Beginning eaters can be a picky bunch, but you and your child will love these new and nutritious foods and drinks designed specifically for babies and toddlers. Packed with healthy ingredients (hello, pea protein, grass-fed bison and bok choy) and available in delicious flavor combinations and kid-friendly packaging (pouches! smoothie melts! teething wafers!), they’re a win-win. Read on for your baby’s new favorites!        

Yogurt Smoothie Melts from Amara

Yogurt smoothie melts with no added sugar? Yes, please! These toddler favorites get their sweetness from organic fruits and veggies, contain no preservatives, and come in a shape that makes it easy for kids to grasp and chew. Available in plant-based yogurt (made with coconut milk) and cow's milk yogurt varieties, these melt-in-your-mouth snacks come in three yummy flavors: Beets 'n' Berries, Carrot Raspberry and Mango Carrots. The resealable bag means you can pop them in your bag for outings. They're recommended for kids 8 months to 4 years.   Available at amaraorganicfoods.com, $29.99 for 6 bags.        

Organic Subscription Boxes from Gerber

Treat your Gerber baby to delicious, nutritious organic foods delivered right to your door with these subscription box meals created by registered dieticians. The box contents change each month to add variety to your child's diet and respond to their nutritional needs and developmental milestones. Each box is filled with USDA Certified Organic cereals, purees, pouches or snacks.   Available at gerber.com, starting at $69.99 per box/month (under $2 per serving).          

Toddler Purees with Bone Broth from Serenity Kids

Want to feed your baby healthy foods that broaden their palate? Try these bone-broth toddler purees from Serenity Kids. Packed with nutrients that help strengthen bones and support digestion and immunity, these toddler puree pouches come in flavorful varieties with no added sugars or preservatives: Turkey Bolognese, Beef Pot Roast and Turmeric Chicken. All are made with pasture-raised meat from small American regenerative family farms, organic bone broth and Certified USDA Organic vegetables and herbs. They're also free of ingredients that contain antibiotics, added hormones, pesticides, fillers, GMOs or major allergens.   Available at serenitykids.com, $29.95/6 pouches of each flavor; $32.95/6-pouch variety pack. Save 20% with a subscription.      

Little Dish toddler meals

These heat-and-serve toddler meals (designed for kids 1+) come in flavors kids love and are packed full of nutrients. The macaroni & cheese has 8 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber, along with 1/4 cup of veggies (pureed butternut squash, sweet potato and cauliflower). The pasta & tomato sauce has 6 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber, along with 1/4 of veggies (carrots, sweet potatoes, red pepper). Both are low in sodium and contain no added sugar, additives or preservatives.   Available at target.com and in the produce section of Target stores, $4.99.        

Smart Bars from Cerebelly

With 3 grams of protein, no added sugar and 10 brain-supporting nutrients, Cerebelly's Smart Bars are the snack you'll feel good about feeding your toddler. Think your child might need convincing to try something new? Two of the new flavors feature kid favorites Peppa Pig and George Pig on the package. Cerebelly was created by a neurosurgeon and mom of three to deliver age-optimized nutrition to children's growing brains. The bars in the Peppa Pig collaboration are carrot raisin and blueberry banana sweet potato. The bars also come in apple kale and strawberry beet. Read more about the Cerebelly X Peppa Pig Smart Bars.   Available at cerebelly.com, from $3.74 for a five-pack.        

Plant-Based Complete Nutrition for Toddlers from Else Nutrition

This nutritional drink is free of dairy, soy, gluten, corn syrup and GMOs. What it's full of is minimally processed plant-based ingredients, whole foods and 20 vitamins and minerals your child needs to support their growth and development after they turn one. The main ingredients are organic almond butter, organic buckwheat flour and organic tapioca maltodextrin.   Available at elsenutrition.com, $36 for a 22-ounce container.        

Organic Puffed Corn & Oat Snacks from Gerber

BabyPops are a puffed corn and oat snack that's sized just right for tiny hands. This quick-dissolving organic snack contains no added sweetener or salt, and the ingredients are non-GMO. It launched with three yummy varieties: peanut, banana raspberry and tomato. All varieties contain peanut; the peanut version includes organic peanut flour, and the other two are flavored with fruits and veggies.   Available at target.com, $2.29.        

Nut & Fruit Purees from Happy Family Organics

Nutty Blends from Happy Family Organics combine a fruit with a nut in a tasty pouch, for a healthy, filling snack and an easy way to introduce peanuts and tree nuts to your baby. The line, which was developed with the help of pediatric allergists, comes in four flavors you'll be tempted to try yourself: bananas & almond butter, apples & walnut butter, pears & cashew butter, and bananas & peanut butter.   Learn more and find your nearest store carrying this product at happyfamilyorganics.com, $1.99 per pouch.        

