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    • Easy Chicken Dinner Recipes -->This collection of easy chicken dinner recipes features some of our favorite family dishes, perfect for making a healthy, delicious home cooked meal on a busy night! Getting a healthy, home cooked meal on the table every night can be challenging. Particularly with the demands of work, school, activities and social obligations, well, it can be the last thing we want to do at the end of the day. So I’ve got tons of easy chicken recipes at my disposal that I turn to when I need to whip something up for us on one of those busy weeknights. (Or even busy weekends – dinners can be tough then, too!) And this collection of easy chicken dinner recipes has some that we make over and over again. It includes everything from skillet chicken dinners to slow cooker chicken recipes, one-pot chicken pastas, soups and salads with chicken, chicken burgers and meatballs, sheet pan chicken dinners and easy chicken casseroles. Are you looking for fast as well as easy? Me too. I’ve got collections of chicken recipes in under 30 minutes and, faster still, chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. Or if you want to browse them all, my quick chicken recipes…
      • Easy Chicken Recipes with Few IngredientsThese easy chicken recipes with few ingredients include some great healthy lunch and dinner options, all made with 5 or fewer ingredients! I am all about the EASY when it comes to cooking. I don’t like to fuss much over my food and I certainly don’t like to spend a ton of time in the kitchen at the end of a long day. Easy chicken dinner recipes and healthy lunch recipes with chicken are much more my style. (As are chicken recipes in under 30 minutes and, faster yet, chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. Cause life.) Speaking of life, a million trips to the grocery store also aren’t fun during a busy week. (Especially with little ones in tow!) So I’ve got these go-to easy chicken recipes with few ingredients that help me keep dinnertime simple. And my sanity intact. In fact, one of the first cookbooks I bought on my own, at a used bookstore in Washington, D.C., where I lived for a few years after college, was titled 3-ingredient recipes. I was pretty new to cooking and thought, I think I can handle that. My cooking skills have improved, but I still go for the simple chicken recipes…
      • Quick Chicken RecipesThis collection of quick chicken recipes features some of our favorite family dinners and go-to lunches, all ready in 30 minutes or less! From chicken skillet dinners to one-pot pastas, salads to burgers, you’re sure to find some new favorites! If you know me, you know I am ALL about the quick and easy recipes. I love making all of our homemade meals and home cooked dinners, but like you, I’ve also got a hundred other things to juggle and so keeping things simple in the kitchen is a must. And these quick chicken recipes include all of my chicken recipes in under 30 minutes and, even faster, chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. Sanity savers for sure. Busy weeknights have nothing on us! A few of our favorites from these quick chicken recipes: Healthy chicken Alfredo with broccoli Creamy chipotle chicken 20-minute chicken and tortellini soup with kale Skillet salsa chicken Easy creamy chicken This collection also has some healthy lunch recipes with chicken for mixing up your lunch routine. (It doesn’t include my slow cooker chicken recipes though, since those aren’t ready in 30 minutes. But they can be super quick to prep in the morning and then…
        • Chicken Recipes in Under 15 MinutesThese easy chicken recipes in under 15 minutes are perfect for dinner on a busy weeknight! From one-pot wonders to salads, chicken skillets to tacos, you’re sure to find some new fast favorites! You know those nights when you walk in the door and need dinner pronto?! Like, 5 minutes ago? That’s when I turn to these quick and easy chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. I can make a healthy, home cooked meal for my family and be sitting down to enjoy it in no time. Cause plenty of evenings, 15 minutes is often all the time I have – or want to spend – on dinner. I’m not alone on that, right?! You can browse below but I thought I’d highlight a couple that I make over and over again. A few of our favorite easy chicken recipes in under 15 minutes: 15-minute honey garlic chicken (gets rave reviews!) Southwest chicken skillet dinner (pile on your favorite toppings!) Quick chicken curry (perfect with rice and peas) One-pot low-carb leftover chicken recipe with spinach (my dad’s go-to recipe) This collection also includes some healthy lunch options that are quick to put together — like the Asian chicken mason jar…
        • Chicken Recipes in Under 30 MinutesThese easy chicken recipes in under 30 minutes are perfect for dinner on a busy weeknight! From one-pan meals to burgers, one-pot pastas to healthy salads, you’re sure to find some new favorites! Quick, easy and mostly healthy is pretty much the name of the game for dinner at my house. I love a home cooked meal and we eat a ton of chicken, which means I’ve come up with and found a lot of easy chicken recipes over the years. And this collection highlights some of my easy chicken recipes in under 30 minutes, when you want something delicious but need it on the table pretty quickly. Is that every single night for you too? We’ve got everything from skillet chicken dishes to chicken pasta and from soups and salads with chicken to chicken meatballs and burgers. All the chicken love! Many of these recipes use boneless, skinless chicken breasts (though you could substitute chicken thighs if you prefer) while others use ground chicken and some rely on pre-cooked chicken, such as a rotisserie chicken you pick up at the store or some leftover grilled or baked chicken. Lots of these 30 minute chicken dinners are complete meals but…
