When I was pregnant with Kieran (my first) I read every book, visited every forum and I knew what I had to do to ensure that I would be the perfect mum.
Looking back now, as a Mum of two I marvel at how I managed to get through a whole day without somehow getting injured due to my naivety! You very quickly learn that you only have one pair of hands, that there are only 24hrs in a day and also that your baby will not be the same as anyone else’s…. they are all individual. So, best laid plans aside, I realised it wouldn’t hurt anyone to try and make things easier on myself occasionally.
Ready made baby food *GASP*. A lazy mum’s shortcut or a life-saver? Definitely the former. Freezing veg and mushed up meats etc I didn’t find too difficult as I was cooking them anyway but breakfasts were a nightmare. Kieran lived on those powdered cereals until he was old enough for weetabix etc. Recently Plum-Baby sent me two of their breakfast pouches to try with Taylor. I love these! (As did Taylor at a guess as the contents soon disappeared). At last something different for breakfast! We tried Banana & Apricot Porridge and Prune, Peach & Baby Rice and I was impressed not only at the ease of use (ready to go in a pouch which can be resealed and popped in the fridge to finish within 2 days) but at the list of wholesome and rubbish-free ingredients. Everything is organic, there is no added salt or sugar, no bulking agents, no additives…. basically (in my humble opinion) these are just as good, if not better, than any such breakfast I could try and make by hand.
So why the guilt? Why should we feel bad because everything that passes through our child’s lips hasn’t be grown in our own garden and lovingly sieved for hours…! Never mind the books, ready made baby food isn’t the work of the devil but a convenient, tasty and healthy meal for my precious ones.
Plum baby pouches are 99p each (RRP) and available via their website and selected retailers. Catch up with them on Facebook for news and special offers and why not join the chat on Twitter?
*Plum Baby sent us some pouches to try and review. This is where their input end, all finding are those of mine and my families and based on our our experience of the product
I made all my own food with my older 3 children and yes I have used pouches this time – guilt? Yes a little as I am limited to what flavours the manufacturers decide on making but as for what’s in them – No! I do only use 3 brands that I feel ‘comfortable’ with but they do the hard work for me 🙂
And that is what you have to do, choose what is “comfortable” for you and the little ones. Looking at the plum baby pouches it was great to see how little crap there was (ie none!). I’m all for quality, safe, healthy food – especially if it is nice and easy for me!
I’ve probably done about half and half shop-bought and home-made with Tori and have no doubt it will be the same with Arthur. I try and make my own or a child-friendly version of what we are eating but there is always a few pouches/jars etc in the cupboard just in case we decide to get a takeaway and I can’t be bothered to cook or just if I haven’t got the time/energy/patience/all of the above to make anything. I feel a bit guilty sometimes but I’m not sure why really.
Yeah, I’m not sure why either. I’ve been known to look both ways in tesco before putting pouches (etc) into the trolley. WHAT a numpty lol!
Good post. Guilt is such a weird thing, isn’t it? I started off giving my baby nothing but steamed and pureed homemade goodness, and have started giving her less and less homemade and more and more organic pouches (we use Ella’s Kitchen). Even though there’s nothing bad in them, I still wrestle with the guilt and try to justify it every day. So silly!
We are our own worst enemy sometimes aren’t we!
I think the guilt is left over from the days when we started to realize what sugar, salt, chemicals and preservatives were in these things. Since those days healthy food awareness has come a long way and you can find healthy baby foods. As long as you choose wisely you no longer have to feel guilty.
Quite possibly! And I agree, I’ve no idea why it still has something of a stigma!
I use some shop bought, including Plum. But none of it tastes as good or is as cheap as homemade. That where the guilt comes in for me, knowing that however good the bought stuff is I could (should…) do it better.
No it isn’t as cheap, although certainly for breakfasts I find it much easier. I also do a mix of my own and bought. Taste-wise? Taylor wolfs down either so I’m guessing he’s not fussed!
Oh Lordy, Plum were one of my saviours. Bugger Karmel, I could get far better from a packet than my dreadful culinary skills could ever muster. Worth every penny.
And any guilt was VERY fleeting…!