Little Dish feedback thread - £300 John Lewis voucher to be won for feedback! NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

This thread is for the Mumsnetters who have been trying Little Dish chilled toddler meals and their new range of My First Pizzas.

Here’s what Little Dish say, “When Hillary was expecting her first baby, she realised that you couldn’t buy healthy, home-cooked style meals for toddlers and young children in the shops. She set out to create a range of delicious, nutritious food made from 100% natural ingredients…and so Little Dish was born. Nearly 10 years on, we’re proud to feed around 100k little ones every week. Every Little Dish toddler meal is perfectly nutritionally balanced for a 1 to 3 year old –providing a source of protein and at least 1 portion of veg, low in salt, with no added sugar, additives or preservatives. Our new My First Pizzas are not only delicious (as approved by our Tiny Tasters) – they also provide 1 portion of veg each, contain 35% less salt than the average children’s chilled pizza and of course have no added sugar, additives or preservatives.”

Below are a few questions for you to answer about trying Little Dish meals and pizzas with your DCs – feel free to add any other thoughts you may have though, we’d love to hear them.

Little Dish meals

• What was your overall impression of Little Dish meals?
• Which was your child’s favourite meal?
• Would you recommend Little Dish meals to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not?

Little Dish My First Pizzas

• What was your overall impression of Little Dish My First Pizzas?
• Which was your child’s favourite pizza?
• Would you recommend Little Dish pizzas to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not?

• What other healthy, natural food would you like Little Dish to make?

If you have any photos of your DCs trying Little Dish meals or pizzas, please add them to this thread.

Everyone who adds their feedback, as well as completing the short feedback survey we will be emailing to you, will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will receive a £300 John Lewis voucher.

Please note: your anonymous comments or photos may be used by Little Dish on their website and other marketing materials.

Thanks and good luck,
MNHQ

I'm reposting my review as I keep getting emails and PMS saying I haven't posted

What was your overall impression of Little Dish meals?

The packaging is appealing, colourful and my daughters liked the characters.
However when I noticed how long these keep in the fridge I was dubious about the quality of the food inside.

• Which was your child’s favourite meal?

My 3 year old refused to try most meals and when she did have a mouthful she spat it out. My 1 year old did eat a few mouthfuls of the turkey meatballs and pasta but then also refused to try anything else.
My DDs are not normally fussy and eat home cooked food without fuss.

• Would you recommend Little Dish meals to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not?

I wouldn't recommend them because they were bland and actually pretty disgusting. Young children can cope with food with flavour. Mature cheese, olives and garlic are all flavours my DDs enjoy.

Little Dish My First Pizzas

• What was your overall impression of Little Dish My First Pizzas?

They seemed very doughy with sparse toppings.

• Which was your child’s favourite pizza?

DD1 disliked them all and she normally loves pizza as it's a rare treat. DD2 ate half of the cheese and tomato one and refused the other two.

• Would you recommend Little Dish pizzas to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not?

No I wouldn't. If pizza is an occasional treat then you might as well buy one that tastes nice.

• What other healthy, natural food would you like Little Dish to make?

I can't answer this as I was disappointed with everything we tried and I wouldn't buy any of their products.

I feel a little bad that my review is so negative as I really wanted to like the meals. I cook a lot and I would welcome an alternative for those times when I need a shortcut.

What was your overall impression of Little Dish meals?
I'm afraid that neither of my girls liked the food they were given, they looked really nice, and I had high hopes for the risotto but they just wouldn't eat them. I cook for them a lot and I think they found the little dish meals a bit bland and tasteless. I don't add any salt to my food but it is still flavoursome. The packaging was fun and I bribed them to eat by giving them the cardboard colouring in packaging.

Which was your child’s favourite meal? At a push it would be the curry, but really they didn't eat much. I resorted to cheese on toast.

• Would you recommend Little Dish meals to friends olatives? Ify? If not, why not?

