See what Mumsnet testers thought of Mia & Ben fresh organic baby and toddler food

[JustineBMumsnet]

This is the feedback thread for the 150 Mumsnet users who have been testing newly launched baby and toddler food from Mia & Ben.

Here’s what Karina, Co-founder at Mia & Ben has to say: “Mia & Ben has all of the taste, vitamins and colour preserved because what we don’t do, unlike other companies, is use heat to preserve our food as it destroys all of the natural vitamins and flavour. Instead, we use pressure (technical term: High Pressure Processing) to keep the vitamins and taste locked in. We're very excited to see what you think about our new kids' food!"

Selected testers picked up three flavours of Mia & Ben fresh baby and toddler food from the fridge aisle in Sainsbury’s, and tried them with their child.

Testers, please give your feedback by answering the following questions as well as sharing any other thoughts you have. Please also ensure you complete the short survey we’ve emailed to you.

1. What did you like most about Mia & Ben baby and toddler food?
2. What was your child’s favourite flavour?
3. What is important to you when buying kids snacks?
4. What flavour of Mia & Ben would you like to see next?

All who give their feedback via both the thread and survey will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £100 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

[MamaToBoden]

1. What did you like most about Mia & Ben baby and toddler food?
   

I like that they’re a chilled product, no other pouches come like this as far as I know and I prefer the thought of it to ones on a shelf. It feels as though the product will be fresher and real fruit and vegetable will be used.

1. What was your child’s favourite flavour?
   

Definitely the mango and pineapple! He loves tropical flavours so this was perfect. I even used some to freeze and make into an ice lolly for him in this hot weather. He loved it.

1. What is important to you when buying kids snacks?
   

That they’re a reasonable price and in a good portion size. Also that they are free from rubbish like sugar and artificial flavours and colourings.

1. What flavour of Mia & Ben would you like to see next?
   

A strawberry and raspberry one would be my boys favourite. He loves strawberries!

[MKCH]

I'll fill out the survey properly once we've tried all three but just to say I think the sweet potato, pear, squash and beetroot is a hit 😂

[lyndseyandamelia]

1- what do you like most about Mia & Ben baby and toddler food?
I love that it is a chilled product- I’ve been taking them straight out of the fridge to give to my daughter to cool her down in this hot weather. I’ve also been taken them out in her cool bag with her other lunch bit and it’s handy as it keeps the rest of her lunch cool!

2- what was your child’s favourite flavour?
Apple and Blueberry... however she loved them all!

3- what is important to you when buying kids snacks?
Ingredients firstly, so it’s great these aren’t full of rubbish! I love that they are organic! And also they are such great value!!

4- what flavour of Mia & Ben would you like to see next?
Strawberry... and maybe something with a bit of spinach hidden inside for a good dose of greens too!!

[MKCH]

1. What did you like most about Mia & Ben baby and toddler food?

The fact that it was fresh and straight from the fridge - great flavours too

1. What was your child’s favourite flavour?

She really enjoyed all of them! I think her favourite may have been the banana, mango and pineapple but she enjoyed them all.

1. What is important to you when buying kids snacks?

Fresh produce, organic if possible, as close to what I'd make myself. Also need to be easy to use either at home or on the go.

1. What flavour of Mia & Ben would you like to see next?

Maybe another savoury one, sweet potato and leek or similar. Or one with a bit more substance to it - less liquid.

[harley1976]

what did you like most about mia and bens toddler food?
i loved how fresh it looked and in such a great little pouch ideal on the go and throughout the day my little one enjoyed such a perfect product from a great chilled range and perfect brand name

what was your childs favourite flavour?
my child loved them all did not waste any but i must admit the favourite was the apple and blueberry

what is important to you when buying kids snacks?
everything has to be a fresh produce which is perfect and ideal for my child i cook fresh from home so these products are perfect when out and about or throughout the day and organic products is a must too

what flavour of mia and bens would you like to see next?
i would love to see a surprise product of mia and bens something perfect a completely new product would be amazing

[hauntedvagina]

1. What did you like most about Mia & Ben baby and toddler food? It came in a pouch which is handy for snacking on the go, he actually ate two walks home from the supermarket!

1. What was your child’s favourite flavour? Apple and blueberry was a big hit.

1. What is important to you when buying kids snacks? Natural products, healthy, tasty.

1. What flavour of Mia & Ben would you like to see next? More veg based stuff, something with more greens in, maybe spinach and beetroot. Anything with prunes in is always a winner to keep things 'moving'

[SpacePug]

1. What did you like most about Mia & Ben baby and toddler food?

I love that they are chilled as the seem fresher than those with a long shelf life out of the fridge. Also love the price, very competitive.

