Many meal delivery services have great recipes for babies and kids. As a parent whose baby is nearing the transition to solid foods, I set out to find suitable options. I was impressed with some services, which I shared in my 3 Best Baby Food Delivery Services article. I have to say that the listed providers cater not just to kids but to busy parents, too.
The services I shortlisted share various similarities and differences. You'll find high-quality, even organic ingredients and an extensive selection of baby meals, among a few common features. What sets them apart is the consideration of parents' time, personalization options, and customer support. The public display of nutrition policies and values is also crucial for caring parents.
After thorough research and careful consideration, I feel that Nurture Life deserves the top spot. It has great meal customization options and a large assortment. What's more, it helps you manage your time with flexible delivery options. But other baby food delivery services have outstanding features, too, so check them out to see which 1 is best for you.
Nurture Life – Best overall baby food delivery service
Little Spoon – Best budget-friendly options
Once Upon a Farm – Best for a la carte shopping
Find picky eaters' favorites on the site
Personalize meals and snacks
The company sources organic ingredients
Current deal – 50% Off Week 1, 20% Off Weeks 2&3 + Free Shipping
Nurture Life stands out as the top baby food subscription service. It offers meals, smoothies, and snacks for infants to older kids, using high-quality and organic ingredients. Parents can also customize their baby's meal plan to suit specific needs. The service takes allergy issues seriously by conducting regular allergen safety checks.
Nurture Life provides 4 product types. These are Kids Foods, Finger Foods, Smoothies, and Snacks. Finger Foods suit babies 10 months and older, while Kids Foods cater to toddlers and older children.
The company has 18 finger foods on offer. Some of them are smaller versions of adult favorites, such as Mac & Cheese and Shepherd's Pie. Moreover, the service clearly marks customer favorites. Beef Meatloaf and Chicken Meatballs are a few dishes labeled as Best Sellers.
The service has over 2 dozen Kids Meals, including those labeled as Picky Eater Fav. There are 3 smoothie varieties and 4 variety packs – 3 featuring each type and 1 including all. Also, 4 types of Snacks and an equal number of variety packs are available.
If you’re not sure where to start, click on Kids Meals, Finger Foods, or Kids Meals & Snacks in the side menu, and the system will automatically fill your cart with popular items. But you can easily substitute them if you disagree with the recommended items. Read our review to learn more.
Use a convenient filtering feature to shortlist meals. You can exclude meals containing specific allergens or unwanted ingredients. Some of the 11 options are Gluten Free, Egg Free, Coconut Free, and Sesame Free. If your baby is a vegetarian, select the Vegetarian option.
Nurture Life has a comprehensive nutrition guide. In it, you'll find the company's nutrition standards, detailed information on micronutrients, protein requirements by age, and other essential facts. This guide features informative images and charts in addition to text.
Nurture Life provides a big bang for the buck for parents of children over 10 months old. Its meals are large, ideal for infants with growing appetites, and contain organic ingredients. Moreover, you can heat them in minutes.
The cost per meal at Nurture Life varies based on the chosen plan. There are 4 plans available, featuring 6, 10, 13, and 16 items per week. The more products per plan you choose, the cheaper they'll be. The starting price per item is $5.99.
The company has 6 product types
Browse meals by your child's age
The service has meals that don't need heating
Current deal – Get 30% OFF + FREE candy from UNREAL with code TRICKORTREAT.
Little Spoon is an excellent option for parents with babies at least 6 months old. The service offers 6 meal types tailored to children of different ages. And you can shortlist the available recipes by your child's age. Moreover, it's a budget-friendly baby food delivery service. But note that its portions tend to be smaller compared to Nurture Life.
You can find 6 product types on Little Spoon's menu. These are Babyblends, Biteables, Plates, Lunchers, Smoothies, and Snacks. Of these, the company advertises Babyblends and Smoothies as organic. Check our in-depth review to learn more about the service’s menu.
Check out Babyblends and Biteables if you have an infant. Babyblends suit children from 6 months old, while Biteables cater to babies who are transitioning to solid food. Go for Plates if you have toddlers and Lunchers for older children.
Babyblends feature purees and transitional meals. Purees, with 1 to 5 ingredients, suit younger babies, featuring options like Pear, Butternut Squash + Blueberry, and Pitaya Coconut Bowl. For babies 9+ months old, Biteables like Turkey Kale Meatballs and Mini White Mac and Cheese are available.
Little Spoon's homepage guides you to age-appropriate products. You can select from Baby, Toddler, and Big Kid options. Choosing the Baby category reveals available products like Babyblends, Biteables, and Smoothies.
You can narrow down meals by using the on-site filter. Available filters vary by product type. For Babyblends, the By Dietary Needs filter has No Coconut, No Wheat, and No Meat options. You can also narrow your options by age from Stage 1 (6+ mos) to Stage 6 (9+ mos).