Probably not, I just think they are cheaply made. They have little flavour and just not very exciting. My kids love steamed veg because it tastes nice - I can understand why rice in a synthetic sauce doesn't appeal. Also please Dr don't give children processed meats. Just no good, especially for their young bodies.

Sorry, I just think these meals could be so much better and I'm disappointed.

Little Dish meals

• What was your overall impression of Little Dish meals?

Liked the packaging with the activities inside the cardboard. Also liked the range available - lots of 'normal' dinners that my DH and I could have an adult version of if we all wanted to eat the same thing.

• Which was your child’s favourite meal?

Risotto.

• Would you recommend Little Dish meals to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not?

I would because they are easy to have in the fridge when you need a quick dinner that you know is healthier than an ordinary ready meal.

Little Dish My First Pizzas

• What was your overall impression of Little Dish My First Pizzas?

Loved them! They are the perfect size for my DS as he hasn't got a huge appetite! One pizza along with some salad is perfect for him. The smelt good after cooking too. I tasted a bit and really like the based with the pureed carrot - genius!

• Which was your child’s favourite pizza?

The cheese and tomato one.

• Would you recommend Little Dish pizzas to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not?

Definitely - already have! They are a great little dinner for 1-3 yr olds and the hidden veg is a brilliant idea.

• What other healthy, natural food would you like Little Dish to make?

Some more foods with hidden veg would be great. Pasta sauces or cooking sauces that aren't high in salt - a mild curry sauce would be nice.

Unfortunately my 3 girls were not at all fans of the meals. The only one they actually ate was the cheese and tomato pizza, and a small bit of the ravioli, but said they would much prefer my homemade pizza or any other pasta. Therefore I wouldn't be buying them again or recommend them.

Little Dish meals

• What was your overall impression of Little Dish meals?

Like the packaging and size of meal and that they tend to contain a couple of portions of veg. Fairly priced though I tend to buy when on offer.

• Which was your child’s favourite meal?

Beef lasagne a firm favourite. Also liked the fish pie though did ask "where's the fish?"

• Would you recommend Little Dish meals to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes, would recommend to other parents if they are busy/need a convenient option.

Little Dish My First Pizzas

• What was your overall impression of Little Dish My First Pizzas?

Look quite doughy, lots of tomato topping but not much cheese. Probaby quite a carb heavy meal.

• Which was your child’s favourite pizza?

Unfortunately she didn't seem to like any of them, just had a small nibble then said not nice (but she is fairly fussy as 2-yr olds go)

• Would you recommend Little Dish pizzas to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not?

No, not based on my experience as my child didn't enjoy them. Also as I don't feed her pizza very often I would be happy enough to serve a standard supermarket pizza without worrying too much about the health credentials.

• What other healthy, natural food would you like Little Dish to make?

Possibly some sort of nutritious snack option to avoid relying on endless breadsticks, crackers, raisins etc. Or fresh soup - but would have to be really good quality and taste homemade.

I posted up thread about the pizzas but have now tried the ready meals too. I have to say that we found them very hit and miss. The spaghetti bolonaise and curry went down well but the fish pie was awful. It looked terrible (possibly bashed around in transit) but it was bland and tasteless. My DS wouldn't touch it and he is usually a fan of fish pie.

I have to say that, overall, I didn't think the food was as tasty as say the m&s ready meals for kids which we buy occasionally. On the basis of the ones we tested I have to say that we'd be unlikely to buy again unless they wee on a special offer.

The pizza were better although the DC preferred the cheese and tomato one to all of the more interesting flavours which is what I was interested in!

I have very mixed feelings about the samples we tried (thank you very much, by the way).

First impressions: liked the packaging and the fact that the meals provided a good sized portion of veg, no added salt/sugar etc. Also very convenient.

Unfortunately, my 4 year old refused to eat anything but a few mouthfuls of the bolognese and a slice of the cheese and tomato pizza, which he declared was 'too tomatoey'. My 2 year old is generally more adventurous but even she turned her nose up at the fish and shepherds pies as well as the cheese ravioli. I did try the meals myself and have to say that I found them to be quite bland, even with the addition of salt and pepper (and Tabasco!) and the two pies mostly tasted of swede, which is probably what put the children off.

