - DD loved them and they made my life a whole lot easier. What's not to like?

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Passmethecrisps · 01/08/2013 19:37

I use them regularly at the moment as my 8.5 month old is a reluctant eater. It wasn't my plan but hay ho. I have tasted every one I give her and I actually think a lot of them taste pretty good. I genuinely have no problem with them.

I am, however, just delighted when she eats anything so I am maybe not the best to judge.

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ArabellaBeaumaris · 01/08/2013 19:38

I LOVE their vegetable lentil bake Blush

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Passmethecrisps · 01/08/2013 19:40

I agree arabella. I think that's the one I would happily have on toast.

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Angelico · 01/08/2013 19:43

The 10 month plus spag bol is really nice! They are v handy when we are having a takeaway or something unsuitable for her to eat e.g. frozen pizza.

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shufflehopstep · 01/08/2013 19:49

They're fine and as others have said are most likely heat treated to extend their shelf life. Although they do all taste pretty much the same to me, we've used those or organix ones since I went back to work 2 months ago and DD seems to really enjoy them.

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hazeyjane · 01/08/2013 19:50

dyslexicdespot - where did you get your reusable pouches from, if you don't mind me asking?

In the past I have resorted to scissors and parcel tape - messy!

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scottishmummy · 01/08/2013 19:52

They're really useful when out,on move
Good as just in case in your bag
Still cheaper to cook own food,costs pennies compared to pouch

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BlueSprite · 01/08/2013 19:55

My 'baby' is now 3, and had a lot of pouches until he was about 2, especially the vegetable mixed with fruit ones. They were great - so convenient and a godsend when travelling or when he was feeling under the weather. He now eats very healthily (am scared this might change when he starts school though!)

I never bothered with the yoghurt ones though. I mixed Rachel's Kitchen fruit yoghurt with natural Greek yoghurt to make it a bit less over-poweringly sweet.

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lola88 · 01/08/2013 20:29

DS still eats the fruit ones for a snack if we're out and he's hungry and ate them lots when he was small

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SunnyIntervals · 01/08/2013 20:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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Passmethecrisps · 01/08/2013 20:43

My cooking must be awful Blush

Honestly, the stuff I have made is fine but I genuinely wouldn't say it tasted much better than the EK stuff.

In an ideal world I will be feeding my baby my own food. In the meantime she can eat some pouch food

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ThisIsYourSong · 02/08/2013 08:13

I asked the nutritionist about them, she said they will still get all the vitamins and nutritional value from the fruit and veges, just not the fibre

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BettyandDon · 02/08/2013 08:19

I don't think it's that much cheaper to make your own.

I bought 2 large pears (to purée) the other day and they were 74p each! An Ella pouch of pear and something was about 90p and probably contains more than 1 pear when puréed. Just saying!

I think my 8 month old is biting a lot as she wants more real food rather than purees. But other than that I don't have a problem with pouches. I am a terrible cook though and don't often have a lot of store cupboard type items in the house.

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