Organic Plant-Based Meals from Amara Organic Foods

Add breast milk, formula or water to these shelf-stable, organic, single-serve meal packets for a delicious baby puree, packed with nutrients. Great for kids transitioning to solid foods and quick and easy to prepare on the go, these handy packets come in a variety of flavors, from kale potato veggie mash and peas, corn & carrots to tropical mango and pumpkin & pear.   Available at amaraorganicfoods.com and at grocery stores including Whole Foods and Sprouts.        

Organic Banana Mango Puree in a Recyclable Pouch from Gerber

Gerber has launched a recyclable baby-food pouch, so you can feel better about buying the pouches your kids love to eat. The first flavor available in this innovative pouch is organic banana mango puree, a sweet treat packed with potassium and vitamin C. The pouch is completely recyclable through Gerber's national recycling program with TerraCycle.   Available at thegerberstore.com, $9.49 for 6 pouches.          

Ethically Sourced Meat Pouches from Serenity Kids

The nutrient-packed pouches from Serenity Kids sound like fancy restaurant meals. The two newest: pasture-raised turkey with organic pumpkin, sweet potato and beets, and grass-fed bison with organic kabocha squash and spinach. These low-sugar, high-fat pouches for babies six months and up are filled with organic vegetables from small family farms and ethically sourced meats from ranches utilizing regenerative agricultural techniques. Choose from meat and veggie combos, or organic veggies only. The company only uses ingredients that don't contain antibiotics, added hormones, pesticides, fillers, GMOs or major allergens.   Available at myserenitykids.com and amazon.com.          

Happy Tot Super Bellies Pouches from Happy Family Organics

Here's a smart snack for toddlers: These nutritious pouches support the immune system and digestive health. In addition to fruits and veggies, the pouches contain 35 mg of beta-glucan and 2g of prebiotic fiber for digestive health. They're available at major retailers nationwide and come in three flavors: bananas, spinach & blueberries; bananas, carrots & strawberries; and pears, beets & blackberries.   Learn more and find your nearest store at happyfamilyorganics.com, $1.59 per pouch.          

Regenerative & Organic Baby Food from Happy Family Organics

Why should we care about regenerative farming? It promotes biodiversity and can help to reverse climate change by building healthy soil that captures carbon from the atmosphere. Healthier soil, healthier food. The Happy Baby Regenerative & Organic line of food pouches debuted with three flavor combinations: apples, kale and oats; pears, squash and oats; and apples and carrots.   Available exclusively at Whole Foods, $8.49 for a four-pack. Learn more at happyfamilyorganics.com.        

Fruit & Veggie Pouches from Once Upon a Farm

Babies love pouches, and you'll love that these organic, cold-pressed blends are sustainably grown, certified USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, and full of healthy, organic fruits and veggies. The flavors are grouped by ages and stages, so you can easily find the ones right for your child. Purchase individual flavors as 12-packs, try a variety pack, or sign up for a money-saving subscription.   Available at onceuponafarmorganics.com.        

Whole Milk for Kids Age 1-5

Horizon Organic has introduced Growing Years organic whole milk, developed in partnership with pediatricians to deliver key nutrients for kids age 1-5. The milk contains DHA Omega-3 for brain and eye health, choline to transport DHA throughout the body, prebiotics that feed good bacteria to the gut, and vitamin D, protein and calcium for growing bones. It's certified organic and produced by pasture-raised cows who are fed an organic, non-GMO diet and are never treated with antibiotics or added hormones.   Available nationwide at select stores for $5.99; use the store locator at horizon.com to find your nearest location.        

Brain-Building Baby Food Pouches from Cerebelly

The veggie-packed baby food pouches from Cerebelly are carefully tailored to nourish baby's growing brain and body. Created by a neurosurgeon mom and a team of medical experts, the purees contain tasty ingredient combinations (such as carrot & chickpea; sweet potato & mango) that deliver protein, omega-3 DHA and the specific nutrients your baby needs for their age and developmental stage. Pick up a three-flavor variety pack at Whole Foods or sign up on the Cerebelly website for shipments every two weeks. On the site, you'll enter information about your baby's age and current developmental milestones, and Cerebelly will recommend flavors that can benefit your babe most. You choose what you like and whether you want 1-4 pouches per day.   Available at Whole Foods and cerebelly.com ($2.31-$2.89 per pouch).          

Oat Milk Välling & Smart Oats from Bla Bla Foods

Oat milk is not only the latest trend for adults. Many Swedish children have grown up on an oat-based milk called välling, and now your kids can too. This nutrient-dense oat milk from Bla Bla Foods comes in powder form and is made from organic oats, coconut milk and pea protein. Mix it with water or any milk you choose for a nutritious, delicious thick drink packed with protein, iron, calcium and fiber—and without preservatives or added sugar. Pro tip from Swedish parents: A little välling before bedtime can help babies sleep better. Also new from the company: Upgrade baby's (and your whole family's) oatmeal with organic Smart Oats, which includes quinoa, chia seeds, acai and beets to support muscle, brain and cell development, as well as coconut milk and oats for fat, protein and iron. Best of all, it's naturally pink! Available at blablafoods.com, $7.99 for Oat Milk Välling and $6.99 for Smart Oats. Buy single bags or start a monthly subscription.        