We do eat quite a lot of curry/chilli/strongly flavoured foods at home and I think that although these meals are for small children, they could probably do with a few more herbs and spices to liven them up.

The pizzas looked far more appealing than the standard supermarket kids ones I sometimes buy but they were quite doughy and had a very strong tomato sauce on them, which didn't go down too well. My 2 yr old dd did eat about half of the meatball one, after picking the meatballs off. We don't eat pizza often and I think we would probably stick to the supermarket own brand ones in future, even if the LD ones were similarly priced, as I doubt there's much in it nutritionally.

Perhaps these meals are better for much younger children but I can't say I would recommend them to others with toddlers, based on my own experiences.

• What was your overall impression of Little Dish meals?

Delivery was very prompt and the little cool bag and spoon was a lovely added extra! Although the box was a bit bashed upon delivery the contents were still perfectly fine.

• Which was your child’s favourite meal?

It has to be the pasta bolegnase and the risotto, come to mention it he loved the curry too!

• Would you recommend Little Dish meals to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not?

Absolutely, the are packed full of nutrients and vegetables and just what your little one needs! Although I would say that after being fed a piece of pizza from my DS I noticed they are quite bland in comparison to the foods we usually eat, a bit of seasoning or herbs would be good.

• What was your overall impression of Little Dish My First Pizzas?

A great size for my little one, although the topping, especially the cheese looked a bit sparse.

• Which was your child’s favourite pizza?

He loved them all and couldn't decide!

• Would you recommend Little Dish pizzas to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not.

Yes, they are just the right size for a toddler

• What other healthy, natural food would you like Little Dish to make?

Perhaps a strew or a hotpot or a hidden vegetable lasagne or something..

Thank you to all testers for testing out Little Dish's ranges and leaving your feedback. This thread has now closed. The winner of the £300 John Lewis voucher is MustBeThursday, congrats! We'll be in touch soon

Who won the voucher?

Little Dish meals

• What was your overall impression of Little Dish meals?

Lovely packaging. Small portions, but enough for my daughter

• Which was your child’s favourite meal?

The fish pie. It had plenty of fish in it and tasted similar to her mummy's dish pie!

• Would you recommend Little Dish meals to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes. the dishes are delicious and have no added nasties. You can trust that they are suitable for little ones and have no added sugar, salt etc. A quick, easy yet nutritious meal.

Little Dish My First Pizzas

• What was your overall impression of Little Dish My First Pizzas?

Great size and thickness. Good toppings.

• Which was your child’s favourite pizza?

The meat pizza

• Would you recommend Little Dish pizzas to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not?

Definitely, they are generous in size and toppings and were really delicious.

• What other healthy, natural food would you like Little Dish to make?

I guess they could do all sorts - risotto? I like the meaty/fishy dishes as like to know my daughter is getting good protein. However, for veggies perhaps a bean based dish (lentils). Also, a mild curry would be great.

Little Dish meals

• What was your overall impression of Little Dish meals?

I thought the packaging was very attractive, a good portion size and the children found them to be very tasty.

• Which was your child’s favourite meal?

Alphabet pasta bolognese

• Would you recommend Little Dish meals to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes I would recommend them they are handy to give the children when you want a quick meal that has no added sugar or salt.

Little Dish My First Pizzas

• What was your overall impression of Little Dish My First Pizzas?

It is great that these have a lot less salt then other pizzas on the market for children and that they contain one of your 5 a day. The pizza packaging again was appealing. The children did enjoy them however I feel they could have been slightly bigger with more topping.

• Which was your child’s favourite pizza?

Mini meatballs and veg.

• Would you recommend Little Dish pizzas to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes I would as they are healthier than other pizzas and taste great.

What other healthy, natural food would you like Little Dish to make?
A pudding range would be a good idea.