Once Upon a Farm Review 2023: Nurturing Healthier Kids

Parents strive to provide their children with nutritious meals that are delicious but also promote their well-being. This can be especially challenging with busy schedules and limited time.

Once Upon a Farm prioritizes the delivery of fresh and organic meals for infants and young children. It creates meals with premium organic ingredients that maintain maximum freshness and nutrition by focusing on farm-to-fridge items, and it eliminates the need for meal planning, shopping, and cooking.

The meals are created under the supervision of nutritionists and dietitians, with the recommendation of pediatricians. Keep reading to see how Once Upon a Farm can help you feed your family. 

What’s on the Once Upon a Farm Menu

Understanding Once Upon a Farm’s menu can be made simpler with a breakdown of its offer. Here’s what you can expect:

Meal Options

Once Upon a Farm’s menu is conveniently divided into Pouches and Meals, both of which offer a range of nutritious options. These 2 types of food are packaged differently and are also separate subscriptions. Let’s take a closer look at the varieties available.

The Pouches menu is home to 4 subvarieties of squeezable best sellers. These are Dairy-Free Smoothies, Fruit & Veggie Blends, Overnight Oats, and Baby. 

Fruit & Veggie Blends combine the goodness of organic fruits and vegetables. These pouches provide a delicious and nourishing snack that also works great as a meal option.

Dairy-Free Smoothies are packed with fruits, vegetables, and other wholesome ingredients. These smoothies offer a refreshing and nutritious option, perfect for a quick, on-the-go beverage.

Overnight Oats also come in pouches, making them another convenient and delicious breakfast or snack option. Made with organic oats, fruits, and veggies, these pouches offer a hearty and satisfying meal.

Finally, the Baby section is filled with pouches that provide essential nutrients for healthy development in babies. These wholesome meals are organic and crafted with care, so even the little ones can enjoy them.

Once Upon a Farm’s Meals section features Organic Plant-Rich Meals, Organic Oats & Fruit, and Variety Packs. Designed with a growing child in mind, all of its meals can be blended, mashed, or served as finger food.

You can cater to all phases of your child’s development with 1 meal – serve purees for the early stages, mashed or textured food for the advancing stages, and finger foods for toddlers who are learning to self-feed.

Organic Plant-Rich Meals are made from organic and plant-based ingredients and provide a nourishing and flavorful dining experience. Organic Oats & Fruit are oat-based meals that offer a delightful combination of hearty oats and flavorful fruits. These meals are a satisfying and nutritious breakfast choice.

You can build your Pouches subscription with 24 pouches and have them delivered every 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 weeks. This will depend on your needs, schedule, and fridge space.

There are also Variety Packs, a combination of popular and age-appropriate Pouches. These packs offer a broad spectrum of flavors and nutrient-rich blends to cater to different developmental stages. The packs are thoughtfully curated to introduce an array of taste profiles while ensuring a balanced intake of essential nutrients.

Babies beginning to explore solids will enjoy Baby’s First Foods Variety Pack, with purees of individual fruits and vegetables. Gently introduce new flavors to your baby and observe their reactions with ease.

As children grow, they can graduate to the Toddler Variety Pack and Kids Smoothie Variety Pack, each offering more complex flavor combinations and textures.

Meal Customization

Once Upon a Farm’s blends are hypoallergenic and safe for anyone to consume, regardless of age. Note that some of the other products may contain coconut, which is a fruit but is treated as a tree nut by the FDA due to potential sensitivities. Just something to keep in mind if you’re looking to avoid nuts!

You’ll fill out a quiz to get your subscription box ready. The quiz covers your children’s age, food preferences, and any allergen concerns you may have. During the sign-up, you’ll be asked what matters most to you when it comes to feeding your children.

With Once Upon a Farm, you have the option to exclude both dairy and gluten-free choices from the menu. While all Once Upon a Farm products are dairy-free, some may still contain gluten. As these sensitivities share a filter, it’s not possible to exclude only 1 of them.

Once Upon a Farm processes tree nuts, eggs, dairy products, and soy in the same facility, but it adheres to strict hygiene standards. All equipment is thoroughly cleaned between each product to prevent cross-contamination. That said, if you have allergy concerns, I recommend carefully reading the ingredient statement for each product.

