I’m a big fan of fruit and veggie pouches for convenience. I love to pack them when we travel (I talk about my travel-pouch-feelings in this post) or I’ll stick them in school lunchboxes. They're easy to grab and go and kids love them. For experienced eaters 2+ years, I am more lenient about having them on an ongoing basis. For younger children 2 years and under, I take a more conservative approach and rarely offer them. Once babies start solids I emphasize eating behaviors that promote oral motor development, such as eating purees with utensils.
Plus:
I prefer when kids eat their calories over drinking their calories.
I want kids to have interactive experiences with their foods. I want them to see their colors and smell their smells. It’s a little harder to do that with pouches.
Pouches are expensive!
Pouches are typically made up of fruit (even veggie-forward flavors) and I’d rather offer whole fruits.
But…
If pouches are offered on the daily and are how you’re surviving parenthood then:
I see you.
I recommend squeezing out the pouch into a bowl and spoon feeding or offering a utensil to self-feed
Ultimately, most parents are offering a pouch at one point or another. I thought it would be fun (and helpful?) to review and compare some of the popular pouches found in major retailers.
So ladies and gentlemen….
The Ultimate Pouch Review
Some housekeeping:
Each pouch will be evaluated based on: taste (an adult perspective), price point, nutrition, and I will also provide an overall review of the pouch.
I am reviewing pouches, not jarred baby food.
I am reviewing fruit/vegetable or yogurt-based pouches. I am NOT reviewing pouches made with meat.
Obviously I did not assess every pouch on the market. I chose popular brands that can be conveniently purchased at major retailers.
Most brands have multiple flavors and product lines. When picking a flavor to review, I tried my best to choose a flavor that contains vegetables.
My Reference Key:
I rated taste based on: super sweet, moderately sweet, or slightly sweet*
*Obviously a subjective category
Nutritional considerations I pinpointed: protein, fat, fiber, and added sugar
When purchasing pouches I personally look at the fat, fiber, and protein content, ingredient list, and prefer it to be free of added sugars. Fat, fiber, and protein help promote satiety and balances blood sugar levels.
*Ok, let’s start!*
Happy Baby Happy Tot: Love My Veggies
Flavor: Zucchini, pear, chickpea, kale
Taste: moderately sweet
Price: $1.62/pouch
Nutrition:
2g of protein
3g of fiber per pouch is excellent.
Overall review:
I was pleasantly surprised by this veggie-forward blend which contains 4 vegetables and 1 fruit. It contains both protein and fiber to improve satiety. I will repurchase.
Happy Baby Organics: Clearly Crafted
Flavor: Sweet Potatoes, Mangos, and Carrots
Taste: Slightly sweet; a hint of tartness and earthiness
Price: $1.99/pouch
Nutrition:
2g of fiber
Overall review:
This flavor is high in vitamin A/beta carotene that supports vision and immunity. I appreciate the earthiness of the carrots and the tartness of the mango however it is deficient in both protein and fat. It may be a good option to flavor oatmeal or plain yogurt and to provide additional nutrients. I will not repurchase.
Flavor: Apple Blueberry Beet
Taste: Slightly sweet; earthy
Price: $0.82/pouch
Nutrition:
1g of fiber
Overall review:
The Good & Gather brand is one of the more affordable organic pouches on the market and provides a variety of flavor options. I was expecting this flavor to be overly sweet since the first two ingredients are apple and blueberry but the earthiness of the beets balance out the sweet index. This pouch may be a helpful segue to introducing beets if they have been rejected in the past. Even though this pouch is lacking in both protein and fat, I will repurchase it since the price point makes it affordable for packed school lunches.
Flavor: Apple Mango Guava
Taste: Super sweet
Price: $0.57/pouch
Nutrition:
1g of fiber
Overall review:
The GoGo Squeez brand is definitely one of the more affordable pouches on the market, as they are sold in packs and in bulk. Due to the lack of nutrition and increased sweet index, I will not repurchase.
Flavor: Pear, Spinach, Pea
Taste: Slightly sweet
Price: $1.37
Nutrition:
4g of fiber
2g of protein
Overall review:
Although the first ingredient listed is pear, it is not too sweet. It has an excellent amount of nutrition in a small volume. I will repurchase.