Biodynamic, Organic Pouches & Applesauce from White Leaf Provisions

Environmentally conscious parents will love these new fruit and veggie pouches and applesauce flavors (apple + pear, apple + cinnamon) from White Leaf Provisions.  The offerings from this family-run business are both biodynamic and organic. You'll feel good about the delicious snacks you're feeding your kids, as well as the recyclable packaging and earth-friendly farming methods.   Available at whiteleafprovisions.com, $17.94 for a six-pack of pouches and $7.59 for a four-pack of applesauce.          

Baby Food & Toddler Bowls from Happy Family

Yummy new flavors of baby food and hearty toddler bowls! Happy Baby Clearly Crafted Jars ($1.25), which feature organic ingredients and the name of the farms where ingredients are grown on each jar, now come in six new flavors: carrots; green beans; carrots & peas; pears & prunes; pears, pineapple & avocado; apples, mangos & beets. The company's Happy Tot Bowls ($2.99) are full of nutritious ingredients and contain no added sugar. The new flavors are: turkey bolognese with lentil pasta, mac & cheese with organic lentil pasta & veggie sauce, and cheesy lentils & quinoa with organic cauliflower & parmesan sauce.        

Purees & Snacks from Sprout Foods

Sprout Foods, known for creating nutritious and delicious food that helps kids get their veggies and other nutrients, is debuting new pouches and snacks for both babies and toddlers. The exciting new offerings include organic waffles, quick-dissolving teething wafers, purees made with organic bone broth protein, four toddler smoothies (made with either yogurt or coconut milk) and two pouches of plant-based protein.   Available at sproutorganicfoods.com.        

Freeze-Dried Baby Food from Bon Petit

This freeze-dried baby food is packed full of nutrients and other magic: It doesn't expire and is super compact and convenient for travel (even in a carry-on!). To serve, mix the powder with water, breastmilk, formula, milk or broth. Or, for older kids, add the powder to prepared meals to up their health factor. Choose from delicious and nutritious options with clever names, including: Smashing Pumpkins (Japanese pumpkins and carrots), Goldilocks Chicken Congee (millet, barley, koshihikari rice, chicken stock, celery, carrot, bok choy and Japanese pumpkin) and Under the Sardinian Sea (wild sole, Italian white beans, tomato, oregon, basil and avocado oil.   Available at bonpetitbaby.com, $17.50-$20 for a 5-pack.      

YoBaby Veggie Yogurt Cups from Stonyfield Organic

New in January 2019 are Stonyfield Organic YoBaby Veggie Yogurt cups in purple carrot and sweet potato flavors, as well as Kids Whole Milk pouches in new flavors apple cinnamon, sweet potato, and blueberry apple carrot. The baby yogurt cups include no added sweeteners and, like all of their products, are certified organic and free from artificial hormones, toxic pesticides and GMOs. Find the new lines at Target, Publix, Hannafords and many more retailers (find a store near you). Looking for something non-dairy? Try the brand's three new non-dairy fruit and veggie smoothie pouches, made with rich coconut cream as well as half a serving of fruit per pouch. The pouches are available at Whole Foods and come in tropical twist, strawbana smash and berry cherry blast flavors.        

Bowls & Bites from Yummy Spoonfuls

Calling all toddlers! Even picky eaters will love the flavor combinations in these bowls (veggie beef, sweet potato & chicken, pinto bean & turkey) and bites (turkey & spinach, chicken & sweet potato, chicken & broccoli). And parents will love that they're nutritious, organic and packed with protein, grains and veggies. And, best of all, they're specifically designed for toddlers' developmental and nutritional needs and don't contain added sugars, artificial preservatives, additives or artificial flavors. Launched in November 2018, the line also features bigger bowls designed for kids age 2 and up.   Available at yummyspoonfuls.com.

Beginning eaters can be a picky bunch, but you and your child will love these new and nutritious foods and drinks designed specifically for babies and toddlers. Packed with healthy ingredients (hello, pea protein, grass-fed bison and bok choy) and available in delicious flavor combinations and kid-friendly packaging (pouches! smoothie melts! teething wafers!), they’re a win-win. Read on for your baby’s new favorites!

Yogurt Smoothie Melts from Amara

Yogurt smoothie melts with no added sugar? Yes, please! These toddler favorites get their sweetness from organic fruits and veggies, contain no preservatives, and come in a shape that makes it easy for kids to grasp and chew. Available in plant-based yogurt (made with coconut milk) and cow's milk yogurt varieties, these melt-in-your-mouth snacks come in three yummy flavors: Beets 'n' Berries, Carrot Raspberry and Mango Carrots. The resealable bag means you can pop them in your bag for outings. They're recommended for kids 8 months to 4 years.   Available at amaraorganicfoods.com, $29.99 for 6 bags.      