      • Healthy One-Pot Chicken DinnersHealthy one-pot chicken dinners are such a help on busy days! This collection includes everything from one-pot pastas and skillets to easy slow cooker and sheet pan recipes to help you get an easy, healthy and delicious dinner on the table any night! I am ALL about quick and easy meals. I cook our dinner 99% of the time, including on days when work has blown up in my face, or the kids have decided to coordinate their melt-downs, or we’re all just wiped out and hungry. And even though I love to cook, I definitely have those days when I’m just not feeling it. Enter some quick and easy one-pot chicken dinners for the win! These are great to have in your back pocket for busy days, busy weeks or in case of a “kids-are-making-me-crazy” kinda moment. (My husband also loves these meals because he’s on clean-up duty and it’s nice not to have a huge pile of dishes staring you down after dinner!) Many of these dishes are complete meals on their own. Others are low-carb as written, but can easily be paired with some rice, pasta, bread or potatoes to bulk them up a bit. Here are…
      • Slow Cooker Chicken RecipesThese hands-off slow cooker chicken recipes will put your slow cooker to work and have you coming home to a delicious, healthy dinner that’s ready to go! Some days, you just need someone else to make you dinner. I’m not talking takeout or delivery or a restaurant dinner. I’m talking about your crock pot or slow cooker. I find it supremely satisfying to go about my day, knowing that a delicious home cooked dinner is cooking up at home for me. I can play with the kids, take them to practices, run errands or just relax with a book and breathe easy. These slow cooker chicken recipes mean there is just one less thing to do in the evening and that’s a great thing on a busy day! This collection includes slow cooker recipes for boneless, skinless chicken breasts as well as chicken thighs (though you can usually sub either one). And many of these take just minutes to prep in the morning! 👍 Here’s a few of our favorite slow cooker chicken recipes: Slow cooker balsamic chicken Slow cooker bistro chicken thighs Slow cooker apricot chicken Crock pot Mediterranean chicken Slow cooker teriyaki chicken And be sure to check…
    • Easy Vegetarian RecipesEasy vegetarian recipes include main-dish meals that are hearty and satisfying and can stand alone for lunch or dinner (with a few savory breakfast options as well). Everything from one-pot veggie pastas to stuffed squash to chili to veggie burgers and hearty grain bowls and salads, there are meatless options here for everyone! I am a veggie lover through and through. 💚💚💚 I adore getting in as many vegetables as I can, throughout the day really, and I often make easy vegetarian dinners a couple of times a week. (Hello meatless Monday, I’m looking at you!) So over the years, I’ve created tons of great veggie-based meals that can stand on their own for lunch or dinner and be hearty and satisfying. And that are also mostly quick and easy, because I work as a health and nutrition editor and we’ve got a busy family so cooking on a weeknight needs to be low-key. My one-pot vegetarian spaghetti has been a hugely popular recipe here on the blog and you guys can’t seem to get enough of my grain bowls and salads. I know the feeling. 😉 I wanted to round up some of these in an easy-to-browse category that features…
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    • Healthy Muffin RecipesA collection of easy, kid-friendly healthy muffin recipes for all times of day: breakfast, school lunch, snacking, dinner and dessert! We are BIG muffin lovers in this house, at all times of day! My kiddos love them for breakfast, brunch, school lunch, afternoon snack and sometimes even savory muffins at dinner. Muffins all the time! I’ve made thousands of healthy muffin recipes over the years and I love sharing them with you! There are plenty to browse below and plenty more I plan to add! (You can sign up for my newsletter so you never miss a recipe. You’ll also get my FREE e-book of easy weeknight dinners.) Wondering where to start? Spinach banana mini muffins and whole wheat pumpkin muffins are some of our constant favorites. Healthy peanut butter and jelly muffins are fun for lunch and easy cheesy cornbread muffins are great for a quick + easy dinner side, especially with soup or chili! And if you’re in the mood for a little chocolate (I know I always am!) you can’t go wrong with my healthy chocolate chip muffins. Hope you find some new favorite healthy muffin recipes! XO, Kathryn
    • Healthy DessertsThis collection of healthy desserts features everything from lightened up cookie bars and brownies to cakes, muffins and breads to no-bake energy bites. It’s the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth while staying on track with healthy choices! Healthy desserts are kind-of my jam. I like a dessert that gives back. One that has redeeming qualities. A sweet treat that’s going to treat me right. But of course, it also needs to be delicious so I actually satisfy those sweet cravings! The healthier dessert recipes you’ll find below are some of our go-to treats that are perfect for a healthier late-night option and many of which are great for offering kids a wholesome, but fun, treat for an after-school snack or tucked in their lunch box. Most of these recipes are whole grain and naturally sweetened, others are recipe makeovers that are lower in sugar and/or butter. A majority of them contain chocolate. 🍫❤️ And ALL are easy to make. (You can also check out my healthy muffin recipes and my entire category of sweets & desserts if you want more.) Here’s a few of our favorite healthy desserts: Healthy chocolate chip muffins Healthier no bake cookie bars No…
    • Healthy Fall BakingThese healthy fall baking favorites include everything from muffins and baked oatmeal to snacks to cookies and cakes. These fall recipes are whole grain and most are naturally sweetened for a wholesome, delicious treat at breakfast, snack, school lunch or dessert! Does anyone else get the baking bug when the cooler weather starts to roll in during autumn? I know I do! I get excited for all the apple baking projects, pumpkin baking projects and even getting ready for all the holiday baking to come! 🍎🎃 The spices, the warmth, the aroma of having something in the oven is just part of the season for me. Plus the love that comes from a homemade baked good – it just can’t be beat! ❤️ And y’all know my style is definitely a healthier version of baking. I use whole grains and most of my recipes are naturally sweetened. I try to lighten things up where possible and keep to mostly wholesome treats, maybe with a little indulgence here and there! 😉 Wondering where to start? Here are some of our healthy fall baking favorites: Chocolate chip apple cake Pumpkin baked oatmeal with chocolate chips Whole wheat pumpkin applesauce bread Easy healthy…
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Homemade baby food pouches {how-to and 5 recipes}