Little Spoon offers good value considering its product range and pricing. You can start introducing meals from as early as 6 months of age. The company has options for picky eaters if your kiddo is fussy.
I think that the provider could improve its operations and site to better accommodate busy parents. For example, it could introduce a custom feature that allows customers to get the most popular items and replace them with a click or 2. Nurture Life has such a feature, and I find it time-saving and convenient.
The cost of your baby's diet depends on their age and some other factors. But the starting cost per meal is $2.82.
Choose your delivery frequency
The service has yogurts, bars, blends, and other products
Products contain whole organic ingredients
Current deal – 25% off your first subscription. Code BTS25
Once Upon a Farm is a kids' meal delivery service that offers a la carte shopping. This makes it an excellent supplementary option if you subscribe to another service and wish to vary the menu. You can tailor your subscription to your preferences, with a wide range of products suitable for infants and older children.
Once Upon a Farm sells meals and pouches. You get meals frozen, while pouches arrive fresh and need refrigeration. Both product types feature whole, nutrient-dense organic ingredients and are free of GMO foods, preservatives, dairy, and artificial additives.
Pouches from Once Upon a Farm better suit babies, while meals are for kids who can eat solid food. The meals include a variety of fruits and veggies, like banana, mango, sweet potato, and carrot, depending on your choice. Pouches are equally diverse, with ingredients like kale, blueberry, apple, and cherry.
You can buy variety packs to try different products and determine which your kids like best. Choose from Meals Variety Packs, which had 7 options at the time of my Best Baby Food review, or Pouch Variety Packs (13 options). You can also choose from 3 Mixed Variety Pack options.
You can customize your Once Upon a Farm subscription. Select your preferred products and set up a delivery schedule that suits you. Arrange deliveries in 1-week intervals, ranging from every week to every 5 weeks.
You have a variety of products to choose from when setting up your kids' meal plan. There’s a Baby category but you can also shop by New! Refrigerated Oat Bars, New! Coconut Yogurt, Fruit & Veggie Blends, Overnight Oats, and Dairy-Free Smoothies.
You don't need a subscription to buy items from Once Upon a Farm. Simply select Buy in the header and shop for either 16- or 24-pack options, as detailed in our in-depth review. For a more cost-effective choice, opt for the 24-pack option.
Once Upon a Farm is a valuable choice for those seeking organic ingredients for their kids. Most products boast 5- and 4.5-star ratings from existing customers. But if recommendations for picky eaters are important to you, Nurture Life might be a better fit.
The company also has useful pouch coolers to keep your products cool if you go out. You can buy individual coolers or sets of 2. These condensation-free items fit in lunch boxes, stroller trays, and car seat cup holders.
The cost of Once Upon a Farm items depends on the product type and the quantity. But the price of the most affordable individual item is $2.99.
Top Plans | |||
Top Plans | |||
Our Rating | |||
Our Rating | 8.7 | 6.8 | 8.5 |
Best Offer | |||
Best Offer | $5.99 Per Serving | $2.82 Per Serving | $2.99 Per Serving |
Minimum Order | |||
Minimum Order | 6 meals | 6 items | 16 items |
Meal Types | |||
Meal Types | Prepared meals, finger foods | Prepared meals for kids | Plant-based pouches and meals |
Prep Time | |||
Prep Time | 0-3 min | Varies | 0-3 mins |
Active Deals | |||
Active Deals |
The services I introduced are all excellent options for your kid's diet. But to choose the very best according to your and your baby's needs, consider the following tips:
Check if providers cater to your child's age: The services I've discussed serve babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Still, the minimum age for their offerings differs. For a baby of at least 6 months old, Little Spoon would make the cut.
Evaluate customization options: Every service I covered in the guide has some meal personalization options. But Nurture Life goes the extra mile by helping you get products that work for even the most picky kiddos with just a click. This way, you get the best and save time you'd otherwise spend checking different options.
See if you have to subscribe to shop: Maybe you want to try products from more than 1 provider, but you don't want to commit before deciding which is best for your baby. In this case, Once Upon a Farm is worth considering because it allows a la carte shopping. The only catch is a minimum of 16 items per purchase.
Check the delivery policy: Some baby food delivery services follow set schedules, while others are more flexible. If you're uncertain about delivery policies or have special needs, reach out to customer support. Ask about the options if you aren't sure you'll be home when the courier arrives.
Baby food delivery services can offer convenience, quality, and variety in a baby's diet. Providers like Nurture Life offer time-saving benefits by providing heat-and-eat meals. You can also order proven recipes with a few clicks.
Meal kit delivery services can be more expensive than buying ingredients in a store. Still, the benefits, including time savings and home delivery, outweigh these drawbacks. To minimize costs and maximize value, consider subscribing to Little Spoon.
Preparing homemade baby food can be time-consuming and challenging, especially for parents with busy schedules or those inexperienced in the kitchen. Meal delivery services offer a convenient solution by providing balanced, age-appropriate meals with minimal preparation.