Beech-Nut’s New Spring Flavor Taste Test

Have you ever been bored to tears with your menu? Even seasoned chicken with broccoli can get dull if you don’t switch it up.  I try to keep the same mindset when I’m feeding my kids.  Yes, my 4-year-old could eat chicken nuggets until he turns into one, but I try to expand his menu by offering him different foods each week. It’s important that I keep Scarlett’s menu varied, too, so I’ve been perusing Beech-Nut’s offerings on the store shelf.  I see organic and natural options, rich colors and adventurous flavors that even adults take to.  I’m continually impressed by Beech-Nut’s commitment to helping my baby explore new textures and tastes, all while keeping the foods pure and natural.  (I LOVE the fact that the “just“ foods includes only that item!)  

We all know it’s important to make sure that your baby is getting enough of the right foods as you introduce solids, but you also need to expand their palate.  I happen to enjoy oriental flavors and tropical fruits, so I want my kids to try those flavors, too!  While Scarlett won’t be munching on sushi anytime soon, I’m happy to announce that Beech-Nut is serving up some new exotic flavors in a baby-friendly format – no food processor needed.  This spring, the new varieties are hitting store shelves (use the store locator here), as well as some of our favorites in stage 2:

• Naturals™ stage 1 prunes
• Naturals™ stage 2 just mango
• Naturals™ stage 2 bananas
• Organics™ stage 2 bananas
• Organics™ stage 2 just mango
• Organics™ stage 3 mango, chicken, curry & rice
• Organics™ stage 3 macaroni rings & meat sauce
• Organics™ stage 3 corn & potato chowder

We received the Beech-Nut Organics™ stage 2 bananas, Organics™ stage 2 just mango and Organics™ stage 3 corn & potato chowder to taste and try out.  As I’ve mentioned before, Scarlett gets her “hungry pants” on fairly quickly, so the convenience of snapping open an organic baby food jar puts my adrenaline to rest while she urges me on from the high chair.  Plus, Beech-Nut’s effort to provide a true variety of unique flavors and textures gives me a leg up in helping Scarlett develop her relationship with food; I feel good about what’s going into her little tummy.  

The first new flavor we tried was the Organics™ stage 2 just mango.  Scarlett moved up to stage 2 textures and thicknesses this month and has been doing very well with them.  While she still enjoys many of the stage 1 flavors and single foods (sweet potatoes and carrots are her favorites), I am adding a little oatmeal to thicken them or combining a few together.  I offered Scarlett the mangoes straight from the jar, and she took to them immediately, asking for more bites before turning her head to grin at Daddy.  The second and third times I’ve offered mangoes have been just as successful, so I’m jokingly going to suggest that she has an affinity for orange foods (cheesy poufs need not apply)!

With the prunes, Scarlett mulled over a few bites to decide if she liked it (I’ve read that babies often need to try foods up to three times before deciding if they like it!) and while it’s not at the top of her personal favorites, I thought it tasted great – like a single sweet prune or a handful of raisins.  It would make a great addition to homemade summer popsicles!

The Organics™ corn & potato chowder is by far the “chunkiest” food Scarlett has ever tried, being a stage 3 texture, and I was so entertained by her initial reaction.  I offered her a small bite at first, knowing what a fan she is of stage 2 just butternut squash & sweet corn.  The thicker texture of stage 3 caught her off guard and she was very surprised!  She refused the next bite, but later on I mixed a few spoonfuls with some milk and she took to it more readily.  The flavor agreed with her, but we’ll have to slowly work up to something as thick as the corn & sweet potato chowder by itself.  

You can find all these fabulous new flavors by Beech-Nut at a store near you.  Use the store locator on Beech-Nut’s website to locate your favorite varieties.

I am very pleased to announce that I will be working with Beech-Nut during 2016 as a sponsored ambassador, sharing Scarlett’s journey to solid foods and shedding some light on the #BabysFirstFoods process.  Come and share a bite to eat!