Larger Family Life - A Large Family Blog: Kiddylicious

I am a hardcore advocate of home made food for the whole family. This is no exception when it comes to weaning babies either. With my first three children I bought into the convenience of canned baby food. You know the one. It was the bright orange, big brand named food in a tin which stained everything it touched and it tasted quite awful. No matter what the meal was supposed to be they all looked the same and tasted nothing like they were supposed to and the ingredients were not clear at all. From Harry, the fourth child, onwards, I stuck to making my own food using a pan and a handheld blender. It was healthier, cheaper and I knew what was in it.

So when I was asked whether I would be interested in reviewing baby food my first reaction was, "Bleurgh!".

Then I was told, "Yes, but even I tasted it and thought it was nice," and then I had to know, was this a sadistic sicko I was talking to or was there actually something in this? I was sceptical that it might be the latter and more convinced it was the former.

I received several meals from the Babylicious and Kiddylicious range of baby and toddler food and even while unpacking it something caught my eye. Through the transparent tubs I could see that the contents looked like real food. It looked like the food that I made at home. I was almost impressed but had yet to be convinced.

I checked the ingredients and I understood every single one. They were spelt out clearly and even quantities given in basic English. You can even check it all on their website first as their ingredients for each of their meals is on show for all to see. Don't you love how they state things like, "1½ slices onion." How much more detail could you need?

Ok, so it looked like real food and sounded like real food but what did it taste like? This would be the ultimate test.

I'll keep it short. It tasted like food.

Now where I feel I ought to be jumping up and down at the story of a mother named Sally who was a food scientist and concerned about the food her two children were eating and decided to cook her own food for them which was free from additives or any added salt or sugar and nutritionally balanced and then decided to share it with other parents so they too could give their children home made food which is free from additives or any added salt and sugar and nutritionally balanced....breathe .... I am not.

I want Sally to know...... I did it first. Even if I didn't sell it.

So while I begrudgingly admit that yes, it is real food and looks like real food and tastes like real food and is actually quite nice really and that it would be a good product to have to hand if you were at a push for time or are going somewhere without the convenience of being able to knock something up yourself I will not admit to being jealous of Sally's vision and success in doing something so beneficial. Breathe.

And while I'm at it, I have to state that while I admit that it tastes good even for grown ups, I won't be doing the baby food diet any time soon.

Jealous?

Me?

Never!