May 13, 2016 By Kathryn Doherty

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy

Portable, squeezable and with lots of flavor options, homemade baby food pouches are easy to make and a great way to serve healthy fruits, vegetables and whole grains to your little ones!Rows of different colored and mixed baby food squeeze pouches

I made ALL of the baby food for both of my little ones. Which was no small feat because they were very hearty eaters. A good thing, but whew, kept me busy in the kitchen!

I always made big batches of purees, to knock out a bunch at a time, and inevitably, I’d be left with extras when they were moving onto finger foods and self-feeding.

So I started turning those purees into homemade baby food pouches.

A collage of different baby food pouches with the ingredients in the photos

(I also have tons of other ideas of ways to use leftover baby food – I didn’t want to waste a bit!)

You can of course buy squeeze pouches in the store.

They have lots of different kinds of applesauce mixes, yogurt squeezies, and fruit and veggie combinations.

But you can make your own so quickly, easily and for much less money. Plus, you can customize them to your little one’s liking and feel good that you’re controlling the ingredients.

My kids are older now – M is 5 next week (yikes!) and J is coming up on 3 – but they still love these squeezies. M says she has lots of friends who bring them for lunch, so she’s always asking for me to send them to school.

And I’m happy to.

I love that it’s an easy way to ensure they are eating their veggies. They will take down one of these pouches in a matter of minutes but they don’t always dig into a big bowl of peas or a plate full of broccoli. #yet #Iwontgiveup

Rows of different flavors and mixes of squeeze pouches for babies and toddlers

So today I’m giving you the run-down on what I use, how it works and five easy homemade squeezie combinations to get you started. (Check out these 5 additional homemade baby food pouches for more ideas!)

Equipment for baby food pouches

I have the Infantino Squeeze Station and it’s been great. It’s the only specific baby food equipment I’ve bought and was definitely worth it.

You’ll also need to buy refill pouches (they come in batches of 50 and you will go through them!)How to make homemade baby food pouches

They have other accessories, but I’ve stuck to these basics so far.

You’ll also need an immersion/hand blender or regular blender to make the purees to put into the squeeze pouches.

How to make baby food squeeze pouches

You set up the squeeze station by inserting three pouches into the bottom (they fit through some grooves and sort of snap in.) Then you put the empty containers on top and screw them onto the bags.

Note: Be sure to write the contents and date on your bags before you start to fill them. Much easier than after they’re done.

The set up for making baby food pouches using the Infantino squeeze system Infantino system in use to make baby food squeezies

Next, you spoon your puree mix into each container, filling it almost to the top. You use the press tool and push the puree down into the pouch. It’s a weirdly gratifying feeling.

If the mixture gets stuck or won’t push, you probably have a small chunk in your puree that got caught in the hole. Just unscrew your tube, dump the contents back into your blender and reblend (or pick out the offending piece if you see it).

After the bags are filled, unscrew the tubes and carefully pull the bags out. Twist on the orange top and voila!

You can keep them in the fridge for a couple of days or pop them straight into the freezer to have on hand later.

It’s really easy and actually, really fun! 

A variety of baby food squeeze pouches lined up in plastic pouches with orange tops

Notes about baby food pouch combinations:

  • Add 1 tablespoon lemon juice to all of these to help preserve them. The only exception is the pineapple-broccoli mixture. The citrus from the pineapple is enough on its own.
  • You can keep the peels on the pears and apples, just be sure to puree them very well so pieces don’t get stuck and prevent the mixture from going into the squeezie bags.
  • The vegetables and grains need to be cooked and soft, so plan ahead. Or use leftovers. These can be a great way to use up scraps and reduce food waste.
  • If any of your mixtures seem too thick (because the water content of fruits and veggies can vary), just add a bit of applesauce or a splash of water to the blender until its thin enough.
  • Each pouch holds about 4 ounces. Most of these batches for me make about 3 squeezies worth. You can of course always double up if you want to knock out a bunch. They freeze great, so you might as well!

