Tasty Baby
This frozen, gluten-free organic baby food comes in BPA-free, recyclable containers—perfect for throwing into a diaper bag.
Where to find it: Ships nationally and available at some specialty stores.
Best for: All stages
What moms said: Tasty Baby received the most mixed reviews of any brand. Our moms loved the convenient, well-sized packaging and raved about the Bangos, a mix of mangos, bananas, and vanilla. "There were a lot of 'yums,'" said one mom. The seasonal squash puree, Squash 'Em, and a mix of sweet potato, apples, and cinnamon were hits as well, but Peas on Earth, a combo of slightly chunky peas with mint and brown-rice flour, and Corn in the USA were textural failures. "The corn has the consistency of wet sand," said one mom. "I couldn't get her to eat it."
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Jack's Harvest
This small local company offers two stages of food. The So Smooth line consists of single purees and blends enhanced with mild herbs and spices. A Little Lumpy includes options with a chunkier texture.
Where to find it: Available at Whole Foods Markets in Georgia, ships nationally from First Class Gourmet.
Best for: Stages one and two
What moms said: Tango with Mango, a lime and mango mix, was too tart for most of the younger babies, but Papplesauce, a blend of peaches and apples spiked with cinnamon, was a hit with most of our testers. So were the vanilla and cinnamon-infused sweet potatoes. "It smelled delicious, and I think the texture was much better than a lot of the other brands," said one mom. "It wasn't watery at all." One mom even admitted that, while the B'nut Squash-ed and Apples were a bit too chunky for her baby, she added it to a batch of morning pancakes. "It tricked my husband into eating veggies," she said.
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Healthy Times
The only jar food out of the dozen we tried, Healthy Times puts an organic spin on traditionally packaged and flavored baby food.
Where to find it: Whole Foods Market
Best for: Stages one and two
What moms said: Some of our moms didn't like the traditional feel of this brand. "The consistency and color just doesn't look fresh. It makes you think, Blech," said one mom. But others felt that the texture was fine and that the fact that the product was in a jar and unfrozen made it much more convenient than most of the other brands we tried. "Sometimes frozen food is just not practical. If you're at a restaurant or traveling, thawing and heating isn't an option," said one mom, adding that her son absolutely loved the brand's teething biscuits.
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Next Page: Pomme Bebe, Plum Organics, Homemade Baby