Flavor: Strawberry Lemonade
Taste: Super sweet, slightly tart
Price: $1.17
Nutrition:
2.5g fat
2g protein
6g fiber
3g added sugar
Overall review:
This is a great option to support digestive health, with ample fiber in small volume. It is a great option for kids who experience travel-related constipation. I also appreciate the omega 3 fatty acid content (1200 mg) which supports brain and heart health. I will repurchase.
Flavor: Purple Carrot Blueberry
Taste: Moderately sweet
Price: $2.99
Nutrition:
2g fat
4g fiber
2g protein
Overall review:
This pouch has a beautiful purple color, a great nutritional profile, and a ton of brain-supporting nutrients such as choline (15mg), DHA (18mg), and iron (2.2mg). When it goes on sale I will repurchase (expensive, yikes!).
Flavor: Pumpkin + Nectarine
Taste: Slightly sweet
Price: $2.49
Nutrition:
1g fiber
1g protein
Overall review:
The consistency of the pouch is very watery (I’m not sure if they add water?) and is lacking in the nutrition department plus it’s very expensive. I will not repurchase.
Flavor: Wild Rumpus Avocado
Taste: Super sweet
Price: $2.79
Nutrition:
0.5g fat
2g fiber
1g protein
Overall review:
I love that the Once Upon A Farm brand offers super fresh purees made without preservatives and they require refrigeration. This flavor is super high in vitamin C (34mg) to support immunity. However, it is super expensive and does not offer a lot of nutrition. I would repurchase this flavor during winter/cold seasons and only when it goes on sale.
Once Upon A Farm Dairy Free Smoothie
Flavor: Go Go Greens
Taste: Moderately sweet
Price: $2.79
Nutrition:
4g fat
3g fiber
3g protein
Overall review:
The price is almost worth it for me since there are so many nutritional benefits. I also appreciate that there many greens and green powders - spinach, wheatgrass, kale, spirulina, and moringa. For kids who are going through picky eating spells or who need additional calories (100kcal/pouch), this is a great option. I will definitely repurchase (and load up especially if they go on sale).
Forager Project Cashew Milk Yogurt
Flavor: Peach
Taste: Moderately sweet
Price: $2.19
Nutrition:
2g protein
4.5g fat
6g added sugar
3g fiber
Overall review:
A great choice for plant-based or dairy-free kids because it has ample protein, fiber, and fat. I am a little disappointed to see that there is a ton of added sugar. The consistency is thick like dairy yogurt. They use additives such as guar gum, pectin, and agar to improve consistency and texture; not necessarily negative things - something to keep in mind for those who have sensitive digestive systems. It is fortified with probiotics, calcium, and vitamins D, A, and B12. I will not repurchase.
Flavor: Strawberry & Banana
Taste: Slightly sweet
Price $1.92
Nutrition
2g fat from 2% milk
4g added sugar
5g protein
Overall review:
In general, I prefer to feed kids plain, unsweetened yogurt over sweetened yogurt. This pouch is great if you are on the go and need a quick protein option. The AAP recommends switching over to low fat dairy at 2 years and if weight is stable. I will not repurchase.
Flavor: Pear, Spinach, Mango
Taste: Super sweet
Price: $1.57
Nutrition:
3.5 g fat from whole milk
4g added sugar
5g protein
Overall review:
Again, I would rather purchase unsweetened yogurt but this can be a great protein option on the go and great for kids who need the additional fat from whole milk. It is also fortified with vitamin D. I will not repurchase.
Alright folks, this concludes my pouch review! After reviewing 13 different pouches, I hope this issue will make it easier to sift through the options when you go grocery shopping. Ultimately, find the pouch that works best for you and your kids. What are the features that matter most to you?
If price point is the most important I recommend GoGo Squeez.
If nutrition content is the most important I recommend Once Upon A Farm Dairy Free Smoothie.
If digestive health is the most important I recommend Mamma Chia.
If a low sweet index and veggie-forward blend is the most important I recommend Happy Baby Happy Tot.
Lastly, if you want a more sustainable approach you may want to consider reusable pouches. Recycling leftover smoothies or homemade purees is made easy with this gadget.
This was fun! Until next time!
Warmly,
Dahlia
super helpful post !