what do you think about the ellas kitchen range?

[mrsleomcgary]

I'm about a month into weaning and so far have found it incredibly stresful - keep veering between feeling like it's going ok and like I'm ballsing it up! Have been making purees and adding cous cous, giving her banana that kind of thing but when I was in the supermarket I bought her one of the ellas kitchen pouches just to try and it was reduced. And dd loved it. Itks the first thing she's eaten more than a few spoons of and the first time i've been happy that she is getting something.

I'm not saying I'm going to start using them exclusively but as far as pre-made baby food goes what do you think?

[jaynebxl]

I thought they were great and used them as myvmain alternative to home cooked if we were out and about.

[PumpkinPie2013]

A friend of mine used them for her ds sometimes and found them very good her ds liked them.

My ds unfortunately won't eat any jar or pouch - he'll only eat 'home' cooked or restaurant food!

[CripesItsTheGasMan]

Don't use them daily, only when out and about or in a rush but I find them good and dd scoffs the lot

[TakingTheStairs]

I mainly use home cooked but I think the Ella's kitchen range are great. They're brilliant for when we are away or out and about. Or to be honest, when I realise that it's 10 minutes to tea time and I haven't prepared anything.
DS loves them, they have no nasties in them and there are a good range of flavours and textures.

[Familyguyfan]

Good alternative to home cooking. We used them when out and about and sometimes for a change.

[BobPatandIgglePiggle]

They're great. Really useful for out and about. My friend tried everything to get her dd to eat home cooked but she refused everything but ellas kitchen.

The first puree pouches were also our fall back whenever ds was ill or had a sore throat for his first 18 months. He's a greedy boy and always ate whatever waa put in front of him but if he felt poorly he used to regress to baby mode for a couple of days.

[madamweasel]

I prefer the 'Plum' combinations, they include a greater variety of ingredients. I used the pouch type pre-made baby food from 6 months till now DS is 2yo. Not for every meal but when out and about or simply too shattered to get a proper, balanced meal together.

[mrsleomcgary]

Glad to hear so many positive reviews. I've nothing against premade baby food and always thought that if we're out for the day then we'd use them but Ella's chicken and stuffing is the first things she's eaten where I've felt she's enjoyed it, says a lot about my cooking I suppose. And I must admit I tasted it and thought it wasn't too bad either!!

Still wouldn't use it everyday but feeling more open to using them a but more regularly now.

[apermanentheadache]

I found all the pouches really bland, including ella's. I agree plum were a bit more flavourful.

[Artandco]

I think they are fine occasionally. But if your finding it all stressful you do know you can just give your baby what you eat? You don't have to make purée etc.

We have our 6 month old twin nephews staying with us at the moment. Today I gave them same as myself and ds's age 3 and 4:

Breakfast - some Greek yogurt and raspberries. 1/2 boiled egg each. ( we all had granola also with the yogurt etc but didn't give to them)

Lunch - we had salmon, rice and veg. Gave them stalk of broccoli, bit of salmon and rice. Some on spoon, some they picked up themselves

Dinner - just gave them some watermelon as they didn't seem hugely hungry. In chunk with skin on so they held skin and sucked/ ate themselves whilst we ate dinner.

They are still having milk every 2-3 hours also so each meal isn't huge. Ie breakfast was 4 raspberries, a large teaspoon of yogurt and the 1/2 egg.

[Mylovelylovelyhorse]

Time and a place. It's like 'fast food' obvs without the shit but you wouldn't eat convenience food for every meal and neither should a child

[workingtitle]

DS prefers these to my home cooking, but I tend to use them only for when we're out and about/on holidays etc because they're expensive. I sometimes also add part of a veg one to food I've cooked as it's an easy way to boost the veg content of meals.

[Heels99]

I thought they were very handy and my babies liked them. Agree plum ones are also good, I remember mine liked the lamb one. I never examined the labels too closely or compared them with the Heinz or organic jars which I also used. Did lots of home cooking as well but these were handy for days out, holidays etc

[Theyaremysunshine]

The first stage ones are great. But you do have to watch the fact they're v v puréed and v sweet, even the veggie based ones have loads of fruit in.

I used them for both dc when out and on holidays. Still do from time to time as a non refridgerated smoothy for dd (15m).

BUT the second stage ones (except the deserts) are truly foul. Tasteless and really yuck. Both dc refused them, though clearly some kids don't mind as they do sell!

[Notso]

The problem I found is that they are all very sweet, even the savoury ones. I think that is why babies tend to like them.
I also found them way too runny, the supposed lumpy ones were like the food I gave my DC1 who was born when weaning started at 4 months.

As long as they are having the opportunity to try a wide range of foods and are drinking plenty of milk I don't think it matters if they don't eat much in the first few months.

[Notso]

X post Theyaremysunshine

[MillionPramMiles]

Ella's spinach pouch - couple of teaspoons will unblock even the most constipated toddler, very handy :)

They're handy, especially when you're out or busy or baby just won't eat anything you've cooked. Don't stress about using them.

There will always be people who boast their baby eats anything and doesn't need pureed food or spoon feeding blah blah blah. I did the reverse, pureed, spoon fed, used Ellas etc. Dd (2.3) still eats great, independantly and a wide range of healthy foods.

[Anotheronesoon]

Try not to worry- remember food before one is for fun! X

[mrscog]

They're fine, although I found the textures a bit wimpy - don't feel you have to hold out to give the 'lumpy' ones as they were the same texture as I used as soon as I started weaning DS at 6 months!

[showtunesgirl]

I tried an Ella pouch just once as it was after a long car journey. DD spat it out and I had to make her something anyway!

I think pouches every now and again are fine but not all the time. There was an article about how pouch foods are not all that nutritious: www.theguardian.com/science/2013/sep/10/baby-food-nutrition-weaning-breastmilk

[SarcyMare]

i liked them, they actually tasted of the food, buy a couple of sample jars for yourself, all the other ones taste of rice flour.

[IDontWantToBuildASnowman]

I have two children. My eldest was fed on nothing but the finest organic home steamed and pureed veg and meats, only ever using pouches/jars when out and about. At 5yrs she is definitely healthy, but is a fairly picky eater who will definitely choose nuggets over fresh cooked veg any day. My youngest was fed Ella/Hipp/Plum almost exclusively other than occasional finger food stuff (long story, not necessarily my preferred option but it is what it is) and he at almost 3yrs is also very healthy, but unlike his older sister he is way more into salad and veg, and often asks to have some of our broccoli or carrots or whatever if he is in a restaurant where they serve kids meals minus these things.

So basically I would say either route is totally fine and will have very little bearing on your children's outcome whether that be health or tendency towards healthy food. Just do whatever is easy for you and allows you to do the important enjoyable stuff with your children without stressing over feeding.

xx

[Mrsgrumble]

I don't use them but I would if I needed to and have done (ikea gave them out)

Mainly I make recipes using lentils, garlic, pasta and courgette or chicken and broccoli etc.

I have found finger food is works better though.

In saying that, if you are happy, use them. Baby is enjoying them. My mum said we were brought up on Heinz and it did us no harm

[MJP1]

Brilliant love them , my dd has multiple serious allergies and they are great for snacks or feeding her safe foods, the toddler trays are great the paella and chicken curry are lovely. I think she will be eating the fruit pouches for years.