Organic Subscription Boxes from Gerber

Treat your Gerber baby to delicious, nutritious organic foods delivered right to your door with these subscription box meals created by registered dieticians. The box contents change each month to add variety to your child's diet and respond to their nutritional needs and developmental milestones. Each box is filled with USDA Certified Organic cereals, purees, pouches or snacks.   Available at gerber.com, starting at $69.99 per box/month (under $2 per serving).        

Toddler Purees with Bone Broth from Serenity Kids

Want to feed your baby healthy foods that broaden their palate? Try these bone-broth toddler purees from Serenity Kids. Packed with nutrients that help strengthen bones and support digestion and immunity, these toddler puree pouches come in flavorful varieties with no added sugars or preservatives: Turkey Bolognese, Beef Pot Roast and Turmeric Chicken. All are made with pasture-raised meat from small American regenerative family farms, organic bone broth and Certified USDA Organic vegetables and herbs. They're also free of ingredients that contain antibiotics, added hormones, pesticides, fillers, GMOs or major allergens.   Available at serenitykids.com, $29.95/6 pouches of each flavor; $32.95/6-pouch variety pack. Save 20% with a subscription.    

Little Dish toddler meals

These heat-and-serve toddler meals (designed for kids 1+) come in flavors kids love and are packed full of nutrients. The macaroni & cheese has 8 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber, along with 1/4 cup of veggies (pureed butternut squash, sweet potato and cauliflower). The pasta & tomato sauce has 6 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber, along with 1/4 of veggies (carrots, sweet potatoes, red pepper). Both are low in sodium and contain no added sugar, additives or preservatives.   Available at target.com and in the produce section of Target stores, $4.99.      

Smart Bars from Cerebelly

With 3 grams of protein, no added sugar and 10 brain-supporting nutrients, Cerebelly's Smart Bars are the snack you'll feel good about feeding your toddler. Think your child might need convincing to try something new? Two of the new flavors feature kid favorites Peppa Pig and George Pig on the package. Cerebelly was created by a neurosurgeon and mom of three to deliver age-optimized nutrition to children's growing brains. The bars in the Peppa Pig collaboration are carrot raisin and blueberry banana sweet potato. The bars also come in apple kale and strawberry beet. Read more about the Cerebelly X Peppa Pig Smart Bars.   Available at cerebelly.com, from $3.74 for a five-pack.      

Plant-Based Complete Nutrition for Toddlers from Else Nutrition

This nutritional drink is free of dairy, soy, gluten, corn syrup and GMOs. What it's full of is minimally processed plant-based ingredients, whole foods and 20 vitamins and minerals your child needs to support their growth and development after they turn one. The main ingredients are organic almond butter, organic buckwheat flour and organic tapioca maltodextrin.   Available at elsenutrition.com, $36 for a 22-ounce container.      

Organic Puffed Corn & Oat Snacks from Gerber

BabyPops are a puffed corn and oat snack that's sized just right for tiny hands. This quick-dissolving organic snack contains no added sweetener or salt, and the ingredients are non-GMO. It launched with three yummy varieties: peanut, banana raspberry and tomato. All varieties contain peanut; the peanut version includes organic peanut flour, and the other two are flavored with fruits and veggies.   Available at target.com, $2.29.      

Nut & Fruit Purees from Happy Family Organics

Nutty Blends from Happy Family Organics combine a fruit with a nut in a tasty pouch, for a healthy, filling snack and an easy way to introduce peanuts and tree nuts to your baby. The line, which was developed with the help of pediatric allergists, comes in four flavors you'll be tempted to try yourself: bananas & almond butter, apples & walnut butter, pears & cashew butter, and bananas & peanut butter.   Learn more and find your nearest store carrying this product at happyfamilyorganics.com, $1.99 per pouch.      

Organic Plant-Based Meals from Amara Organic Foods

Add breast milk, formula or water to these shelf-stable, organic, single-serve meal packets for a delicious baby puree, packed with nutrients. Great for kids transitioning to solid foods and quick and easy to prepare on the go, these handy packets come in a variety of flavors, from kale potato veggie mash and peas, corn & carrots to tropical mango and pumpkin & pear.   Available at amaraorganicfoods.com and at grocery stores including Whole Foods and Sprouts.      

Organic Banana Mango Puree in a Recyclable Pouch from Gerber

Gerber has launched a recyclable baby-food pouch, so you can feel better about buying the pouches your kids love to eat. The first flavor available in this innovative pouch is organic banana mango puree, a sweet treat packed with potassium and vitamin C. The pouch is completely recyclable through Gerber's national recycling program with TerraCycle.   Available at thegerberstore.com, $9.49 for 6 pouches.        