Check out the recipes below and get to making some baby food pouches. I hope your little one enjoys!

(And let me know if you want to see another round-up like this – we have lots of other flavor combinations we’ve made over the years that I can share!)

XO,

Kathryn

Yield: 3 pouches for each combination

Homemade baby food pouches

How to make homemade baby food pouches and 5 easy recipes!

Portable, squeezable and with lots of flavor options, homemade baby food pouches are a great way to serve healthy fruits, vegetables and grains to your little ones!

Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

For the apple-brown rice-spinach pouches:

  • 1 apple, core removed and roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup cooked brown rice
  • 1 cup packed fresh spinach leaves (raw)
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon

For the pineapple-broccoli pouches:

  • 1 cup cut pineapple (thawed if frozen)
  • 2/3 cup cooked broccoli florets

For the mango-sweet potato-quinoa pouches:

  • 1 ripe mango, peeled, seed removed and roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup cooked sweet potato
  • 1/2 cup cooked quinoa
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon

For the banana-barley-zucchini pouches:

  • 1 ripe banana
  • 1/2 cup cooked barley
  • 1/2 cooked chopped zucchini
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon

For the pear-peas-spinach pouches:

  • 1 ripe pear
  • 1/2 cup cooked peas
  • 1 cup raw spinach
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon

Instructions

  1. Make sure all of your grains and veggies are cooked, if indicated.
  2. Combine all ingredients for each pouch combination in a blender or immersion blender and blend until it’s a smooth, pourable consistency. (See notes.)
  3. Label your bags, set up your station and add the mixture to the squeeze station containers, filled to the indicated line. Push down with the press tool and fill each bag. Remove the bags from the station and twist on the tops.
  4. Store pouches in the refrigerator for 2-3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. To defrost, simply move the pouch to the refrigerator - it thaws in less than a day.

Notes

Add 1 tablespoon lemon juice to all of these to help preserve them. The only exception is the pineapple-broccoli mixture. The citrus from the pineapple is enough on its own.

You can keep the peels on the pears and apples, just be sure to puree them very well so pieces don’t get stuck and prevent the mixture from going into the squeezie bags.

The vegetables and grains need to be cooked and soft, so plan ahead. Or use leftovers. These can be a great way to use up scraps and reduce food waste.

If any of your mixtures seem too thick (because the water content of fruits and veggies can vary), just add a bit of applesauce or a splash of water to the blender until it's thin enough.

Each pouch holds about 4 ounces. Most of these batches for me make about 3 squeezies worth. You can of course always double up if you want to knock out a bunch. They freeze great, so you might as well!

Here are 5 more homemade baby food pouches if you want more flavor/combination ideas!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

3

Serving Size:

1 pouch

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 50

The different varieties will yield different nutrition information.

© Kathryn Doherty
Cuisine: American / Category: Baby food

Different stages of making homemade baby and toddler squeeze pouches

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Filed Under: Appetizers & Snacks, Baby food, Baby Food Combinations + Recipes, Baby Food Resources, Extras, Toddler and kid food, Vegetarian

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Comments

  1. Serena says

    May 14, 2016 at 12:07 AM

    Wow. This is such a good idea! Impressive flavors too!

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      May 14, 2016 at 2:02 PM

      Thanks Serena! My kiddos love these squeeze pouches and it’s such an easy way to get healthy foods in them!

      Reply
  2. Charlene Asay says

    May 15, 2016 at 11:23 PM

    Wow this is amazing. I had never thought of adding rice to them. Thanks for sharing with us at Family Joy Blog Link Up Party.

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      May 16, 2016 at 10:23 PM

      Thanks Charlene 🙂

      Reply
    • Amy says

      February 1, 2020 at 2:34 PM

      Can I see more recipes please!!

      Reply
      • Kathryn Doherty says

        February 10, 2020 at 12:00 PM

        Hi Amy! I’m hoping to get another round-up of other pouch recipes up on the blog soon. In the meantime, I have a post with a ton of ideas for baby food combinations and you can use any of those to make some new flavors for your little one. https://www.familyfoodonthetable.com/homemade-baby-food-combinations/ I hope that helps!

        Reply
      • Kathryn Doherty says

        May 14, 2020 at 7:23 AM

        Hi again Amy! I’ve got up a new post with 5 more baby food pouch combinations! Here it is: https://www.familyfoodonthetable.com/5-more-homemade-baby-food-pouches/

        Reply
  3. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says

    May 16, 2016 at 2:46 PM

    Boy and I can’t have children, so I won’t be making any baby food in this life time. But, my friend just had a baby and I know she is going to LOVE this post Kathryn!! Those squeezies packages are so cute!! Emailing her this link pronto! Cheers, friend!! <3

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      May 16, 2016 at 10:25 PM

      Well I didn’t know that Cheyanne – and I’m guessing your cute fur babies aren’t really interested in purees, haha 🙂 But you are a sweet friend to pass this along! XO

      Reply
      • Jordan says

        June 9, 2019 at 10:36 AM

        Trying this idea out! What is the best thing to add if the purée is too runny? I’m not following your recipes exactly and some of mine are too runny!

