If I had to pick one food item that has made my life with a picky and active toddler infinitely better, it would be the smoothies from Ella’s Kitchen. My friend Lauren, who works for Ella’s Kitchen, introduced me to these little wonders a couple of months ago and Wito has been hooked ever since. (THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THESE INTO MY LIFE, LAUREN.)
I’m not sure if I have properly conveyed to you how much my child detests vegetables, but let me bring you up to speed. Wito will not touch any vegetable known to man. (Not even potatoes! Or sweet corn! Or carrots! Even if I soak them in Ranch dressing! Kill me now.)
However, he’s a fruitaholic, so I was pretty sure he would love these 100% organic and totally portable fruit smoothies. I was not wrong in my assumption. In fact, I have to hide these in my closet to keep him from sucking down 2 or 3 at a time. (Just imagine…my Frye boots and J. Crew flats sharing space with a box of organic fruit smoothies. Good thing they don’t need to be refrigerated until opened, right?)
The true test, however, was to see how he reacted to the smoothies with vegetables. A couple of weeks ago, I introduced the green smoothie pouch. He was super excited to try a new color, so he twisted off the top and took a big swig from the built-in straw. And guess what?
He hated it.
Oh, COME ON. Did you really think I was going to tell you that my vegetable hater actually ENJOYED a puree of broccoli, peas and pears? Right.
But! He loves his orange and purple smoothie pouches, which contain carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes and pumpkins. MY CHILD WILLINGLY EATS PARSNIPS. Take a look for yourself.
Ella’s Kitchen, I salute you.
If you are looking for a simple way to get more organic fruits and vegetables into your little one’s diet, you must try Ella’s Kitchen. Their Stage 1 baby food range (4+ months and up, but I serve these as smoothies to Wito) is a completely different concept in baby food, bringing together minimally processed, carefully chosen organic natural fruits and vegetables and extremely convenient and easy packaging. Both the baby food and smoothies are simply 100% organic fruit and vegetables, with nothing to dilute their goodness – not even water. All of the flavors come in squeezy packs that are super easy for toddlers to enjoy with making a mess. (Love that part.)
Ella’s Kitchen products are sold at Babies R Us and Toys R Us, and you can read more about the company and products at their website.
Now for the best part. Ella’s Kitchen is giving away a sample box of these little wonders to one lucky reader. The sample box contains one full-sized pouch of each flavor shown above, for a total of 8 stage 1 foods/smoothies. Just leave a comment on this post before Friday, December 11th at 6pm PST and I’ll randomly choose one winner. Good luck!
Suzanne
December 7, 2009 at 10:13 amThese look wonderful. I’m all for tricking my toddler into eating her veggies. Thanks!
.-= Suzanne´s last blog ..The Dairy Diaries =-.
Brittany
December 7, 2009 at 10:16 amPlanning ahead. These look great!
.-= Brittany´s last blog ..Bagels with cream cheese =-.
Lauren
December 7, 2009 at 10:19 amWhat a cool product!
Mina
December 7, 2009 at 10:20 amMy duaghter is 6 and hates vaggies too. I have to try these for her!
Ines
December 7, 2009 at 10:21 amMy kid is also picky with fruits & veggies. Would love to be able to try these.
Jax
December 7, 2009 at 10:25 amThese look awesome! I usually make my own baby food, but I’d love to try these out for travel / older kids!
Amy A
December 7, 2009 at 10:26 amThat’s awesome! My little one hates trying anything new food-wise, but if you put anything in a different looking drink container, she’s all for it.
birdgal (another amy)
December 7, 2009 at 10:27 ammy four year old also detests all vegetables (well, except maybe sweet potatoes), but loves most fruits, so these would be right up my alley! (my one year old on the other hand will eat anything)
Karen
December 7, 2009 at 10:28 ammy Isaac just turned 2 in Aug and with that began picky eating – would love to try these!
Amanda
December 7, 2009 at 10:29 amI would LOVE to get my toddler to try these! He’s 14mo and we are still trying to get him to master the straw…maybe this will help!
.-= Amanda´s last blog ..China, China! =-.
Erin
December 7, 2009 at 10:31 amI think my 3-year-old is a secret twin to Wito – not a single vegetable (unless completely hidden and in miniscule amounts) will pass through his lips. I swear he survives on air some days…
.-= Erin´s last blog ..Because it’s my birthday =-.
jen
December 7, 2009 at 10:32 amawesome! i wanna try!
Melinda
December 7, 2009 at 10:35 amI would love to win these to try on my picky eater. He is horrible when it comes to eating these days. If he can’t feed it to himself, he won’t eat it. A little pouch he could probably handle. Great idea.
Amy
December 7, 2009 at 10:37 amI feel your pain. God help me. I never thought I’d say this, but I have 3-yr old twins that are picky eaters. They ate most everything until about 6 months ago. Now it kills me to sit at dinner and not make a big deal about it.
Parsnips? It must be too good to be true. I’d love to test it out.
Carrie
December 7, 2009 at 10:43 amSign me up! I’d love to have a sample box please.