Toddler Time – Encouraging a baby to try different solids can be rather exasperating. But here’s an easy way to give your child a healthy, nutritious meal in just minutes. Created by Edward van der Lande, an ex-army officer, passionate foodie and proud parent of two young boys, More Toddler Meals are very clever. Inspired by the nutrient-dense freeze-dried food pouches used by elite forces, Ed spotted an opportunity to bring that practical thinking into baby and toddler foods. The result is a range of quick, convenient meals designed to feel closer to home-cooked food than the usual processed pouch. The More Toddler Meals range of three – current – products has been created for children aged 10 months to 4 years: 5 Veg Macaroni; Super Green Pasta Stars and Sweet Potato & Aubergine Dhal. Each offers natural ingredients, proper flavour and real textures. Great for feeding little ones at home, out and about, or at the end of a particularly busy day.
Preparation is so easy – just rip open the sachet, fill with boiled and cooled water to the line, stir and wait five minutes. On the back of the pack, all the ingredients are clearly laid out, and you can be assured that there are no ‘nasties’. A lot of baby and toddler foods tend to taste very similar: soft and bland., but these meals each taste different from each other, with a decent, fuller flavour. This is important for babies and toddlers who are learning and trying different tastes and textures. Being freeze dried, it locks in all the goodness and makes mealtimes quick and simple. They are an excellent, ambient, store cupboard standby and are available from Ocado, Amazon or moretoddlermeals.co.uk, with an RRP of £3.95 a meal.
b.box for kids, is an award-winning Australian feeding and hydration brand, supporting children from nursery to secondary school with a range of thoughtfully designed lunchboxes, snackboxes, water bottles and more. Combining style, functionality and practicality, the collection is available in a variety of soft and vibrant colours to suit every taste. There are award-winning sippy cups that have a cleverly weighted straw to allow them to drink at any angle. The soft silicone straw has a unique two-way valve, ensuring easy drinking and no leaks, even with warm water. B.Box has so many other great products, with something from birth right through to school lunch boxes. These feature a unique stretch-and-flex whole fruit section, large sandwich section and leakproof compartments, giving kids more options at lunchtime. They can be customised with the company’s range of lunchbox additions (such as gel cooler packs) and accessories. Check out the website as there is something for toddlers and children of all ages (adults too), including insulated food jars, silicone tableware, feeding mats, suction plates, storage containers and lots more.
The Seasoned Gastronome