Plum Organics

By now, pouches of squeezable organic food have become the norm. What started out as a lighter, more earth-friendly way to transport baby's purees has expanded to a convenience enjoyed by older kids too. For some reason though, once tots graduated beyond stage 2 purees, the sole proprietor of the pouches has been fruit. Taking a page from their baby food siblings at Plum Organics, Revolution Foods is mixing things up and adding vegetables to their popular Mashups line of squeeze pouches. Mashups Fruit & Veggie Smoothies ($5 for four) are certified organic real fruit and veggie blends made without any added sugar. I put the blends to the test with my notoriously veggie-shy son.

Who is this product designed for? According to Revolution Foods, Mashups were created for kids 5 and up who don't want to eat the same squeeze packets as their baby siblings. As with all squeezers, they are designed for families on-the-go – creating a neat way to eat a snack when mama doesn't have time to cut up some fruit and vegetables.

Is it practical? Any mama that's rushed to pack her tot's lunch box and needed to throw some snacks in a bag knows how hard it can be to find wholesome, organic treats that aren't packed with hidden sugar. These packs give mom peace of mind knowing that she's giving her lil ones a healthy snack with the ease of simply reaching into the pantry.

Keep reading to see if my tots liked the packets, and if I'd buy them.

Snack time is getting a colorful makeover. Plum Organics, which already won us over with its puree pouches, is launching a rainbow-infused line of 1/4 inch puffs. Organic Super Puffs ($3 each) are available in five varieties, each made with real fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and natural sweetener. The company sent over a few containers and I put them to the test with my 1 year old.

Who is this product designed for? These puffs are designed for early self-feeders and parents on the go. The easy-to-handle container design fits right into a stroller's cup holder, while the puffs' star shapes are easy for clumsy hands to grasp.

Is it practical? With both my tots, puffs started out as a treat at the end of a meal to practice self feeding. Once they got the hang of them, they became a necessity – keeping them calm while waiting for food to be prepared, tiding them over until the next meal, etc. Plum's Super Puffs have the added benefit of combining fruits and vegetables to make me feel better about the frequency that I serve them.

What could be better? I wish they were more widely available (Super Puffs are currently available at Toys R Us and Babies R Us stores). After one taste, my tot was addicted to the "Super Greens" variety (spinach and apple), while I found myself munching on the "Super Reds" (strawberry and beet) version. So we are going through them pretty fast!

Would I buy it? Yes! I love the fruit and veggie combinations, the lack of artificial flavors and colors and the convenience of the containers.

What did baby think? My son devoured the Super Greens, quickly made his way through the Super Reds, and is now thoroughly enjoying the Super Purples (blueberry and purple sweet potato).

Shiloh Jolie-Pitt knows how to squeeze it – and so does her sister Zahara! The siblings were spotted toy shopping with their mama and big brother Pax at an Oakland toy store yesterday where the girls were snacked on Plum Organics Just Pears squeezable fruit packs. Though the company has designed a spoon to attach directly to the spouts, the lil ladies didn't need them. Angelina is always on the go so squeezable food pouches are a convenient and healthy option for her big brood. Do your kids eat them?

Where's the eats? Once baby gets the OK to have more than breast milk or formula, fruit and veggie purees quickly become a household staple to satiate wee appetites. Some tots can consume quite a bit, so we've run the numbers on how much it costs.

• Gerber 1st Foods Applesauce — 16 (2.5-ounce tubs for $10.49) = 26 cents per ounce
• Plum Organics Just Fruit Apples — six (3.17-ounce pouches of $7.29) = 38 cents per ounce
• Ella's Kitchen Organic Baby Food Stage 1 Apples — seven (3.5-ounce pouches for $12.50) = 51 cents per ounce
• Sprout Organic Stage 1 Roasted Apples — 12 (3.5-ounce pouches for $12.99) = 30.9 cents per ounce
• Earth's Best 1st Foods Apples — 12 (2.5-ounce jars for $7.99) = 26.6 cents per ounce

Caring for baby can cost a bundle! Check out all our It Adds Up! coverage.

Feed your baby with one arm tied behind your back? You can do that! When lil ones are first introduced to solids, moms can spend most of the meal batting their hands away from the oncoming food and ending up with a lap full of pureed veggies. Using their experience with the Squirt Dispensing Spoon, Boon has teamed up with Plum Organics to introduce the Plum Dispensing Spoon ($4 for two), a set of two BPA and phthalate-free spoons that attach directly onto squeezable pouches, to allow for one-handed feeding. The company recently sent us a set to try out.

Who is this product designed for? The spoons are ideal for busy moms of infants who are starting solid foods.

Is it practical? Yes. The spoon twists onto any pureed food pouch (not just Plum Organics) in a matter of seconds and eliminates the need to dirty a bowl when feeding a tot. Once baby is done, the spoon is easy to clean and dishwasher safe.

What sets it apart? The Plum Dispensing Spoon is the first of its kind.

What could be better? I wish the actual distance from the stem to the bowl of the spoon was longer, allowing parents to place it further into the lil one's mouth, and at more of an angle. At the current length, I felt like the pouch (which came from a dirty store shelf) was too close to my tot's lips.

Would you buy it? Yes for on the go feeding and traveling it eliminates the need to pack bowls. At home, I would stick with my regular baby spoons.

Would you give it as a gift? It would make a fun gift, along with a few pouches of food for a mom who is introducing solids for the first time.

Uh oh — I've created a foodie! My 7 month old got hooked on the first food I fed him — Ella's Kitchen organic baby purees. There wasn't a fruit and veggie variety he didn't gobble down before the store I bought it at sold out. I tried to trick my tot into eating a few other brands and it was a no go. He pursed his lips and fasted (with the exception of milk) until I offered him Plum Organics. Available in squeezable pouches, the brand offers up seven stage two combinations from sweet potato, corn, and apple to spinach, peas and pear. ($8 for 6 packs).
Who is this product designed for? This product is perfect for parents who like to tote food on the go. The convenient packs can be popped open in the car or at the park and squeezed on to a spoon for easy feeding.
Is it practical? I didn't understand the pouch concept until I gave it a whirl with my third kiddo and now I think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread.
What could be better? I wish I could buy it in bulk! I cleared out the Whole Foods supply because my baby eats four to six containers a day so I have to stock up.
Would I buy it? I already did.
What did baby think? My son kicks his legs and reaches out to grab it. He's loved every flavor except for the blueberry, pear, and purple carrot, which wasn't available at our grocer.