| Product: |
Ella's Kitchen Apples & Bananas |
| Date: |
15/01/07 (607 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: 100% fruit, nothing more
Disadvantages: A little on the expensive side and a rather dangerous cap.
Ella’s Kitchen is one of those rare home-start businesses that has made it into the big time. Set up by a doting dad determined that his little girl would only eat the best food, Ella’s kitchen is dedicated to providing organic, pure food which appeals to children. Although the company started off producing child-friendly fruit smoothies they then branched out into baby food and it is this range that caught my eye whilst shopping at Waitrose.
I tend to make all of my own baby food where possible but pre-prepared jars and packages do come in handy when travelling and for a change from time to time. I have also found that it is far easier to prepare savoury foods than desserts. Many baby-friendly fruits are out of season at the moment and the time required to make a variety of dishes in small quantities is rather out of proportion to the benefit obtained from making your own. The quest was on for some “mummy approved” foods which didn’t contain anything more or less than was strictly necessary.
Ella’s Kitchen apples & bananas contains 100% fruit – apples and bananas – nothing more. Pureed to a baby friendly consistency the mix is contained in a foil pouch ready for use. It can be eaten hot or cold and will keep in the fridge for 24 hours once opened.
OK, so apples and bananas are not exactly hard to come by and I could make my own, but I decided that this was an easy flavour for a young tum to try out before getting a bit more adventurous with other flavours.
Despite the lack of additives or treatment other than pasteurisation, the puree is a lovely orangey-yellow colour and the distinctive smell of bananas hits your senses as you squeeze the puree into a bowl. The puree is very smooth and about the consistency of a fruit portion of the type you get in a Muller fruit corner or other unmixed yoghurt.
I’m sure I’m not the only mum who tastes baby food before giving it to little ‘un. I tell you, baby was lucky that he got any of this. It is delicious. The balance of flavours is spot on and it is neither too sweet nor too sharp. Tasting predominantly of banana there is also a sweet, almost jammy taste although I think I would have struggled to tell you that the other fruit was apples. If I’d been guessing then I’d have said the second fruit was something stronger such as peach or even mango. It's not that acidic to an adult palate but who knows what it tastes like for baby!
As for baby, he loves this. An open mouth greets, or even pre-empts, every mouthful. It’s a great way of getting pure fruit into him and goes down well whether he is in the mood for food or not. I’ve also used it to brighten up savoury dishes that baby doesn’t take to, particularly chicken. It sounds gross but fruit and meat are often combined in baby foods and, indeed, in other cultures. Chicken and banana curry is particularly nice (but that’s another story and not something to feed to baby).
Baby will happily take this hot (warmed in hot water), at room temperature or even ice cold straight from the fridge. The serving is a 120g pouch which will go down in one sitting at lunchtime or in two if we have it for tea.
I like the idea of the pouch as it is unbreakable and therefore ideal for travel, however, as it is a pouch you’ll need a bowl and spoon to feed baby when out and about as opposed to feeding directly from a jar. To my mind the convenience of the pouch is therefore outweighed by the inconvenience of having to carry a bowl around (and a dirty one when baby is done). Of course you could decant it first but why?
The other problem with the pouch is that it is sealed with a tiny screw cap. This could be dangerous if a young child got hold of it and so means that you have to open the pouch away from the child and have somewhere to put the cap out of the child’s reach. If your baby is like mine the allure of the pouch will be so strong you’ll be having a battle to get it away from him!
These problems are minor, however.
I’d really recommend this puree as a no nonsense approach to food. Expect to pay in the region of 75p per pack - a tad on the expensive side in my opinion but worth it for the convenience and the knowledge that you're not giving your little one anything nasty.
Summary: A no nonsense baby food that's rather appealing
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