        Reply
        • Kathryn says

          June 9, 2019 at 7:31 PM

          If you are using them soon, you can add a frozen fruit that would blend up thickly and be used that way quickly. Or you could use a grain (oats, quinoa, brown rice, barley, etc.) or chia seeds as a thickener. I hope that helps!

          Reply
  4. Laura says

    May 16, 2016 at 5:53 PM

    What a great idea! I’ve made all my kids’ baby food (baby #3 is finally one with purees praise the Lord! LOL)! But they’re always a pain to travel with! These would be so easy to grab and go, and even the older kids would love them!!

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      May 16, 2016 at 10:26 PM

      Yay for loving the purees! But you’re right, it can be tough to travel with baby food – we did a couple of week-long trips and I felt so loaded down with all the food I had made ahead to take! These squeezies are perfectly portable and yes, definitely work for older kids too! Good luck 🙂

      Reply
    • Lauren Hewitt says

      January 23, 2020 at 4:55 AM

      Hi!

      You’ve used reusable pouches but have written on them in pen, what pen have you used? Im assuming this easily wipes off to be able to reuse?

      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Kathryn Doherty says

        January 23, 2020 at 12:25 PM

        Hi Lauren! The pouches I use are not re-useable. I would buy refills in bulk because we go through them quickly. (It’s these: https://www.amazon.com/Infantino-Squeeze-Pouches-50-Count/dp/B009IWNPXK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425947647&sr=8-1&keywords=infantino+pouches) It was just a sharpie that I used to date and label them. If you have re-useable ones, you can try a dry erase marker and see if that works. I’ve also labelled things for the freezer before by writing on a piece of paper and then taping the paper to the container. Hope that helps!

        Reply
  5. Cristina @ I Say Nomato says

    May 24, 2016 at 8:15 PM

    I don’t have babies but this is brilliant! What an easy way to make sure you know exactly what your little ones are eating 🙂 Thanks for sharing with the Wednesday Showcase!

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      May 25, 2016 at 9:42 AM

      Thanks Cristina! I love being able to control the ingredients and quality of their food!

      Reply
      • Claire says

        October 27, 2019 at 12:10 PM

        Hi! Wonderful recipes! When grabbing these to go after making them should they be kept chilled with an ice pack? Thanks!

        Reply
        • Kathryn Doherty says

          October 30, 2019 at 7:24 AM

          Hi Claire! If you are sending these to school for lunch or taking them somewhere for more than an hour or so, then yes, I pack them with an ice pack. If you’re just running out to the playground or something, I think they would be fine for up to 45 minutes or an hour at room temp if it’s not a hot day. I hope that helps!

          Reply
  6. Rachel Osborn says

    June 11, 2016 at 8:56 PM

    You inspired me to make some of these myself this week! I am tempted to buy the squeeze station, but I have refillable pouches already. They are just a pain in the butt to refill. 😛

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      June 12, 2016 at 11:15 AM

      So happy to hear that Rachel! I have really liked the squeeze station but those refillable pouches certainly have their appeal as well.

      Reply
  7. Jenna @ A Savory Feast says

    June 15, 2016 at 10:25 AM

    This is so helpful! I’m planning to make my own baby food once my son old enough. I love the idea of putting them in squeeze pouches. That makes it so much easier for when we are out and about! Pinning for when I need this.

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      June 15, 2016 at 2:24 PM

      That’s awesome Jenna! I have lots of resources (check the Resources tab at the top) for doing homemade baby food – it really is easy. You just gotta get in the habit! And yes, squeeze pouches are super helpful for on-the-go days! And later, for preschool lunches 🙂

      Reply
  8. Angela @marathonsandmotivation.com says

    June 18, 2016 at 12:11 AM

    My kids are 7 & 10 now, but I did make a lot of their baby food & Loved doing it!! this is a great post for new Moms, Pinning 🙂

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      June 18, 2016 at 2:48 PM

      Thanks so much Angela!

      Reply
  9. Angela says

    July 14, 2016 at 10:22 PM

    Hi I love these ideas. can I add meat to these recipes!

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      July 15, 2016 at 6:14 AM

      Hi Angela! I’ve always used these pouches for fruits, vegetables and grains, but I think you could add meat. If you wanted to add chicken, for instance, just make sure it’s fully cooked and very well pureed before you mix it in with your other ingredients and prepare it for the pouches. Any mixture you use needs to be thin enough to get into the squeeze pouch (and of course, for your child to squeeze back out!) Hope that helps!

      Reply
      • Natalie says

        April 26, 2019 at 3:26 AM

        Have you ever tried adding an avocado to a puree? I’m wondering how that comes out color-wise and how it freezes…

        Thanks for the awesome recipes!

        Reply
        • Kathryn says

          April 26, 2019 at 7:05 AM

          I have not but I think it would work. You’d definitely need the lemon juice to keep it from browning and while they say frozen avocado doesn’t work on its own taste/texture wise, it’s apparently fine to freeze to use in smoothies or guac, so this should be the same. Would love to hear if you try it!

