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. 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 was the best for my family. After ample research, I nestled upon Little Spoon and Yumi to put to the test. Keep reading below to see how they measure up head to head!
Round 1: Menu & Food Selection ... Little Spoon wins!
Let's be real, the first part of any food review should be just that ... the food. As a mom, 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 also offer a line of pouches for all ages called Smoothies. Their USDA organic-certified menu is 100% plant-based and allergies are accommodated. You can customize your menu or follow the Little Spoon plan to select seasonal meals 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.
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. I have also been spotted finishing Little Spoon Smoothies (the pouches) because they are so genuinely delicious, so bonus points for feeding mom.
Round 2: Nutrition & Dietary Accommodations ... it's a tie!
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 100% 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.
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.
Round 3: Packaging & Sustainability ... Little Spoon wins!
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. 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 that can be opened so that the filler is recycled with paper and the outer part is recycled with plastic. All curbside recycling friendly in most areas.
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.
Round 3: Cost & Shipping ... it's a tie!
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. 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.
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! It's also important to note that Little Spoon is offering 20% off with their code "FRESH2023".
Round 4: Overall Best ... Little Spoon wins!
While Yumi was a tough competitor, ultimately, Little Spoon's subscription was just a cut above. Between the flavors and fuller range of offerings fit for a baby through six-year old, Little Spoon won me over. Finally, I can feel confident knowing that good quality organic food is attainable outside the realm of home-cooking.
