For the 2017 Macaroni Kid Baby Brunch, the very first sponsor to get their products into our hands was Sprout Organic Baby Foods. (We were sent the food for review purposes, but as always, the opinions are definitely my own.) Receiving the food first ultimately meant though that I was shopping to replace it before the actual brunch, because yeah - my kid ate it all. But that's a good problem to have!
Before I can really get into any review of a food product though, I need to first tell you about the significant weight of food in my house. We all want to give our kids the best, that goes without saying. And the Sprout line of organic baby foods really makes that easy, avoiding GMO ingredients, only using herbs to preserve freshness and not chemicals. But in my house we have to take food awareness to a whole new level because of allergies, so it's just that much harder.
My son Brooks was diagnosed with a milk protein allergy at 2 months old. It was very hard for us to manage it at first, but once we figured out that for us, a specialized formula was the best way to go, life got much easier. But of course, you can't stay on formula forever. And so when we started to transition him to solid foods, a whole new can of mess was opened all around us. We quickly found out that the milk protein allergy applies to all types of milk and dairy products - baked included. So goodbye most snack items, off the bat. Then came the egg allergy. And then sesame, and lastly, garlic. (Garlic! Who knew, right!?)
At one point I had my first of many breakdowns, in the baby food aisle of the grocery store. Box after box of snacks listed milk, egg, soy, wheat as ingredients... all things we either have to avoid, or are trying to limit until our allergy testing is complete. I sobbed. In the store. Much to the dismay of the employees (and my kids), I'm sure. It really is challenging to find good food items, and enough of them, to satisfy the appetite of a growing boy with so many food related issues. Really challenging.
But then an email came, letting me know I'd been selected as one of the Macaroni Kid Baby Brunch hosts. Then more good news - Sprout was a sponsor! Sprout has been around since 2008, when a group of like-minded friends set out to create a wholesome, organic baby food. But they didn't stop there. They were actually the first to put their food into pouches! Get out of here... we LOVE pouches! And now, now those ground breaking pouches - they're CLEAR! So now you can always see what you're getting.
In 2010, they launched into the snack line -- THE SNACKS -- which brings us full circle to my own situation. Snacks! Wholesome, delicious, wonderful snacks made from ancient grains, veggies, and beans/lentils. My answer. Finally, a line of snacks I could get on board with. I was started to think I'd never put my snack trap back to work! But these are great - the puff snacks are gluten free, the crisps are made from ancient grains, and all of them are preservative free.
You can find the full line of baby food purees, smoothies and snacks at Babies R' Us, Amazon, and some Target stores. So far, my picky toddler has not met a flavor he doesn't like and let me tell you - it's been a huge relief to have these options that I know are safe for him. Feel good Moms and Dads, about what you're putting into your kids, and let Sprout take the worry out of it.
