Holiday Inspired Real Food Recipes

Posted on December 23, 2013 by Amanda Holliday | 0 Comments

Happy Holidays! We just can’t wait to celebrate this festive season with our little ones, and we bet you can’t either.  And what better way to do so than with some Holiday Pouch Recipes?

We have a fantastic new recipe that is certain to be a party pleaser for kids and adults. Charlotte March’s Pear and Cranberry Puree will knock the stockings off your wee one, and, when topped with a little bubbly, makes for a great treat for mom, dad, grandma, maybe even Saint Nick (a recipe for more presents?). And the great thing about this puree is not only that it is delicious, but also healthy.  Indeed, it’s stamped with our Real Food badge of approval.

 

A few other Holiday Pouch Recipes you might want to try, which are also Real Food Pouch Recipes, include:  

Apple Pie A La Mode

Appled Yams

Pumpkin Delight

My Little Sweet Potato

Butternut Squash Smoothie

We’d love to hear from you if you have any Holiday Pouch Recipes to share. We know you are such a talented and creative group!

As the year draws to a close we can’t help but get a bit reflective. We started this company a little over a year ago, and it has been such an amazing ride so far. Of course, that is all because of you. We are so thankful for each and every one of you, and the incredible support you have shown us.  We couldn’t do it without you. Honest and sincere.

We wish you and your families a wonderful and memory-filled holiday season.

In continued appreciation,

Maggie & Melissa

PS: Don’t forget to mark your calendar for our 10 Day Real Food Pledge, starting January 6th. (It’ll make you feel better about all those Christmas cookies and holiday cheer.)

 

 

Posted in 100 Days of Real Food, 100 Days of Real Food and Little Green Pouch, Charlotte March, Christmas, Holidays, Little Green Pouch Real Food, New Year, Pureed Contents, Real Food, Recipes

Our Real Food Journey Continues

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Amanda Holliday | 0 Comments

We’re now in week two of our 100 Days of Real Food initiative. We hope you’re on board! The time is nigh to provide a little inspiration (and motivation?) by letting you know where to find great Real Food Pouch Recipes.

First, we’ll go ahead and toot our own horn, and point you to our Real Food Pouch Recipes page, which is a fantastic resource for tasty (and easy) Real Food recipes. There you’ll find Real Food Pouch Recipes like Roasted Apple and Parsnip Puree (with an awesome instructional video), Baked Quinoa e Fagioli with Veggies, Homemade Yogurt (in a Crockpot!) Spiced Up Yams and Broccoli and Carrot and Nectarine Smoothie. These and other Real Food Pouch Recipes are tagged as Real Food, for your convenience, and stamped with our handy Real Food Badge.

Next (horn toot number two), on our new Real Food Pinterest Board you can find a great collection of Real Food Pouch Recipes that meet our Real Food (and tasty) standards. Make sure to follow along. (We apologize in advance if you spend two hours in the “Pinterest Time Suck” after taking a peek at our new board (Melissa is probably there as we speak.))  

Finally, we are excited to share a fantastic new Real Food Pouch Recipe from Lauren Kelly, CN (awesome recipe developer, cookbook author, food blogger and nutritionist). Lauren’s put together a Real Food Pouch Recipe that she says “is so easy to prepare, there is no excuse not to make it.” Lauren’s Unsweetened Pear Applesauce in the Slow Cooker is so good that there’s “no turning back after you try this.”

We’ll check in with you next week to see how all is progressing on the Real Food front, and give you a few Real Food Pouch Recipes for the holidays (we can’t believe they are here so soon!).

Happy cooking,

Maggie & Melissa

PS. We’re giving extra credit when you mark your calendar for the 10-Day Real Food Pledge starting January 6th. Let’s do this together!  

Posted in 100 Days of Real Food, Holidays, Lauren Kelly, Little Green Pouch, Little Green Pouch Real Food, Pureed Contents, Real Food, Recipes, Resolutions

Baby Food: Fresh versus Shelf-Stable

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Amanda Holliday | 87 Comments

As the owners of a fresh baby food business and a reusable food pouch company, we have the pleasure of meeting with many parents and discussing healthy foods for babies and young children. “How is fresh (or homemade) baby food different than the organic baby food in jars or pouches” is a question we get asked a lot. It’s a good question and we always enjoy the opportunity to discuss the difference. We believe knowledge is a very powerful tool and our goal is to share what we know and then let parents decide what makes the most sense for their family given their individual circumstances and nutritional beliefs.