Once Upon a Farm asks you to separately select subscriptions for each child – maybe some adults, too? Either way, if you have a large household, it’s a super easy way to keep track of everyone’s diet.

Pouches and meals must also be ordered as separate subscriptions. You can order pouches a la carte, but you can’t order a single pouch just to try it out. They come in packs of 16 or 24. A la carte is good if you want to make a one-off bulk order or if you’re ordering a large number of a few specific pouches.

Variety packs are available in 16 or 24 packs. These are the best options if you just want to try the service out without a subscription. The variety packs come with a selection of pouches, but you can’t customize the pack unless you open a subscription.

Unboxing

Upon opening your Once Upon a Farm box, you’ll find a selection of wholesome and nutritious baby food blends carefully crafted with organic fruits and vegetables.

Each box of cold-pressed blends provides a variety of nutrients for your little one. The thick and heavy bags ensure the freshness and integrity of the contents during transit while keeping them thoughtfully organized.

Pouches and Meals must be ordered separately as individual subscription boxes, but you can choose to have them delivered on the same day. Meals will arrive frozen and packed in dry ice, and you should store them in the freezer. Pouches should arrive cold to the touch and need to be refrigerated on arrival. Use them by the “enjoy by” date.

If any of the meals arrive thawed, the service advises not to refreeze them and to contact customer service. Meals should be heated up from frozen and not thawed first. Meals can be safely frozen for up to 12 months. Any leftovers can be refrigerated but not refrozen.

Once Upon a Farm acknowledges that its pouches need improvement in terms of sustainability and packaging. The Pouch Mail-Back program, a partnership between Once Upon a Farm and Recyclops, is aimed at keeping used multilayer pouches out of landfills.

You can participate by simply collecting the empty pouches at home and mailing them back. Make sure to squeeze and empty them as much as possible, and screw the caps back on. You can drop the package off at your local Post Office or schedule a pick-up.

The bowls are recyclable. Once Upon a Farm recommends giving them a rinse and replacing the lid before recycling. The packaging for meals can be recycled by returning them to specific stores. You can find out what stores are nearby by following the link in the FAQ section of the website.

Eating With Once Upon a Farm

If you’re not opening a Pouch immediately, you can store it in the fridge until the indicated expiration date. Once opened, refrigeration is necessary, and the blend should be consumed within 3 days to ensure optimal freshness and taste.

When your kids are on the go, you can grab a Pouch Cooler – a simple way to keep pouches cooler for longer – also offered by Once Upon a Farm. Cool it for 4 hours in the freezer, and it keeps Pouches cool by the pool, on the road, or on a family vacation.

If you’d rather warm the baby food blend, avoid using the microwave. The containers aren’t microwave-safe. Instead, place the unopened container in a bowl of warm water and let it sit for a few minutes. This gentle warming method ensures the meal is ready for your little one’s enjoyment.

All the meals need to be cooked before consumption. Still, they more than make up for the hassle of having to cook them, and they do so with their versatility – these plant-rich foods can be enjoyed in 4 different ways.

For babies starting on solids, the puréed method offers a smooth and creamy texture. As your baby progresses, the mashed method introduces more texture and flavor variety. To promote healthy eating habits, serve the meals as finger foods. Cut larger pieces into bite-size portions, cook, let cool, and serve.

You can get creative by using the meals as a base for recipes. Cook as directed, and unleash your imagination! Not too imaginative? No problem. You can also visit Once Upon a Farm’s blog or its social media pages for inspiration.

Shortlist of My Favorite Meals

Berry Berry Dairy-Free Smoothie is suitable for toddlers aged 12+ months. This dairy-free smoothie pouch from Once Upon a Farm is bursting with bountiful berries, pumpkin seed protein, and the richness of coconut milk.

All the food by Once Upon a Farm has The Clean Label Project verification and Purity Award Certification, ensuring top-notch quality in its category.

Blueberry Overnight Oats are a great time saver. Packed with blueberries, they’re simple yet delicious. Whether you’re rushing in the morning or just need a snack during the day, they’ve got you covered. Your children will surely enjoy how easy it is to carry these pouches and even easier to enjoy them.

