Does this sound familiar to any other moms? With my first baby, I thought I could do it all. I bought all organic veggies, steamed and puréed them to make my own blends, and quickly realized it was WAY too much to do on my own (who has that much time on their hands during end-of-year festivities?). So I was excited to find out that there were a few fresh baby food products out there and started my grand quest to figure out which company’s baby food is the best for time-saving this holiday season.
Little Spoon vs. Yumi Comparison
Cost + Shipping
With some baby products, I'm all budget, all day. (Hello, hand-me-downs!) With food, I'm willing to spend a little extra but of course, I don't want to pay an arm and a leg for a service that isn't working for me, especially when there are other friends and family members to buy for over the holidays. So let's start by looking at cost and shipping for these two brands.
Little Spoon starts at $2.74 per meal + $5 flat-rate shipping with deliveries every two weeks for a lower carbon footprint and to minimize waste, while Yumi starts at $3 per meal with free shipping and weekly deliveries.
Winner: It's a tie!
The starting cost of meals is pretty comparable. I personally find weekly deliveries overwhelming, so I'm happy to pay a small shipping fee for Little Spoon deliveries if it means less waste, better for the planet, and me breaking down fewer boxes! Fewer deliveries means less packages cluttering my entryway during the festive season.
Menu + Food Selection
Here's the yummy part. What do we get to eat? Yes, "we," because you know I'm tasting everything I'm feeding my kids. You know, to make sure it's not poisonous.
Little Spoon offers different staged purées for babies, as well as healthy, clean meals for toddlers and kids up to 6 years old. They start with single ingredient blends and work up to transition meals, even offering transition-to-table food finger foods. They also offer a line of pouches for all ages called Smoothies. Their USDA organic-certified menu features a diverse range of ingredients (over 100!) and all big 9 allergies are accommodated. You can customize your menu or follow the Little Spoon plan to select a range of blends featuring seasonal ingredients based on your little one's age.
Meanwhile, Yumi offers purées for babies (single foods and blends) along with small bites (puffs) for toddlers up to 2 years old. Their organic menu rotates weekly and you can also customize your menu or allow Yumi to choose for you.
Winner: Little Spoon
I have multiple little ones to feed, so having options for my toddler is a huge deal. Also knowing that as my baby ages, this is an option I can use for years is HUGE for a busy parent, particularly when the holiday months roll around. I have also been spotted finishing Little Spoon Smoothies (the pouches) because they are so genuinely delicious, so bonus points for feeding mom.
Nutrition and Dietary Accommodations
Okay, but the food is only good if your kid can actually eat it, right? Here's the deal if your small human has allergies or other dietary needs.
Little Spoon Babyblends purées are free from all major allergens, which include milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, sesame, and soybeans. Plates for older kids are all clearly marked with allergy info, and their website has filters so you can view available meals for your kid's needs. Smoothies are cold-pressed and contain 100% organic produce and everything Little Spoon makes is clean, free of anything artificial.
Yumi is “Big-9” allergen-free. This includes milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, sesame, and soybeans. All food is 100% organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, kosher, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free with no added sugars, preservatives, or fillers.
Winner: It's a tie!
Both companies are doing an awesome job of offering up organic baby food that's free from common allergens and has no added sugar or preservatives. Little Spoon edges ahead slightly with the most variety that accommodates so many dietary needs across a wide range of ages. I love not having to worry about whether my toddler and baby are eating healthily, especially during the colder months when many fruits and veggies aren’t in season.
Packaging + Sustainability
A top priority for me is ensuring my children eat well, but a broader family value of ours is to be thoughtful about how much waste we're consuming. And when we must create more waste, we look for ways of going about it that lend themselves to reuse or recycling. Here's what each brand can offer in terms of sustainability.
Little Spoon's food arrives in BPA-free, phthalate-free, toxin-free plastic tubs that are 100% curbside recyclable and no virgin plastic. They’re dishwasher safe and can be reused or recycled with ease. Tubs and plates are #1 PET plastic and spoons are #5 PP plastic, meaning it's curbside recyclable.
As for the shipping materials, the cardboard box can be broken down flat and recycled. Ice packs can be left to thaw, the corner snipped, the biodegradable filling can be poured into the trash, and the plastic pack can be recycled. Insulation is made of reused sustainable denim scraps and you can actually SEND THEM BACK to be reused by Little Spoon for FREE by going to the website learn.littlespoon.com/returnmyliner.
Yumi's food comes in plastic jars that are curbside recyclable, or can be saved and reused. Shipping materials include the cardboard box, ice packs are recommended to save and reuse, or can have the corner snipped and the contents emptied into the trash, then recycle the plastic outer (it's #4, which is the same as most grocery bags, so you may have to take it to a special receptacle). Insulation is curbside recyclable.
Winner: Little Spoon
I love that Yumi comes in little jars that make for a nice user experience while feeding the baby and can be reused. But in the end, it's the shipping materials that are the biggest deal to me. They're the dark horse nuisance of food delivery subscriptions, so Little Spoon's less frequent shipments and fully recyclable materials make them the winner in my book. I also spoke to Little Spoon’s Care Team and they’re shortly launching a send-back program for their insulation to be reused - so awesome! In my opinion, Little Spoon is the perfect time-saving subscription for eco-conscious parents.
Ultimate Winner: Little Spoon
My family is going to keep the subscription going with Little Spoon throughout the holidays and beyond. I found the flavors and fuller range of offerings to be a better fit for our baby and toddler–a Little Spoon subscription ideal for both parents and young ones during the busy festive season.
