Make Toddler Food Squeeze Pouches

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Toddler squeeze food pouches are a great way to feed your child while you're on the go. They can get expensive, however, and they are not refillable. Many of them also contain lots of sugars and additives that you may not want to feed your child. Luckily, with the help of empty, refillable squeeze pouches, you can make your very own. Once you know the basics of making a few simple purees, you can experiment with your own recipes. You can easily fill these pouches by hand or with the help of a special filling machine.

Ingredients

Blueberry Bananza[1]

  • 1 cup (100 grams) blueberries
  • 1 banana, sliced

Green Monster[2]

  • 1 handful spinach
  • 1 cup (165 grams) mango, cubed
  • 1 banana, sliced

Tropical Paradise[3]

  • 2 peaches, peeled, pitted, and sliced
  • 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
  • ½ cup (100 grams) pineapple chunks, drained

Veggie Delight[4]

  • 16 ounces (450 grams) broccoli, cooked
  • 10 ounces (300 grams) peas, cooked
  • 3 medium pears, peeled, pitted, and sliced

Strawberries n'Cream[5]

  • 16 ounces (450 grams) strawberries, hulled
  • 1 banana, sliced
  • ½ cup (125 grams) plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 teaspoons chia seeds (optional)

Steps

Making a Simple Puree

  1. Choose one of the recipes from above. You can also use your own puree, baby food, or healthy smoothie recipe instead.
  2. Prepare the ingredients. Wash all of the fruits and vegetables that you will be using. If the fruits have a skin on them, peel them away. Chop up the fruits and vegetables into smaller pieces and remove any seeds. If something needs to be cooked or steamed, take the time to do so.
  3. Place the ingredients into the blender. A high-powdered blender will give you the best results. If you can't find one, then a good food processor may also work.
  4. Pulse the ingredients until you get a smooth puree. This will take about 1 to 2 minutes.[6] Make sure that there are no chunks, or they may get caught in the nozzle part of the pouch's cap.
  5. Adjust the consistency, if needed. You want the puree to be thin enough so that it can easily flow through the nozzle part of the cap without getting stuck. If it is too thick, add in 1 to 2 tablespoons (15 to 30 milliliters) of water or juice.[7]

Filling the Pouches by Hand

  1. Buy some refillable pouches with a zippered opening. If the pouch does not have any sort of zippered or Ziploc opening, then you will have a harder time refilling it. Those kinds will typically need a special filling machine.
  2. Remove the cap and blow into the pouch. This puffs the pouch up and makes it easier to fill. You only need to do this for brand-new pouches.[8] Put the cap back on when you are done.
  3. Pull open the pouch. Some pouches have little tabs that you can pull apart to open them.[9] If your pouch does not have any sort of zippered opening, then simply leave the cap off.
  4. Insert a funnel, if needed. Most zippered pouches have a large enough opening that you can easily pour the pureed food into. If your pouch dp=oes not have a zippered opening, you could try inserting a funnel down the neck of the pouch.
  5. Pour the pureed food into the pouch. You can also use a spoon to scoop the formula into the bag.[10] If you need to, set the pouch down into a small glass. This will make it even easier to fill.[11]
    • Jiggle the bag from side-to-side. This will help settle the puree and allow you to pour more inside.
  6. Zip the pouch shut tightly. If you removed the cap earlier, twist it back on. Turn it upside down, and make sure that no food can leak out.
  7. Give the pouch to your child. If it's not snack time, you can put the pouch into the fridge or freezer. More formulas will last for 2 to 3 days in the fridge, and 3 months in the freezer. If you need to thaw a frozen formula, simply put it into the fridge the night before.

Filling the Pouches with a Machine

  1. Purchase a machine meant for refilling food pouches. They often have the words "squeeze station" in the title. Some of them can only fill one pouch at a time, while others can fill more. You can buy them online or in a store that has a well-stocked baby section.
  2. Purchase some refillable pouches. The pouches that work best for this type of machine are the single-use pouches. Some pouches come with a Ziploc-type top. Those you can refill without the use of a machine.
  3. Insert the neck of the pouch into the machine. How you do this depends on the type of machine you bought. Usually, there will be an opening at the bottom of the machine, below the filling canister.
    • If your pouch came with the cap attached, you will need to remove it first.
  4. Insert the filling canister, if needed. Some of the simpler machines may already have the canister attached to the port where you inserted the pouch. Other machines may have slots for the canisters to go into. If your's came like that, slide the canister into the slot now, and screw it into place.
  5. Pour the pureed food into the canister. You want to fill the canister almost to the top. Only do one flavor at a time. If your machine came with multiple canisters, you can pour a different flavor into each canister.
  6. Insert the presser tool. Sometimes, it may even have a lid, like the type found on a French press.
  7. Push down on the presser tool to fill the pouch. Depending on the size of pouch you are using, you may not end up using all of the puree. Sometimes, the presser tool may get stuck. This usually happens when a chunk of food gets stuck in the hole. When that happens, try one of the following:[12]
    • Open up the canister, pour the puree into a blender, and pulse it a few more times.
    • Open up the canister and pick out the chunk of food with a clean fork or pick. Don't use your fingers.
  8. Pull the bag out of the machine. If you had to insert a canister into a slot and screw it in, then you will need to unscrew it first before you can pull the pouch out.
    • Some pouches are inserted sideways. It might be a good idea to tip the canister over so that the pouch's opening is upright when you remove it.
  9. Twist the cap on. The pouch is now ready to be used! You can hand it to your kid or leave it in the fridge. Most formulas will last in the fridge for 2 to 3 days. Some can be left in the freezer for up to 3 months.[13]
    • If you need to thaw a frozen pouch, simply put it in the fridge for a few hours to one day.

Tips

  • The 3.4-ounce (100-milliliter) pouches are ideal for babies. The 7-ounce (207-milliliter) pouches are better for toddlers.[14]
  • If you are filling multiple pouches, write the name of the recipe on the pouch as well as the date.[15]
  • You can also fill the pouches with prepared foods as well, such as baby food or applesauce.
  • Make sure to clean the pouches and caps really well after each use.

Warnings

  • Food pouches should not be a substitute for fresh fruits and veggies. They still provide a fair amount of minerals, nutrients, and vitamins for picky eaters, however.[16]
  • Avoid giving your toddler pouches with every meal. Try to give him or her some fresh fruits and veggies every once in a while.[17]
  • Don't let your child walk and sip from the pouch. This can be a chocking hazard. Have your child sit and enjoy their pouch instead.[18]

Things You'll Need

Making a Simple Puree

  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Knives and cutting board
  • Blender or food processor

Filling the Pouches by Hand

  • Refillable squeeze pouch
  • Spoon (optional)
  • Funnel (optional, required for non-zippered pouch)

Filling the Pouches with a Machine

  • Refillable squeeze pouch
  • Pouch filling machine

Sources and Citations

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