Butternut Squash and Strawberry with Coconut Butter took me by surprise. It’s a combo of butternut squash and strawberry, but the addition of quinoa, banana, and spinach jazzes it up. The coconut butter smooths everything out, making it creamy and rich.

Oh, and there’s sweet potato, mango, and coconut mixed in too. A really good combo.

The Tropical Twirl Dairy-Free Smoothie is amazing if you’re into tropical flavors. Pineapple, banana, and coconut milk are a match made in heaven, and the pumpkin seeds add a nice touch of protein. 

Prices

Once Upon a Farm offers 2 options for bulk purchases of meals: a 16-pack priced at $4.99 per pouch and a 24-pack priced at $4.69 per pouch.

Pouches can be purchased as Variety Packs and Bundles, too, which come in packs of 24 pieces or 16 packs if you select a non-customizable Variety Pack.

Once Upon a Farm is conveniently available at well-known retailers, like Target, Whole Foods, Kroger, Publix, BJ's, and Costco. You might have to search for it – the products aren’t located in the same place in each store. Check out the refrigerated or produce sections first.

For orders over $45, a flat rate shipping fee of $5.99 applies. Orders under $45 will incur a $12 shipping fee per order. Regardless of where you live, the shipping rate is always the same, providing a stable and predictable delivery cost, which is always a plus.

Orders can’t be returned, but you can get credit for the affected items. Contact customer service and provide the order number and date and time of package receipt.

Shipping & Delivery

Once Upon a Farm doesn’t offer weekend deliveries, so the products remain in optimal condition. The cost of shipping and taxes is calculated during the checkout process.

Orders are typically processed from Monday to Wednesday, with a standard 2-day delivery. The shipping timeline can range from 3 to 9 days. If you place an order on Monday or Tuesday, it will typically ship by Wednesday for delivery by Friday.

In California and surrounding areas, orders may be shipped on Thursday or Friday to allow for Saturday delivery.

Once Upon a Farm provides a shipping notification email with tracking information related to your order. This allows you to stay informed about the status and progress of your shipment.

Frozen meals shouldn’t be thawed, and refrigerated pouches should be cold. If the products haven’t maintained their proper temperature, you shouldn’t consume them and can reach out for assistance.

How Once Upon a Farm Works

Once Upon a Farm doesn’t impose a mandatory sign-up process before showing its menu. 

Whether you wish to order a single meal or stock up on a variety of pouches, the choice is entirely yours – no strings attached. Here’s how to do it:

How to Sign Up for Once Upon a Farm

1. Click on Build Your Subscription: This is where you choose between Meals and Pouches. Can’t choose? Click on Get Started to get more information on the offer.

2. Choose a delivery frequency: You can have your subscription box delivered once a week or once every 2, 3, 4 or 5 weeks. Then click on Customize My Box.

3. Start choosing your pouches: Here you’ll pick and choose your preferred foods until you fill a 24 subscription box. For a Meals box, you can build a 16 or a 24-pack subscription. When done, click on Add to Cart.

4. Review your order and proceed to checkout: You can make changes to your order and see how much your subtotal is. If you have a gift card or a discount code, apply it at this step. 

5. Fill out your personal information: This includes your shipping and delivery information. Once done, you’ll be prompted to pay. That’s it!

Managing Your Subscription

Click on the person-shaped icon located in the upper right corner when you need to modify or cancel your Once Upon a Farm subscription.

Navigate to the lower section of the page to find headings Your Account, Order History, and Manage My Subscriptions. Tap on Manage My Subscription, where your active subscriptions will be displayed.

Select the subscription you wish to modify, then click Manage. Your subscription details will appear, along with options like skipping, editing, pausing, or canceling.

For cancelation, scroll down and choose Cancel subscription. Click on Continue to finalize the cancelation or explore other choices. Confirm your cancelation by clicking Confirm Cancelation. Keep in mind that orders are processed after midnight on the day of charging.

Customer Service

Once Upon a Farm offers multiple ways to get in touch with their customer support team. You can reach out via email at care@uponafarm.com – a convenient option for non-urgent queries. There’s a number you can text and a dedicated email for media queries.

Once Upon a Farm encourages you to contact its customer support for any queries you may have before building a subscription, but remember to reach out during office hours, which are Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, PST.