1. What was your child’s favourite flavour? The mango one, mixed with yoghurt. He wouldn't entertain them on their own (he's a bit picky) but the fruit flavours mixed into yoghurt worked well.
2. What is important to you when buying kids snacks?

That my child will like them or at least try them. That they aren't full of junk too.

1. What flavour of Mia & Ben would you like to see next?

I think a strawberry flavour may be a hit!

[ihoeihoeihoe]

1. What did you like most about Mia & Ben baby and toddler food?
   

It’s fresh, quick and can be used on the go.

1. What was your child’s favourite flavour?
   

Banana, mango and pineapple.

1. What is important to you when buying kids snacks?
   

I like it to be healthy, fresh with no crap added! I also want him to enjoy them so being tasty is a bonus!

1. What flavour of Mia & Ben would you like to see next?
   

Definitely something with his greens in, maybe one of the more ‘troublesome’ greens. Broccoli etc are easy to feed him whereas spinach, kale etc are hard!

[Sam1904]

the short survey we’ve emailed to you.

1. What did you like most about Mia & Ben baby and toddler food?

Love that the vitamins and goodness is preserved by not using heat.

1. What was your child’s favourite flavour?

Mango, banana and pineapple

1. What is important to you when buying kids snacks?

Organic and free from added sugars

1. What flavour of Mia & Ben would you like to see next?

Strawberry

[Caillou]

1. What did you like most about Mia & Ben baby and toddler food?

I liked the pouch format

1. What was your child’s favourite flavour?

He did not like them, the only one he could have liked was apple and blueberry. However I realised as I was giving it to him that I had bought an out of date pouch (bought on the 8th August, to be had before the 31st July)

1. What is important to you when buying kids snacks?

Good value for money, nice flavours, and easy to carry format

1. What flavour of Mia & Ben would you like to see next?

Apple and pears, apple strawberries more fruity flavour

[vibecece]

1. What did you like most about Mia & Ben baby and toddler food?
   

The pouch size is handy, you can fit it into a lunchbox or baby bag.

1. What was your child’s favourite flavour?
   

Apple and blueberry

1. What is important to you when buying kids snacks?
   

How convenient it is especially when feeding.

1. What flavour of Mia & Ben would you like to see next?
   

Strawberry or just a mixture of summer fruits.

[Theseptemberissues]

1. What did you like most about Mia & Ben baby and toddler food?
   

I have used them as a dessert or an alternative to an ice lolly straight out the fridge in the hot weather. I like that they use organic produce and are free from added sugar.

1. What was your child’s favourite flavour?
   

Banana, mango and pineapple.

1. What is important to you when buying kids snacks?
   

That they are healthy, filling and free from added sugar.

1. What flavour of Mia & Ben would you like to see next?
   

More vegetable based pouches and ones with more texture.

[missfab]

1. What did you like most about Mia & Ben baby and toddler food?

it was fresh and chilled for instant consumption

1. What was your child’s favourite flavour?

mango, pineapple, banana

1. What is important to you when buying kids snacks?

added vitamins

1. What flavour of Mia & Ben would you like to see next?

watermelon

[Becss23]

What did you like most about Mia & Ben baby and toddler food?
I liked the fact that the pouches were from the fridge - it felt less long life and hence more fresh

1. What was your child’s favourite flavour?
   

He only enjoyed the Apple and blueberry. I’m not sure if it was the flavours or as he is not so used to cold packets. His didn’t enjoy the other two I suspect pineapple and beetroot but who knows as babies are so hit and miss with their eating and mood! I would like to buy them again myself and try again.

1. What is important to you when buying kids snacks?
   

Ingredients, price and packaging. Given babies are so picky, I wouldn’t want to be paying much more than £1 but I guess it depends on the flavours and ingredients. I also prefer packaging to be as environmentally friendly as possible.

1. What flavour of Mia & Ben would you like to see next?
   

More filling options - with some kind of baby rice or oats perhaps? Definitely more fruit combinations. For cold packets I almost feel like they may sell better as a refreshing yet healthy treat

[Nulanoo]

1. What did you like most about Mia & Ben baby and toddler food? I liked that these were fresh and that you could actually taste the ingredients as many pouches taste very similar. I also liked the colour of the actual product it was fresh and vibrant
   
2. What was your child’s favourite flavour? The yellow one with mango and banana
   
3. What is important to you when buying kids snacks?
   

Quality of ingredients, amount of sugar, price

1. What flavour of Mia & Ben would you like to see next
   

Something with pear.