Ethically Sourced Meat Pouches from Serenity Kids

The nutrient-packed pouches from Serenity Kids sound like fancy restaurant meals. The two newest: pasture-raised turkey with organic pumpkin, sweet potato and beets, and grass-fed bison with organic kabocha squash and spinach. These low-sugar, high-fat pouches for babies six months and up are filled with organic vegetables from small family farms and ethically sourced meats from ranches utilizing regenerative agricultural techniques. Choose from meat and veggie combos, or organic veggies only. The company only uses ingredients that don't contain antibiotics, added hormones, pesticides, fillers, GMOs or major allergens.   Available at myserenitykids.com and amazon.com.        

Happy Tot Super Bellies Pouches from Happy Family Organics

Here's a smart snack for toddlers: These nutritious pouches support the immune system and digestive health. In addition to fruits and veggies, the pouches contain 35 mg of beta-glucan and 2g of prebiotic fiber for digestive health. They're available at major retailers nationwide and come in three flavors: bananas, spinach & blueberries; bananas, carrots & strawberries; and pears, beets & blackberries.   Learn more and find your nearest store at happyfamilyorganics.com, $1.59 per pouch.        

Regenerative & Organic Baby Food from Happy Family Organics

Why should we care about regenerative farming? It promotes biodiversity and can help to reverse climate change by building healthy soil that captures carbon from the atmosphere. Healthier soil, healthier food. The Happy Baby Regenerative & Organic line of food pouches debuted with three flavor combinations: apples, kale and oats; pears, squash and oats; and apples and carrots.   Available exclusively at Whole Foods, $8.49 for a four-pack. Learn more at happyfamilyorganics.com.      

Fruit & Veggie Pouches from Once Upon a Farm

Babies love pouches, and you'll love that these organic, cold-pressed blends are sustainably grown, certified USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, and full of healthy, organic fruits and veggies. The flavors are grouped by ages and stages, so you can easily find the ones right for your child. Purchase individual flavors as 12-packs, try a variety pack, or sign up for a money-saving subscription.   Available at onceuponafarmorganics.com.      

Whole Milk for Kids Age 1-5

Horizon Organic has introduced Growing Years organic whole milk, developed in partnership with pediatricians to deliver key nutrients for kids age 1-5. The milk contains DHA Omega-3 for brain and eye health, choline to transport DHA throughout the body, prebiotics that feed good bacteria to the gut, and vitamin D, protein and calcium for growing bones. It's certified organic and produced by pasture-raised cows who are fed an organic, non-GMO diet and are never treated with antibiotics or added hormones.   Available nationwide at select stores for $5.99; use the store locator at horizon.com to find your nearest location.      

Brain-Building Baby Food Pouches from Cerebelly

The veggie-packed baby food pouches from Cerebelly are carefully tailored to nourish baby's growing brain and body. Created by a neurosurgeon mom and a team of medical experts, the purees contain tasty ingredient combinations (such as carrot & chickpea; sweet potato & mango) that deliver protein, omega-3 DHA and the specific nutrients your baby needs for their age and developmental stage. Pick up a three-flavor variety pack at Whole Foods or sign up on the Cerebelly website for shipments every two weeks. On the site, you'll enter information about your baby's age and current developmental milestones, and Cerebelly will recommend flavors that can benefit your babe most. You choose what you like and whether you want 1-4 pouches per day.   Available at Whole Foods and cerebelly.com ($2.31-$2.89 per pouch).        

Oat Milk Välling & Smart Oats from Bla Bla Foods

Oat milk is not only the latest trend for adults. Many Swedish children have grown up on an oat-based milk called välling, and now your kids can too. This nutrient-dense oat milk from Bla Bla Foods comes in powder form and is made from organic oats, coconut milk and pea protein. Mix it with water or any milk you choose for a nutritious, delicious thick drink packed with protein, iron, calcium and fiber—and without preservatives or added sugar. Pro tip from Swedish parents: A little välling before bedtime can help babies sleep better. Also new from the company: Upgrade baby's (and your whole family's) oatmeal with organic Smart Oats, which includes quinoa, chia seeds, acai and beets to support muscle, brain and cell development, as well as coconut milk and oats for fat, protein and iron. Best of all, it's naturally pink! Available at blablafoods.com, $7.99 for Oat Milk Välling and $6.99 for Smart Oats. Buy single bags or start a monthly subscription.      

Biodynamic, Organic Pouches & Applesauce from White Leaf Provisions

Environmentally conscious parents will love these new fruit and veggie pouches and applesauce flavors (apple + pear, apple + cinnamon) from White Leaf Provisions.  The offerings from this family-run business are both biodynamic and organic. You'll feel good about the delicious snacks you're feeding your kids, as well as the recyclable packaging and earth-friendly farming methods.   Available at whiteleafprovisions.com, $17.94 for a six-pack of pouches and $7.59 for a four-pack of applesauce.        