I emailed over the weekend and received a reply, but it came on Monday, once the working hours started.

The FAQ section is a comprehensive resource filled with a multitude of answers, informative articles, and valuable information to assist you. If you wish to cancel your subscription or request a refund, you can refer to their dedicated blog article on how to do so. For a full guide, check out How to Manage Your Subscription.

Once Upon a Farm doesn’t allow you to return its food products, but it does prioritize customer satisfaction and offers a solution for instances where products arrive damaged in transit.

To initiate the process of seeking credit, gather information, describe the damage, document the condition, and record the date and time when you received the package. This timestamp is crucial for the company to track the issue.

How Once Upon a Farm Compares to Other Meal Delivery Services

Once Upon a Farm vs. HelloFresh

HelloFresh stands out as the most popular meal kit in the US. Its easy-to-follow instructions and fresh ingredients make it a go-to option for those seeking convenience without compromising on taste or quality. Its prices start at $3.32.

HelloFresh also advocates for the importance of employee health and wellness. Unlike Once Upon a Farm’s ready-to-eat offerings, HelloFresh supports companies looking to enhance health and satisfaction benefits by emphasizing the merits of cooking fresh meals.

Once Upon a Farm vs. Factor

Factor is one of the leading names in the meal kit delivery arena, delivering chef-prepared meals focused on nutrition and convenience. The pricing begins at $6.19.

Unlike Once Upon a Farm’s child-centric offerings, Factor appeals to adults seeking diverse, health-conscious options without the hassle of cooking. Perfect for those desiring gourmet meals with ease.

Once Upon a Farm vs. Green Chef

Green Chef emphasizes organic, wholesome ingredients in its diverse meal selections. Its commitment to eco-friendly packaging makes it an excellent choice for those who prioritize sustainability. Green Chef’s prices start at $9.99.

Green Chef empowers users to adapt ingredients and dishes, in contrast to Once Upon a Farm’s focus on ready-made options that offer a more personalized culinary experience.

The Bottom Line: Is Once Upon a Farm Worth It?

Once Upon a Farm is surely worth it. Traditional baby food is typically heat-pasteurized, which can degrade some of the nutrients, but this service boasts cold-pressed preservation on top of organic ingredients.

The company is committed to sustainable and transparent sourcing, which means you know where your food comes from. My personal favorite is its packaging, which is so convenient for on-the-go feeding that it makes me wish I knew about Pouches when I was a student.

The company also has initiatives aimed at making healthy, high-quality food more accessible to children, including those in underserved communities. If you’re still not entirely sold on Once Upon a Farm, take a look at the other leading meal delivery brands that are highlighted in our list of the best meal delivery services of 2023.

FAQ

How does Once Upon a Farm contribute to a sustainable future?

Once Upon a Farm makes concerted efforts to work with local farmers and suppliers, reducing the carbon footprint associated with long-distance shipping. Its packaging is also designed to be recyclable or compostable, thereby minimizing landfill waste.

The company often invests in projects and partnerships that promote regenerative agriculture, emphasizing soil health, biodiversity, and reduced reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

Are Once Upon a Farm products suitable for children with allergies or dietary restrictions?

Many of Once Upon a Farm’s products cater to common dietary restrictions and allergies. It also ensures transparency by clearly listing ingredients on its packaging and website.

Once Upon a Farm’s customer service team is readily available to answer any specific questions or concerns about its products. However, for parents whose children have severe allergies, it’s always recommended to consult with a pediatrician or nutritionist before introducing new foods.

How does Once Upon a Farm ensure the freshness of its products without using preservatives?

Once Upon a Farm utilizes a method called cold-pressing. This ensures the freshness and safety of its products. Unlike traditional heat pasteurization, which can compromise nutrient and flavor integrity, cold-pressing uses high pressure to kill harmful bacteria without the need for heat or preservatives.

Can Once Upon a Farm products be incorporated into meals, or are they just for snacking?

The products are versatile enough to be incorporated into meals. While they’re great for on-the-go snacking, many parents use them as a base for smoothies, mix them into oatmeal, or even blend them into sauces for a nutritional boost. The website offers a range of creative recipes and suggestions on how to use products beyond just a quick snack.