[Subwaysalad]

1. What did you like most about Mia & Ben baby and toddler food?

the fact it is chilled so is handy to grab out the fridge for a picnic and stay cold on warm days

1. What was your child’s favourite flavour? apple and blueberry
2. What is important to you when buying kids snacks? price, quality of ingredients, ease of packing for our picnics!
3. What flavour of Mia & Ben would you like to see next? something watermelon would be great and refreshing for summer

[freakfire]

1. The pineapple & mango one, as that was the only one my LO would eat
2. The pineapple & mango one - she didn't like the others at all and just said "yucky" to them!
3. A balance of taste, convenience and health
4. They need nicer flavour combos with a bit more sweetness in my opinion. Maybe cherry, or more banana combos

[smileymiley69]

I like that the pouches are chilled, it seems fresher. Also the pouches are so handy for on the go snacking
My little one enjoyed all the flavours but I think the banana, mango and pineapple was the favourite.
When buying snacks I like to go for more natural snacks, no sugars or artificial flavours or preservatives.
My little one loves strawberries so I think a mix of berries might be nice as a new flavour

[riddles26]

1. What did you like most about Mia & Ben baby and toddler food?
   

The freshness of the products came through in the flavour. They tasted like homemade food which is not the case with other leading pouches and my children generally reject food in pouches.
I like that they are organic and do not have water or sugar added to them.

1. What was your child’s favourite flavour?
   

Apple and blueberry as an ice lolly
Sweet potato, beetroot and pear was unfortunately not a hit

1. What is important to you when buying kids snacks?
   

Freshness, environmentally friendly packaging, no sugar added, not diluted down so they are gaining maximum calories from the product, convenience

1. What flavour of Mia & Ben would you like to see next?
   

More fruit flavours

[Sarah84848484]

1. What did you like most about Mia & Ben baby and toddler food?
   

I liked the packaging which as it was thin it felt less wasteful than other pouches. It took up less space in my handbag which was also a plus! I also liked the fact it felt more homemade and less mass produced, which appealed to my slightly guilty thoughts around using lots of pre-made as I’m out and about more now post lockdown.

1. What was your child’s favourite flavour?
   

Sweet potato by far, he loved it and ate the whole thing in minutes! The other two he enjoyed but it look 3 goes to eat the pineapple/mango one.... maybe the taste wasn’t quite to his liking in the volume of a whole pouch.

1. What is important to you when buying kids snacks?
   

That they are not junk food, full of sugar. I like to see lots of veg, not just fruit in things and buy.

1. What flavour of Mia & Ben would you like to see next?
   

Something green... apples, kiwi, broccoli, beans etc.

[cookiewuk]

1. What did you like most about Mia & Ben baby and toddler food?
   

That they were a chilled product and less processed than the alternatives.

1. What was your child’s favourite flavour?
   

Banana, Mango and Pineapple.

1. What is important to you when buying kids snacks? That they are healthy with nothing artificial added.
   

1. What flavour of Mia & Ben would you like to see next?
   

Maybe something with spinach?

[LimpLettice]

1. What did you like most about Mia & Ben baby and toddler food?
   

Being chilled make me think it must be more nutritious which is a definite plus. I liked being able to see inside the pouches too.

1. What was your child’s favourite flavour?
   

Definitely the mango & pineapple. Tropical flavours are not so common in pouches and he really enjoyed it.

1. What is important to you when buying kids snacks?
   

Price point and sugar content. These I think are quite high per pouch in comparison to making at home, but seem better quality I suppose than the heat treated brands.

1. What flavour of Mia & Ben would you like to see next?

My toddler is obsessed with watermelon so maybe something with that?

[curlyrebel]

1. What did you like most about Mia & Ben baby and toddler food?

That it was fresh and seemed healthy

1. What was your child’s favourite flavour?

Apple and blueberry. There was no banana, mango, pineapple in store to try.

1. What is important to you when buying kids snacks?

That they're healthy, satisfy their hunger and they can self-feed with them

1. What flavour of Mia & Ben would you like to see next?

Something 'breakfasty' like oats and bananas

[KarenCBC]

1. What did you like most about Mia & Ben baby and toddler food?
   

It seemed like it would be a good option for a baby just weaning.

1. What was your child’s favourite flavour?
   

The apple and blueberry was good mixed with yogurt as a dessert.

1. What is important to you when buying kids snacks?
   

That they are fairly healthy but also really filling.

1. What flavour of Mia & Ben would you like to see next?
   

Maybe more savoury ones if for weaning babies.

[thismeansnothing]

1. I liked that they were a chilled product which other pouches don't seem to be. Makes it feel like I'm giving something a bit fresher. Also like the packaging. Decent screwcap so we could save some for the next day.

1. Banana, Mango and pineapple she loves tropical fruit and this fitted the bill.

1. That it's natural, No added sugar and not too much added stuff, tastes good and will satisfy them. It also Needs to be conveniently packaged to throw into a pram bag and resealable.

1. Something with some hidden veg in it. Like spinach, broccoli, kale or carrot