whats as good/better than homecooking for your toddler?

[JillAskey]

we all know that when you can its good to try and feed your young one all the nutrients that we would usually eat...

but for the odd occasion when you don't have time... or you are leaving him/her with granny...

any ideas?

What about what granny is eating?! I do tend to use Ella's Kitchen and the like while out and about but it isn't as nice as homecooked. I'd eat it though, which I can't say about all prepared toddler food on offer.

I'd eat Ella's Kitchen pouches. DS, unfortunately doesn't agree :o from an ingredients/healthy point of view I think they're fine though. My only complaint about them is that DS is BLW and the pouches are very pureed, not much interesting texture and no chewing necessary. But for occasional times I wouldn't worry at all about giving 'ready' baby food.

How are the pouches different to jars? Is it simply different packaging or is it fresher somehow?

I just use a selection of jars and pouches. Quite a few people I know seem to think the pouches are better somehow (usual problem of 'if it is more expensive and/or organic it must be better) - I'm not convinced. The pouches are great for the smooth purees but even the stage 2/3 ones are not really that textured. Jars are more varied and have more sweet options for puddings. I would just use a variety to give your baby lots of tastes.

They don't seem to have the preservatives in them.

Plus I'd eat them myself whereas the savoury jars smell awful to me. Not the sweet ones though. Also, because you are squeezing onto a spoon rather then dipping in a spoon, you can seal and use the rest later. (easily solved by putting some of a jar into a bowl but assume I'm v lazy)

The jars do make me heave, especially when they have water on the top.
The pouches are far too pureed though, I have never pureed savoury food as much as that for DS2
Have used both in emergencies, but I try to freeze bits of left over regular food to use, or make pesto pasta with homemade pesto which takes minutes to make and can be eaten cold

Well if I left my DD with Granny they just had whatever they were having, ham sandwich, eggy bread etc. There again DD really didn't like spoon feeding and would just want whatever we were eating.