          Reply
  10. Ellie says

    July 18, 2016 at 5:30 PM

    I would love to see more of your recipes! These are great.

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      July 18, 2016 at 8:43 PM

      Thanks so much Ellie! I will have to put together another round-up of combinations we love!

      Reply
      • Kim says

        October 5, 2016 at 6:12 PM

        I would love some more combinations as well! I actually just bought the infantino squeeze system this week and am very happy to have found your post!

        Reply
        • Kathryn says

          October 5, 2016 at 9:18 PM

          I hope you love the Infantino system Kim! I’ve used it for years now and I’m a big fan. I just did a post on fruit-flavored applesauce, that I mostly pack into squeeze pouches for my kids. You can find that here: http://www.familyfoodonthetable.com/homemade-applesauce-5-fruit-flavors/ I’ve got tons of other combinations I’ve written down over the years so I’ll have to get another round-up post going soon!

          Reply
          • Alex says

            April 21, 2017 at 10:31 AM

            Hey i tried the spinach apple rice recipe and it turned out really nice but when i freeze them and then defrost the fibrous stuff clumped together separately from the juices. It happened with other recipes i tried too. Did anyone else have this problem or know why that might happen?

            Reply
  11. Amanda says

    August 17, 2016 at 9:23 AM

    I’m getting ready to start making baby food for my baby. How long can these be frozen?

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      August 17, 2016 at 4:38 PM

      Good for you Amanda!! I usually use mine in 3 months or so, but I think they’d be fine up to 6 months in the freezer. Good luck with baby food making and let me know if you have any questions!

      Reply
  12. Megan @ MegGoesNomNom says

    September 22, 2016 at 8:17 PM

    You inspired me to trying making some homemade pouches for my little one. I tried the mango/sweet potato/quinoa and the pears/peas/spinach and unfortunately the 12 month old was not a fan of either! 🙁

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      September 23, 2016 at 7:20 AM

      Hi Megan – sorry your baby didn’t like the first couple of ones, but keep trying! Use whatever flavors he/she already likes and start with that. (Happy to give you some ideas for combinations based on those if you want!) Or go with a basic apple-spinach or peach-oats combo to start simple. Sometimes it takes a lot of trial and error, with squeeze pouches and just baby food in general, and sometimes it takes repeated exposure to get them to like a new flavor. Hope you stick with it!

      Reply
  13. Tatiana says

    January 29, 2017 at 8:33 PM

    Yay! Thanks so much for this!! Just ordered my maker and sip uevthese recipes!

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      January 30, 2017 at 11:52 AM

      So glad you found this useful Tatiana! I’m hoping to do another round-up of homemade baby food pouch ideas soon so stay tuned!

      Reply
  14. sharna says

    February 22, 2017 at 8:06 PM

    Hey Kathryn,
    How long could you store in the fridge? could you vaccum seal the bags?

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      February 22, 2017 at 9:52 PM

      Hi Sharna! You can keep these up to 3-5 days in the refrigerator and up to 3-5 months in the freezer. I’ve never done vacuum sealing, so I’m not sure about that. Hope you try them!

      Reply
  15. Julie says

    March 18, 2017 at 10:19 AM

    I was on the site earlier in the week and pulled up the recipes. I was going to make them today but now I cannot find the recipes on here! Is there a link missing? Or am I missing something? Thank you!

    Reply
  16. Joanna says

    March 18, 2017 at 5:22 PM

    Hi just wondering if you’ve used brown rice flour/barley flour or oatmeal in the pouches rather than cooking the rice ?

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      March 18, 2017 at 9:45 PM

      Hi Joanna! Yes, I have used oatmeal in squeezies but not brown rice flour or barley flour. I would imagine they would work just fine – just make sure to have them pureed well and add enough liquid to keep them liquidy. (I’ve found that cooked oats soak up tons of liquid so I have to add extra to keep it smooth enough to go into a squeeze pouch.) Hope that helps!

      Reply
  17. Beth says

    March 25, 2017 at 11:57 AM

    How old would you recommend the baby be to try these flavors?

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      March 26, 2017 at 10:56 AM

      Hi Beth! It varies a bit baby to baby… Both of mine were at least 10 months before they could do squeeze pouches (and at ages 3 and 5, they still love them!) but a little earlier might work if your baby is ready. Also, here’s my baby food introduction schedule (soon to be updated) if you want to check that for different foods at different stages: http://www.familyfoodonthetable.com/introducing-baby-food-schedule/ Hope that helps!

      Reply
  18. Rob says

    June 3, 2017 at 8:26 AM

    Hi there

    Where do you get the pouches?!

    Reply
  19. Kathryn says

    June 4, 2017 at 10:23 AM

    Hi Rob! I bought everything on Amazon. Here’s my link from above for the refill pouches: http://www.amazon.com/Infantino-Squeeze-Pouches-50-Count/dp/B009IWNPXK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425947647&sr=8-1&keywords=infantino+pouches Hope that helps!