Baby Food & Toddler Bowls from Happy Family

Yummy new flavors of baby food and hearty toddler bowls! Happy Baby Clearly Crafted Jars ($1.25), which feature organic ingredients and the name of the farms where ingredients are grown on each jar, now come in six new flavors: carrots; green beans; carrots & peas; pears & prunes; pears, pineapple & avocado; apples, mangos & beets. The company's Happy Tot Bowls ($2.99) are full of nutritious ingredients and contain no added sugar. The new flavors are: turkey bolognese with lentil pasta, mac & cheese with organic lentil pasta & veggie sauce, and cheesy lentils & quinoa with organic cauliflower & parmesan sauce.      

Purees & Snacks from Sprout Foods

Sprout Foods, known for creating nutritious and delicious food that helps kids get their veggies and other nutrients, is debuting new pouches and snacks for both babies and toddlers. The exciting new offerings include organic waffles, quick-dissolving teething wafers, purees made with organic bone broth protein, four toddler smoothies (made with either yogurt or coconut milk) and two pouches of plant-based protein.   Available at sproutorganicfoods.com.      

Freeze-Dried Baby Food from Bon Petit

This freeze-dried baby food is packed full of nutrients and other magic: It doesn't expire and is super compact and convenient for travel (even in a carry-on!). To serve, mix the powder with water, breastmilk, formula, milk or broth. Or, for older kids, add the powder to prepared meals to up their health factor. Choose from delicious and nutritious options with clever names, including: Smashing Pumpkins (Japanese pumpkins and carrots), Goldilocks Chicken Congee (millet, barley, koshihikari rice, chicken stock, celery, carrot, bok choy and Japanese pumpkin) and Under the Sardinian Sea (wild sole, Italian white beans, tomato, oregon, basil and avocado oil.   Available at bonpetitbaby.com, $17.50-$20 for a 5-pack.    

YoBaby Veggie Yogurt Cups from Stonyfield Organic

New in January 2019 are Stonyfield Organic YoBaby Veggie Yogurt cups in purple carrot and sweet potato flavors, as well as Kids Whole Milk pouches in new flavors apple cinnamon, sweet potato, and blueberry apple carrot. The baby yogurt cups include no added sweeteners and, like all of their products, are certified organic and free from artificial hormones, toxic pesticides and GMOs. Find the new lines at Target, Publix, Hannafords and many more retailers (find a store near you). Looking for something non-dairy? Try the brand's three new non-dairy fruit and veggie smoothie pouches, made with rich coconut cream as well as half a serving of fruit per pouch. The pouches are available at Whole Foods and come in tropical twist, strawbana smash and berry cherry blast flavors.      

Bowls & Bites from Yummy Spoonfuls

Calling all toddlers! Even picky eaters will love the flavor combinations in these bowls (veggie beef, sweet potato & chicken, pinto bean & turkey) and bites (turkey & spinach, chicken & sweet potato, chicken & broccoli). And parents will love that they're nutritious, organic and packed with protein, grains and veggies. And, best of all, they're specifically designed for toddlers' developmental and nutritional needs and don't contain added sugars, artificial preservatives, additives or artificial flavors. Launched in November 2018, the line also features bigger bowls designed for kids age 2 and up.   Available at yummyspoonfuls.com.  

Serenity Kids cares about the health of your baby—and also the health of the planet. The brand’s process of creating and delivering products to your family is best described as thoughtful. They partner with family-owned regenerative farms to source meats and vegetables, and have become the first animal welfare-certified approved baby food. But the good doesn’t stop there—compared to a glass jar, their pouches require nine times less fossil fuel to transport, and can be recycled for free through a partnership with TerraCycle.   Serenity Carr, Co-Founder and CEO of Serenity Kids, answered our questions on just how the company honors and celebrates Earth Month all year long.  

Why is it important to have high-quality, shelf-stable protein options in the pantry for your kids?

Babies need well-sourced protein and healthy fats to thrive! Fat is essential for nutrient absorption, brain development, hormone regulation, and building the immune system—and meat is a far more efficient source of protein than any other food we eat. The USDA recommends that seven- to 12-month old babies get 30g of fat per day and suggests meat as an ideal first food. Our pouches were designed to mimic the macronutrients of breast milk, offering the right balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates for babies over six months old. Having shelf-stable, ready-to-eat meals that are nutrient focused helps busy parents provide their little ones with the most nutrition per bite—without feeling guilty about giving them packaged food.  

What is Serenity Kids doing to honor Earth Month?

