Sili Squeeze!

Squeeze pouches are quickly becoming the new thing in on the go snacking (and sitting at the table too). They're easy, neat and kids seem to love them. The one downside is that they are expensive and wasteful, but that's about to change.

Introducing the Sili Squeeze - a reusable squeeze pouch that you can fill with any assortment of purees and it's dishwasher safe and easy to clean.

Order here. They come in 2 sizes and aren't much more expensive than a couple packages of the single use squeeze pouches.

Meal Supplements

Pediasure or Boost are very popular options for meal replacements or supplements that doctors and nutritionists recommend when children have trouble gaining weight or are poor eaters. If you've ever looked at the ingredient list there is a lot of ingredients that make a lot of moms wonder what exactly they are putting in their child's body. I'm not knocking them at all, they are very convenient and provide great nutrition, however sometimes parents are looking for a more natural option. I've put together a couple options that include more natural ingredients while keeping a good calorie, fat and protein ratio. My recommendation is that if you're using these as a meal replacement (i.e. your child won't eat and they drink instead) you should include a multi-vitamin to make sure they are getting all the vitamins and minerals they need. However, if you're just using it to boost calories then you shouldn't need a vitamin.

Basic Recipe

1 cup whole milk Kefir

1/2 cup banana (approx. a small banana)

2 Tbs Nestle Nido

1/2 Tbs honey

Kefir is more sour than milk, which is why I've added honey. You could also add fruit juice, sugar or anything a little sweeter.

The best part of this recipe is that you can really substitute anything. If you can't find kefir, you can use equal parts milk and yogurt. You could also just use milk or half and half. If your child has a milk allergy you could use coconut milk kefir or any milk substitute that you like.

If your child doesn't like bananas you can use any fruit, you could also forgo the fruit and add a splash of vanilla or chocolate if your child likes that. Again you can also use formula in place of the nido, which would make it a more balanced option if you're using it as a meal replacement.

You'll notice in the nutritional information below that the kefir options appear to have more sugar, but it's unrefined sugar - a mixture of fruit, honey and milk sugars. You'll also notice that there isn't vitamin information for the kefir options, it's because they are listed as adult servings on the package and I didn't want to do the math.

Favorite Product #2

Kidco Food Mill

This food mill is such a simple thing to keep around the house. It takes up very little space and has a carrying case if you want to travel with it. It's super simple to use, you just stick the food in and grind it up and you have an instant puree!

We used it when I wanted to puree a small portion of it for Emma to eat, if she was eating our meal for dinner, not "baby food".

Definitely worth the investment!

Favorite Product #1

Yesterday while I was shopping at my favorite ghetto fabulous superstore (hey, we needed pediasure, it's cheaper there), I came across what could be my new favorite food item.
Behold:


Powdered Whole Milk by Nestle Nido!!! The perfect thing to mix into a glass of milk and boost your child's calorie intake.
2oz (1/4 cup) includes:
150 calories
8g fat
8g protein
10% RDA Vitamin A
25% RDA Calcium
25% RDA Vitamin D
(RDA values based on adult's recommended daily allowance, not a child's).
I've been mixing 1 tbs into 4oz of milk and Emma doesn't notice a difference and it gives her 40-50 extra calories with each sippy of milk she drinks, which can add up to over 200 extra calories a day!!!
I prefer to feed Emma organic/hormone free dairy products but haven't been able to find an organic version of this in stores yet, if I find one I will let you know!
For now click here to find out where Nestle Nido is carried near you!
Enjoy!