    Reply
  20. Kristen says

    June 14, 2017 at 2:30 PM

    Wonderful post! I made the Spinach, Pears and Peas one today and added in some quinoa – my 14 month old sucked it right down! Thanks for the inspiration 🙂

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      June 14, 2017 at 8:23 PM

      Yay, I’m so happy to hear that – thanks for sharing! And my 4-year-old son STILL loves that combo! 🙂

      Reply
  21. Ashley says

    June 16, 2017 at 12:13 PM

    I’m super excited to start this process this weekend! How long can you keep these in the freezer for and are these okay at room temp once thawed for at least 5 hours? Prepping for daycare so just curious how to handle. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      June 18, 2017 at 7:59 AM

      Hi Ashley! These should be OK in the freezer for up to 4-5 months. I always keep mine chilled once thawed (and use them within 2 days) to make sure they’re safe. I just put them in a lunch box with an ice pack. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  22. Jen says

    July 11, 2017 at 11:31 PM

    do you still need to use the lemon juice if you’re freezing them directly?

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      July 12, 2017 at 8:26 AM

      Hi Jen! I would recommend still using the lemon juice. I usually freeze most of mine directly, too, but I think the lemon helps keep everything fresh and from changing colors – both in the freezer and once you defrost it to use. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  23. Kristin says

    August 1, 2017 at 9:57 AM

    Hi, I made these for my firstborn and am starting to make them for my second. My question is do you just give this to them cold or do you put in warm water to warm before giving to your little one? My oldest liked everything warm even when we got to milk. So just curious how you give to your little one.

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      August 1, 2017 at 8:26 PM

      Hi Kristin! I’ve also given these to my kids cold, straight from the refrigerator. You could certainly try heating them up – maybe by placing them in a bowl of warm water – but be sure to check the package carefully to make sure that’s safe. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  24. Leah says

    September 24, 2017 at 3:14 PM

    Hi! I am wondering how you travel with these.. do you thaw them and then put them in a bag with an ice pack to keep them cool or what? I love making them but haven’t tried using them outside the house yet.

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      September 24, 2017 at 8:17 PM

      Hi Leah! When I send these to school with my kids, they are in a lunchbox with an ice pack. When we take them with us out to lunch at a restaurant on the weekends, they’re also in a lunchbox with an ice pack. If you are traveling out of town or on a road trip, I’d suggest having them in a cooler. If you’re just running out to a playground or something, I think they would be fine for up to 45 minutes or an hour at room temp if it’s not a hot day. I hope that helps!

      Reply
  25. Jessica says

    April 13, 2018 at 11:40 AM

    My baby is 15 weeks but this is exactly what I want to do now that it was decided I will be staying home instead of going back to work. Do you have any suggestions on which food combinations to try first? Should I wait to do combinations to check for food allergies or go straight for it? FTM so I’m learning. Any extra advice would be appreciated. I’m just doing some research now, since we won’t start solids until 6 months.

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      April 13, 2018 at 3:18 PM

      Hi Jessica! Good for you for researching and figuring this out in advance – that’s awesome planning! So, I have a few posts that might be helpful for you to read through to get started. This is my introduction to baby food post with some basics to think about: https://www.familyfoodonthetable.com/homemade-baby-food-101-introduction/
      And this is my introducing solids schedule – when to introduce different foods (and yes, you do need to do one at a time to monitor for allergies and reactions): https://www.familyfoodonthetable.com/introducing-baby-food-schedule/
      And these are all my round-ups of making a bunch of different basic baby foods at once (think 5 different foods in 20 minutes – cause life with baby is BUSY!) — https://www.familyfoodonthetable.com/category/beginner-baby-foods/
      And ALL my baby food resources can be found through the main baby food portal: https://www.familyfoodonthetable.com/homemade-baby-food/
      GOOD LUCK! And let me know if you have any questions as you get going – I’m happy to help! XO

      Reply
  26. Kristina says

    September 11, 2018 at 6:43 PM

    Looking forward to making these soon. Wondering what sized zucchini you used since it just says 1/2 chopped and cooked. All the ones at Kroger are rather small (maybe 6 inches long) and want to make sure that size would be enough.
    Thanks,

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      September 12, 2018 at 6:37 AM

      Hi Kristina! If you found one of those real small zucchinis, you can probably use the whole thing. (Or you can cook and puree it and if it seems like too much, keep some separate on its own to use for baby food or to mix with something else.) It’s pretty forgiving. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  27. Ling says

    November 10, 2018 at 9:13 AM

    love them !

    Thank you for sharing and I have few questions: 1. How long does it last? 2. Can I put them in the freezer? 3. Can a 4 months old have these?

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      November 12, 2018 at 7:14 AM

      Hi, you can store pouches in the refrigerator for 2-3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. To defrost, simply move the pouch to the refrigerator – it thaws in less than a day. You’ll need to talk with your doctor about when to introduce solid food (usually 4-6 months is the recommendation). But I don’t think such a young baby could hold and eat these, so you may want to wait a little while before introducing squeeze pouches.

