Ellas Kithcen

[Mummyinpink1289]

Hi Ladies/Gentlemen,

I just wondered what you all think of Ellas Kitchen products - have you ever used them, if so why and if not why not?

All opinions welcome...

[gretagrape]

I use them occasionally but find the pouches way too smooth - when I first used one my son was 7mo but his homemade food was much more textured/lumpy than their pouch for a 10mo.

Cow & Gate jars are much better in terms of textures and lumps, but they aren't organic.

[SweetPeaPods]

The stage1 pouch was the only thing ds would eat to begin with, he hated lumps.

[neversleepagain]

The fruit ones are handy for when out and about. The food ones stink and taste rank.

[Only1scoop]

For holidays/travelling etc don't know what I'd have done without Ella and her Kitchen! ....the pouches were fab.

[gallicgirl]

All unnecessary. Make your own food.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

From what I've heard they are very sweet and mainly apple even savoury ones.

Save yourself the money and make your own. Where you can ensure it's what it's supposed to be not 5% what it says on the front and made up with apple water and additives.

:)

[munchkinmaster]

We used them when eating out but really the same Ming, better packaged. After a couple of months dd started to turn her nose up at them. At that point we used to take dd a sandwich etc if eating out

[schnockles]

DS refuses to eat the savoury ones and all bar the banana and peach pouch taste of apples...

He does eat the Plum organic though which has been useful during teething phases or in emergencies.

[SquidgersMummy]

Unnecessary, bad for the environment, rip off, all sweetened so your DC will want them and not proper food. Honestly you don't need it. Even on the run a banana, some breadsticks......

[justmethanks]

Hilarious how these threads attract the same responses:
"unnecessary, make your own food etc etc"

Obviously people with more time on their hands that me and my twins. In between working 2 jobs, my days with the DTs, washing cleaning, oh and occasional time with DH, when pray should I make all my own food?
Most of us less sanctimonious mortals use pouches and jars (quite regularly) to supplement what home cooked stuff we can manage to turn out.
In answer to your question, Ellas are great but a little runny. Heinz and Cow and Gate jars are lumpier.

[ExBrightonBell]

Hi OP. I have not used Ella's Kitchen products, apart from some of the flapjack type bars. However I found those a bit sweet and same-y tasting. I think that Organix and Plum do a better range of snack type food, and have used more of these ranges. I have not bought any of the pouches or meals so can't comment on those. This is because I nearly always cook from scratch - apologies to justmethanks for being sanctimonious!!

(I cook from scratch because I am used to doing this, and also because we are vegetarian so there isn't a decent enough range of veggie ready-made things to use all the time.)

[AuditAngel]

Ella's kitchen was the only prepared ready meals DD1 would eat. DS had previously eaten a mix of various brands. Subsequently DD2 would eat Ella's kitchen, Plum (not available when DD1 was a baby) and Annabel Karmel.

We all know that some people think we should purée Nash blend etc, but some of us aren't perfect. In fact, some of us don't even try to be! I have 3 kids and used jars! So shoot me.

[TheScience]

The pouches are useful for out and about (DS would eat them cold) but the savoury meal ones taste like shit.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Why do you want to know inpink?

[Havingkittens]

Is this a focus group?

My DS won't touch them. I try to prepare fresh stuff for him wherever possible but I've tried to give him the Ella's Kitchen pouches when I've been ill or working and so not had the time or energy to cook but he really doesn't like any of the ones I've given him. Now, if I'm stuck for time, I'll just get one of those bags of veg from the supermarket that you can steam in the microwave and then just mash them up with some stock and maybe a bit of cheese/cream cheese. As for the fruit ones, I don't see the point when you can just buy fresh ripe fruit and mash it up for them without an cooking being necessary. Healthier and cheaper in most cases!

[gallicgirl]

Justmethanks, DP and I both work 40 hours a week and have all the associated pressures of juggling tasks in a small amount of time. Admittedly we don't have twins but cooking for DD is easy. Pop a portion of whatever is cooking for DP and me on a plate and let it cool before handing over to DD.

(I won't mention removing it practically untouched 10 minutes later and handing over a banana instead because that never happens oh no)

[slightlyconfused85]

I think 2 or 3 a week is fine - 'make your own food' is fine but every so often people run out of time/energy/are ill or are out and about and an Ella's pouch is a godsend. My DD used to like the fruit ones for a little treat - saves mashing when you are in the park.

My friends and I all used them occasionally, and now all our children (betwen 14 and 16 months) eat well: family food, finger food, fresh fruit and veg, and do not appear to have been scarred at all by a few pouches along the way.

[darkdays]

Used them with the dts when we took a weekend away. They ate them. Usually home cooked food though, wouldn't use them if not out somewhere unexpected.

[Woodifer]

They are good when your baby is big enough to slurp them from pouch. Good to have on stand by.

[DipDabDabDip]

Fruit ones are ok but my baby has rejected a couple of the 10 month+ pouches and I don't blame her, they smelled rank.

[mammmamia]

Like others have said the fruit ones are ok, my twins liked these for a treat and liked sucking them when they were a bit older.
The meals smell and taste revolting and my twins refused them. Anything you make yourself is going to be nicer tbh.

I'm no domestic goddess and also work long hours but I like cooking and found it fairly easy to cook for the twins when weaning.

We used the organix snack stuff a lot. Rice cakes especially. The Ella's snacks are very expensive.

[mammmamia]

OP are you employed by Ella's ?

FWIW I agree with the environmental point. I don't like the idea of all that packaging. Can't remember if its recyclable.

[rallytog1]

They're so expensive for what they are. As pps have said, just give your dcs whatever you're having and bung a banana in your bag if you're out and about.

[RedPencilPot]

My baby wouldn't eat them- turned his face away from the spoon when I tried to feed him!

[poocatcherchampion]

none eaten here. but we dont ear ready meals either. they have what we are having or else I batch cook and freeze. quick unplanned meals are beans on toast or egg etc.
like normal people eat instead of processed food in a bag