Before we begin, let us first define “shelf stable”. Shelf stable is a term we use to describe foods that have been prepared or processed in such a way that allows for long-term storage without the need for refrigeration. The processing of pouched or jarred baby food involves the use of extremely high temperatures in an effort to kill bacteria and other harmful pathogens. The food is then sealed to create an oxygen free environment that makes it impossible for bacteria to grow (with the exception of Clostridium botulinum, a bacterial strain with the ability to cultivate without the presence of oxygen). These extreme temperatures are believed to have a negative impact on the concentration of certain heat sensitive vitamins and minerals.

Fresh on the other hand refers to foods that are either uncooked or cooked using conventional methods. Freshly prepared foods, such as baby food, must be stored cold and consumed within a shorter time frame. 

When purchasing from local fresh baby food companies or making homemade baby food, you have the ability to take advantage of local produce. Using local ingredients affects the nutritional content of fruits and veggies, which naturally decreases between the time they are harvested and the time they are consumed. Since local produce does not have to be transported as far, it can also be picked closer to peak ripeness when nutrients are most dense. In most cases it is not clear where mass-produced organic baby food companies source their ingredients. We don’t know how long the fruits and vegetables have been stored or how far they have travelled. Many certified organic fruits and vegetables grown outside of the U.S. are actually sprayed with pesticides post-harvest before they enter the United States. However, this does not change their organic certification. Further, foreign countries are still using chemicals that are currently banned in the United States.

Supporting local farmers is better for our environment and local economy. Many local farmers have strong connections to their land and minimize their impact on the environment by using sustainable practices, such as no-till agriculture and composting. Minimal travel distances and packaging for their farm products also contribute to the well being of our environment. Food grown locally, processed locally, and distributed locally generates jobs and subsequently helps stimulate local economies. For these reasons, there are many organizations popping up today to help foster and support local food systems, such as Good Eggs and Slow Money.

In addition to using local ingredients, some fresh baby food businesses use compostable packaging. Their foods as well as homemade baby food can also be packed in a reusable food pouch such as the Little Green Pouch. While store bought disposable pouches may be a convenient choice, the pouches are not recyclable and create a lot of waste. In addition to being an eco-friendly pouch solution, the Little Green Pouch is ideal for on-the-go freshness. 

Finally, we can’t ignore the fact that locally made fresh purees and homemade purees contain a wider variety of flavors and textures than shelf stable pouches and jars. Fresh herbs and spices can be used to entice developing palettes and foster more adventurous eaters. It is well known that babies need fat for optimal brain development.  Therefore, fats such as butter, olive oil, coconut milk and coconut oil can also be incorporated. Meats providing protein and easily absorbed sources of iron are also great additions as well as the use of fresh vegetable stock and even bone broth instead of water for additional flavor and a nutritional boost.

Based on the information presented, we realize you still need to find a balance that makes sense for you and your family. For some, homemade baby food may not be an option for one reason or another. For others, they may find that their baby only wants to eat out of a pouch. Well, we are happy to tell you that you have options. As mentioned several times, many fresh baby food businesses are popping up all over the country these days. There are even three right here in the Bay Area. And, if you need the convenience of a pouch, we strongly suggest you give the Little Green Pouch a try. This reusable squeeze pouch is perfect for homemade baby food, smoothies or yogurt as well as fresh purees from local baby food companies. 

Posted in Go Green, Kids, Little Green Pouch, Must Haves, Pureed Contents, Shout Out

Ghee Treat

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Melissa Winn | 0 Comments

Aleishall Girard Maxon, of Berkeley, California, sent us these great pictures of her daughter Matiz enjoying her little green pouches.

  
When I commented on how cute Matiz was, Aleishall said “she would look happier but she was so busy sucking down her lunch she couldn't smile :)”  Turns out Matiz was having sweet potatoes, carrots and kale mixed with Aleishall’s own product, Ancient Organics Ghee, which is a premium cooking oil made from butter from Straus Creamery. Aleishall says it is “[f]illed with not only fantastic health benefits but also a caramelized sweet taste that kids go crazy for. We drizzle it over rice and veggies, bake with it instead of butter, stir it into oatmeal and my girls even ask for it by the spoonful!” Sounds amazing to me. Thanks so much for the pictures Aleishall!

Posted in Pureed Contents, Recipes

Our Newest Beta Tester...

Posted on June 24, 2012 by Maggie Crawford | 1 Comment


...Genevieve’s Baby

Although she is a toddler, little Genevieve here wants to remind everyone that the Little Green Pouch is indeed a reusable baby food pouch. She has promised that not only she, but also her baby, will provide invaluable feedback about their experience sipping a “McFatty” Non-Dairy Smoothie out of our reusable squeeze pouch.

Hopefully baby will get to go for a nice, cool swim after she finishes her snack. She looks like she might be a little warm in that outfit.

Posted in Beta Testing, Pureed Contents, Success Stories

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