Baby food jars/pouches

[Littlelighthouse]

Hi everyone,
DD is 7 months old and is doing great with weaning. We will usually offer a version of what we're having to eat, and will steam some veggies for her to hold and eat as well as mashing up some food to spoon feed which is working well for us.
However, this weekend we are going away Friday - Monday for our first little holiday. It's only a caravan holiday, but we'll probably be mostly eating out. I was going to take food to prepare DD some meals whilst we're there, but I'm not sure this will be practical now as we have activities booked etc. So just for the weekend we are looking to take some baby food jars/pouches, then at least we can feed her whilst we're at a restaurant or whatever.

We have never used them before as I have prepared every meal she's had so far. So what's the best ones out there? I was recommended Ella's kitchen, but I've since read an article that those pouches are full of sugar? We want something as nutritious as possible really. There's just so much out there I don't know where to start! Thank you for your help 😊

They're full of sugar because they are pure, blended fruit. You don't see how much sugar is in a whole apple, but I assure you it's a lot!

Any pouches would do really; when we went on holiday I just bought the cheapest ones available and they went down very well

Any are fine.

Or just keep doing what your doing, order something like a baked potato, give her some bits of salad and some mashed up potato.

Or take some bits from Home, mashed and frozen in ice cubes, pull a couple out before you head out.

Can easy cook up things like a carrot in morning and take with you.

A nice soft bit of bread.

Enjoy.

It's a weekend, just get whatever you can! When dts were small and we ate out we always ordered bread and an extra portion of vegetables, kept them occupied long enough.

They're all much of a muchness really. I would just get the ones on offer - they're often 3 for £5 etc.

Thank you all 😊 we were planning on ordering a side for her, I just want to have a back up just in case - I appreciate your help!

This. If you are worried about sugar (although if it's just for a weekend away, id be a bit relaxed tbh), then just buy the ones that are are wholly made of veg. We used to get a tesco one that was broccoli, peas and spinach mixed together, and another one that was courgette, pepper and aubergine, but I'm sure all the brands do similar.

@23NameChange I'll have a look out for those! Thank you 😊

I use mainly Heinz big jars. My son has half a jar for dinner then the other half for tea the day after.

I’d read all the stories about pouches being full of sugar, but actually when you get past the 4+ months ones it doesn’t seem to the the case. The Ella’s 7+ savoury meals generally don’t seem to have fruit juice added.

99% of the time I’m lovingly cooking and blending DS’s meals myself, but some of the criticism of pouches is overblown imo.

My DC really liked the tesco own ones, cheesy butternut squash pasta, spag bol and the supergreen one mentioned up thread.

@Littlelighthouse I just came to say I couldn't get my little one to touch the jars or pouches after starting her on mainly versions of what we were eating - which sounds similar to what you're doing? She liked the fruit ones (sugar!) but not the actual veggie / meal / dinner type ones. We tried a few brands.

So just incase - it might be worth looking at little ready meals you could try to give her a little bit of? M&S do a good range of 'meals for 1' which are kind of mini-sized and microwaveable - shepherds pie, lasagne, etc. Just incase! If she's used to more adult type food.

@crabette didn't even consider this 🙈 thank you for your help! 😊

Little Freddie have some really good options, I find them to have the best protein content too.

@Littlelighthouse We did similar when DS was about the same age 😊 It was a lovely little holiday!
If I remember rightly, I cooked up a quick batch of banana pancakes (they keep fine in the fridge for a few days!) and took some of those out with us along with some yoghurt. Then just as you suggested, ordered a side or whatever for DS or gave him some of mine.
I also popped to M&S on the way - they do individual little bags of microwave veggies which I’d never normally buy but it was handy to have some healthy stuff that was ready in 2 mins 😊 was nice to be able to give him that without properly cooking and then DH and I got a takeaway when he was in bed 😊

Can you make some purées yourself beforehand? I make my own and then store them in little pots, they freeze really well so can last the whole time you're away.

The Ella's pouches are great. You can choose ones that are more textured/lumpy if that's what they are used to. They were the best brand in my opinion.