      Reply
  28. McKenzie Stewart says

    January 18, 2019 at 7:24 PM

    Just made these today! I made a few modifications as I went to use some stuff I had extra of. I ended up with 38 pouches! This will be so nice for on the go for the next 3 months!

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      January 21, 2019 at 6:50 AM

      I’m so happy this was helpful! And nice work – you’ve got a ton ready to go!! 🙌

      Reply
  29. Malinda says

    May 15, 2019 at 9:42 AM

    I heard that you have to reheat frozen/thawed baby food until it’s steaming before feeding it to baby. Is that true? If so, you can’t boil the pouches so freezing the pouches isn’t an option because you would have to squeeze the purée out to heat it up. Thus defeating the purpose. Can you help?

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      May 15, 2019 at 10:33 AM

      Hi Malinda! You should definitely not feed steaming hot food to a baby but if you mean that it should be basically boiled to kill bacteria, that is also inaccurate. If you safely prepare, store and defrost the food, there is no need to bring it to a high temperature, as it won’t have grown any dangerous bacteria. (You cannot keep baby food that the baby has partially eaten or if the spoon used to feed the baby has contaminated the remaining food or the container.) So any of these unused pouches can be frozen and then thawed overnight in the fridge and fed to baby cold from the refrigerator. You can read more about baby food storage in this post: https://www.familyfoodonthetable.com/homemade-baby-food/ And as always, if you have questions and concerns about baby food and feeding your baby, you should always consult your pediatrician or health care providers. I hope that helps!

      Reply
    • Kathryn says

      May 15, 2019 at 10:34 AM

      Oh, and there’s lots more information about baby food storage and handling leftovers in this post too: https://www.familyfoodonthetable.com/ways-to-use-leftover-baby-food/

      Reply
  30. Jessica says

    May 21, 2019 at 3:14 PM

    I have this same feeding system and my baby is 2 months but I want to get a head start on making food before I go back to work. Can I put these in the freezer and I know I read it’s safe in freezer for up to 3 months on cubes but what about in these pouches? I appreciate your help!

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      May 22, 2019 at 7:10 AM

      Hi Jessica! Way to go, getting ahead on some baby food and pouches for your little one! 👏 Yes, you can put these pouches in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can set them in the fridge to thaw overnight (though they don’t even take that long) and have them ready to go. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  31. Rachel says

    November 19, 2019 at 10:38 AM

    You can also buy reusable/washable pouches. Thanks for the recipes!

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty says

      November 19, 2019 at 1:31 PM

      Yes, another good option! I never found any that I loved and were easy to clean – do you have any recommendations?

      Reply
  32. Dot says

    December 28, 2019 at 1:52 PM

    Kathryn, these are amazing! Can I freeze them?

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty says

      December 29, 2019 at 9:21 PM

      Yay, so glad you found this to be helpful! And yes, these freeze great! I have frozen all kinds of different combos for up to 3-4 months and they all did well. You can defrost in the refrigerator (overnight or 8+ hours) and then they are ready to serve. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  33. Sue Howat says

    February 11, 2020 at 9:15 AM

    Just a suggestion – with the toxins in plastic, plus ease of cleaning, I would like to suggest using mason jars instead. Very easy to clean, they seal AND (bonus!) they’re made in the US!!

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty says

      February 11, 2020 at 11:55 AM

      Hi Sue! I love using mason jars for salad dressing and overnight oatmeal jars; they are so handy! However, this post is about baby food pouches that are intended to let babies and toddlers feed themselves a puree mix by squeezing it into their mouths, so I don’t think a mason jar would be a good substitute.

      Reply
  34. Stephanie Toering says

    June 25, 2020 at 10:14 AM

    Thank you for these recipes- do you think I could sub frozen spinach for the fresh? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty says

      June 25, 2020 at 2:07 PM

      Hi Stephanie! So, frozen spinach is cooked and that will greatly affect the taste of any of the pouches you make with it. Fresh spinach, on the other hand, blends right in and doesn’t change the flavor at all. I hope that helps!

      Reply
      • Stephanie Toering says

        June 26, 2020 at 12:35 PM

        Okay thanks!

        Reply
  35. Caitlyn says

    October 11, 2020 at 11:28 AM

    What is the freezer life on these?

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty says

      October 12, 2020 at 12:45 PM

      You can store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  36. Sandy B says

    November 29, 2020 at 3:12 AM

    Thank you so much for sharing! I just bought the pouches and the squeeze machine from the link. You are awesome to share these and I can’t wait to start. I have a glass all in one steamer blender so will see how that will work with these 🙂

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty says

      November 29, 2020 at 9:02 AM

      So happy this is helpful for you Sandy! I bet that steamer blender will make even quicker work of the prep. Good luck!!

      Reply

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Hi there! I’m Kathryn Doherty, a health and nutrition editor, cookbook author, wife, mother of two kids, and devoted food and home cooking nut. I’ve got lots of easy recipes and resources to help you get delicious family food on your table! Learn more about me

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