We’re partnering with our Bison supplier, Force of Nature, to share the nutritional benefits of well-sourced meats, the importance of incorporating organ meat into the diet, and how regenerative agriculture practices help reverse climate change by enhancing soil health, conserving water, and sequestering carbon. We’re educating people that they can help reverse climate change and make their families healthier by purchasing regeneratively farmed meat.  

You hand-select the small American family farms that produce your meats and vegetables—why is that important?

Joe, my husband, was raised on a small family farm in southern Missouri. He grew up visiting his grandparents and experiencing the harmonious lifestyle of being one with animals and nature while also witnessing the intense economic challenges of trying to compete with large industrial farms. Serenity Kids pays a premium for the highest-quality meats and vegetables, raised and grown the right way, and we wanted to do even more to make sure that these farms would continue to be around for the babies of tomorrow. Because of this, 1% of our profits are donated to the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund, a nonprofit that helps protect the rights of small farmers like his grandparents.   Clean, well-sourced meats and vegetables not only contain the highest quality nutrition, but can also heal the planet. Because of this, we exclusively source from a network of the finest small American family farms that practice regenerative agriculture and never use antibiotics, hormones, GMO feed or pesticides. The farms that we source from practice techniques that go far beyond the standards required for organic certification. They are dedicated to respecting and humanely treating animals and farming in a way that gives back to the land. Our organic vegetable farmers use innovative techniques to enhance soil health, conserve water, and promote biodiversity on the farm. They also generate electricity from their fruit and vegetable by-product using their own biogas plant!  

What does this selection process look like?

Our criteria for selecting farms includes ensuring that the farmers use pasture-based regenerative agricultural techniques that mimic the way animals live in nature. Any supplemental feed must be organic and non-GMO and they must conduct regular third-party audits. We also work with members of the Savory Institute and the Global Animal Partnership program to help expand our network of small American family farmers. We’re proud to have the first GAP-approved baby food product. To find out more about some of them, you can visit our farmers page!  

Why does Serenity Kids source from farmers that use regenerative agricultural practices?

When it comes to feeding a baby, pasture raised meat is proven to be higher in Omega 3 fatty acids, CLAs, Vitamin E, Iron, and other vitamins and minerals that support healthy development. For us, it’s also a personal mission. Early in the development of Serenity Kids, we realized our company is uniquely capable of helping create real change in our food system.   Regenerative agriculture, and the farmers who practice it, help reverse climate change by contributing to carbon sequestration, aerating and shaping the land, and creating a positive environment where animals can express their natural instinctive behaviors. This looks different for each of the small family farms that we source our ingredients from, but they each play a role in using these techniques to better the world we live in. We believe that a healthy planet and healthy animals mean healthier babies and happier humans and by supporting regenerative agriculture, we can change the future for our children and yours.  

Let’s talk about baby food pouches. What’s the importance of this packaging?

To make our baby foods, we use a retort cooking method which combines the right amount of pressure, heat, and time to create a shelf-stable product while maintaining maximum nutrition. Retorting is essentially a large pressure cooker; we combine our ingredients into its final packaging, seal it so more nutrients stay in the food, and then steam it for several minutes. This process kills any bacteria and creates a shelf-stable product without the need for preservatives or refrigeration.   We use pouches that are BPA-free, BPS-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free! Initially, we were not happy that most baby food is packaged in single-use plastic pouches rather than recyclable glass jars. However, after a lot of research we learned that it takes nine times more fossil fuel to transport a glass jar versus a pouch and only one third of recyclable materials actually gets recycled. The vast majority of those glass jars get thrown away and end up taking 26 times more space in landfills. So while we recommend limiting the use of disposable packaging, rest assured that baby food pouches are a lesser evil. Lastly, we are incredibly proud to have partnered with a pouch manufacturing facility that is entirely solar powered and generates more power than it uses, which reduces fossil fuel consumption in its region.  

How can people effectively recycle their pouches?

In an effort to keep pouches out of landfills, we’ve partnered with TerraCycle to offer a free recycling program for our customers. Customers simply request a free pre-paid postage envelope from TerraCycle directly and mail it back in once the envelope is full.  

For someone new to Serenity Kids, which product do you recommend they start with?

We’d recommend Free Range Chicken with Organic Peas & Carrots! It’s packed with nutrition and flavor because every bite counts. Why free-range chicken? Because our chicken is humanely raised on small family farms and provides the fat and protein your baby needs to grow big and strong! We use organic avocado oil to add healthy fats, which helps support your baby’s brain development. There are no added sugars or preservatives—which makes our allergen-free, easy grab-and-go pouch the most nutritious low-sugar baby food option!  

What are great ways to use your products throughout the day?

We love hearing how other moms have gotten creative with our products! Our favorites include mixing our Grass Fed Beef into marinara sauce for more of a protein punch or using our Wild Caught Salmon on crackers for a simple nutritious snack! Some moms send it in a lunchbox as a side dish for an older kid, or eat it themselves as a snack. Or make your grass fed steak extra classy by serving it on our Organic Squashes puree!

Austin, Texas-based baby food company Serenity Kids has closed a $1.5 million funding round led by Wild Ventures, an early-stage venture fund of wellness influencers. The investment will support the operations, inventory, research and development, and extend the national presence for the only high-fat, low-sugar baby food on the market. Serenity Kids is a baby food company on a mission to provide quality nutrient-dense foods from the first bite, support regenerative agriculture and help enable small American family farms to succeed.   Wild Ventures’ founder and general partner John Durant will join the company’s advisory board. Additional investors in the round include Whole30 founder Melissa Hartwig Urban; Wellness Mama founder Katie Wells; Vani Hari the Food Babe; celebrity nutritionist Kelly LeVeque; renowned neurologist Dr. David Perlmutter; Thrive Market founders Nick Green, Gunnar Lovelace and Sasha Siddhartha; and more. Thrive Market Ventures, the in-house investment vehicle of online retailer Thrive Market, also backed the company.   The investment builds on an exceptional year for Serenity Kids, which  has only been to market since August 2018, yet recently launched nationwide into Whole Foods, doubled its team and brought eight SKUs to market, including the only pouched baby foods available with Grass Fed Beef and Wild Caught Alaskan Salmon. Grass Fed Bison & Organic Kabocha Squash and Spinach, as well as Pasture Raised Turkey with Organic Sweet Potato, Pumpkin & Squash will join the flavor lineup later this year, with the brand launching in nearly 80 Hy-Vee grocery stores in August.   Driven to combat chronic health conditions with lifestyle, Wild Ventures is highly selective in its investments, only partnering with companies with aligned values and mission. Serenity Kids is dedicated to changing the way kids eat, starting at infancy with the first bite. An ideal first food, the blends pack vital nutrients including protein, zinc, iron, B vitamins and healthy fats as recommended for infants by the USDA, into 3.5-oz. pouches. Designed to mimic the macronutrients of breastmilk, the line is available in unique and savory flavor profiles like Pastured Uncured Bacon with Organic Butternut Squash & Kale and Organic Butternut Squash & Spinach with Avocado Oil, with all recipes devoid of gluten, grain, dairy, corn, eggs or nuts.   “It’s shocking how many baby food companies essentially sell sugar smoothies,” said John Durant, founder and general partner of Wild Ventures. “I love that Serenity and Joe approached baby food with more humility: Mother Nature knows best. They modeled the macros to mimic breastmilk—the appropriate nutritional standard—and sourced the highest quality, nutrient-dense ingredients, without the added sugar. Our community loves the Serenity Kids mission and we’re going to shout it from the rooftops.”   Serenity Kids supports regenerative and ethical farming techniques by only sourcing American-grown organic vegetables and GAP-certified meat from small family farms in the U.S. Ingredients are free of any antibiotics, added hormones, pesticides, fillers and GMOs, and the brand extends its commitment to supporting ethical farming by giving a portion of its profits to the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund. The pouches are also recyclable for free via a partnership with TerraCycle.   “We’re so pleased to have found a partner that fully believes and lives our mission,” said Serenity Kids CEO and co-founder Serenity Carr. “Support from Wild Ventures will allow us to make even more impact in improving how our babies eat, and ultimately help provide a healthier nutritional foundation for the kids and adults they will become.”   Shelf-stable for 18-months and designed for infants over 6 months old, all recipes are pediatrician recommended with nutritional formulations created under the guidance of Dr. Sarah Ballantyne, Ph.D. and founder of The Paleo Mom. Ballantyne also sits on the brand’s advisory board, which also includes wellness and food industry leaders Taylor Collins, CEO of EPIC Provisions; Sam Elick, CEO of BrainJuice; and Robb Wolf, author of The Paleo Solution.   Currently available in more than 700 retail stores including Whole Foods, Lassen’s, Mom’s Organic Market, King’s, DeCicco & Sons and online via Amazon, Thrive Market and One Stop Paleo Shop, Serenity Kids aims to eventually be everywhere baby food is sold.   Serenity Kids was created from couple Serenity and Joe’s desire for healthier food for their baby, Della. They created the savory meal blends with the essential nutrients that babies need to grow their brains and bodies. Filling a void among baby foods, the blends are the only high-fat low-sugar pouch option on the market, built to match the macronutrient contents of breastmilk. Ratios of protein, fat and carbohydrates are matched to the USDA’s recommendations for infants’ first foods.

Serenity Kids supports regenerative and ethical farming techniques by only sourcing American-grown organic vegetables and GAP-certified meat from small family farms in the U.S. Ingredients are free of any antibiotics, added hormones, pesticides, fillers, GMOs, and the brand extends its commitment to supporting ethical farming by giving a portion of its profits to the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund. The pouches are also recyclable for free via a partnership with TerraCycle.