do you squeeze or spoon? surviving kid food years {$100 VISA giveaway}

by | Aug 1, 2014 | babies, family, food, moms, toddlers | 135 comments


a few mom hacks to packing snacks and lunches for kids,
AND a $100 VISA giveaway from Del Monte.
 del monte squeezers mom hack ice packs
With my first kid, I was hell bent on making baby food and we did a lot more reheating and spooning then,
but with two? Who has time for that?!
It’s more expensive to buy pouches, but for the convenience, it’s worth it.

And since it feels like we are always headed somewhere {soon to be preschool, I hope – if that kid will ever decide to finish potty training!},

I have been throwing lunch-type products together a lot more lately.

 

I have also been doing Whole30 now for almost 30 days so I am eating lots of veggies and protein and a little fruit.

On the list of “what I should eat” are these fruit + veggie pouches!

They  have 1 1/2 servings of fruit and veggies, but definitely have a fruity taste, so they are super yummy.

I was excited to try some of these new flavors, care of Del Monte, and they were awesome.

I mean, pineapple in coconut-flavored juice fruit cups? Done. I’m in. If you’ve been around lately, you KNOW I’ve been having a love affair with coconut!

And my Vons and Ralphs both carry these, so any local store should too.

del monte squeezers mom hack lunches

Fruit & Veggie flavors we like:

Blueberry, Apple Cinnamon, Peach Mango

Or the Fruit-only:

Mixed Berry or Strawberry

and of course that Pineapple Coconut cup goodness…

{how come no one thought of this sooner??}

I’ll fill you in on what else I like to do with that soon….

Since I had a handful of these, and I was packing up to head to the beach with the kids for the next day,

I thought why not try freezing these pouches overnight and use them as ice packs?

It worked great! A perfect little lunch fits into a regular Tupperware and with a frozen squeezer to keep cold,

I didn’t have to pack a full cooler just to go out for a few hours and it’s taken some of the stress of packing up the toddler out of it for me.

After those few hours, we busted into our lunches,

{this one was mine, with the turkey avocado roll-ups} and the squeezers were perfect by then. Cold, but not frozen, and kept everything fresh.

I’m now keeping lots in the freezer so I can throw fruit and veggies in a container real quick and chuck it into my bag.

It’s awesome. And it’s saved me from having to buy food while we’re out to feed my kids.

del monte squeezers mom hack lunches

And, since these squeezers have no artificial flavors or corn syrup, I went ahead and took it a step further…

Since we are still in high-heat mode over here, I squeezed some of the pouches, along with the full pineapple coconut cup into a popsicle mold and BAM! They make such a great treat {that doesn’t make me feel too guilty cause it’s fruit & veggies}!

del monte fruit and veggie popsicles

 

We played around with different flavor combinations, but having real chunks of fruit in there and the coconut flavor is pretty unbeatable.

Also, I’ve been collecting some fun ideas of lunch ideas for school goers AND toddlers on pinterest. Check out my LUNCH Ideas board here.

del monte fruit and veggie popsicle

So, Del Monte wants to know:

Do you SQUEEZE or SPOON?

Answer by commenting on this post and you will be entered to win $100 VISA card!

AND if you share a photo of your kids’ favorite Del Monte Squeeze or Spoon snack on the Del Monte Facebook page here between August 1st and September 1st, you could win one of two $10,000 GRAND PRIZES for your kids’ school!

 

Sweepstakes Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

  1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
  2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
  3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
  4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 72 hours to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 8/1-9/19.

Be sure to visit the Del Monte Brand Page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

 

_

Keep up with Del Monte here:

instagram | pinterest | twitter

del monte fruit and veggie popsicles

135 Comments

  1. Lisa Brown
    Lisa Brown on August 1, 2014 at 9:23 am

    we prefer to squeeze

  3. Ashley
    Ashley on August 1, 2014 at 10:29 am

    We definitely do both! The older one likes to spoon and my little one enjoys the squeezing. I love the squeezing too because well let’s just face it, it’s easier and I’m a little lazy. I’m definitely going to have to try the Popsicles!!

  4. Sheri
    Sheri on August 1, 2014 at 11:18 am

    My girls love “squeezers” as they call them!

  5. Shantel
    Shantel on August 1, 2014 at 11:31 am

    I love these squeezable pouches when we are out and about. It’s nice to know that I have a couple in my bag just in case the little one gets hungry before we are ready to go home. She loves them and so do I!

  6. Amy
    Amy on August 1, 2014 at 11:50 am

    Squeeze all the way!

  7. Abby
    Abby on August 1, 2014 at 12:21 pm

    It’s so much easier to squeeze!

  8. mami2jcn
    mami2jcn on August 1, 2014 at 12:30 pm

    We prefer to spoon.

  9. mami2jcn
    mami2jcn on August 1, 2014 at 12:32 pm

    tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/495290797143887873

  10. Elena
    Elena on August 1, 2014 at 1:53 pm

    we like to squeeze

  12. Stephanie
    Stephanie on August 1, 2014 at 2:18 pm

    we like the squeeze

  16. Natalie Yarbrough
    Natalie Yarbrough on August 1, 2014 at 5:47 pm

    My daughter loves to spoon which helps develop her eye-hand coordination 🙂 Although squeezing may be less messy.

  18. Kelly D
    Kelly D on August 1, 2014 at 6:12 pm

    I like to use a spoon.

  20. Nicole Dz
    Nicole Dz on August 1, 2014 at 7:49 pm

    I like to spoon, and my kids; well one kid likes to spoon and the other kid like to squeeze!

  22. heather
    heather on August 1, 2014 at 8:10 pm

    They love to squeeze it is more fun to them.

  23. Amy Tong
    Amy Tong on August 2, 2014 at 5:12 pm

    My little boy loves the spoon. But I think the squeezers are lots of fun too! 🙂

    amy [at] utry [dot] it

  25. D Schmidt
    D Schmidt on August 2, 2014 at 6:55 pm

    My children prefer to squeeze.

  27. Kristen
    Kristen on August 3, 2014 at 1:09 am

    We spoon.

  29. rachel
    rachel on August 3, 2014 at 11:15 am

    Our girl is little so we spoon.

  30. mysweetiepiepie
    mysweetiepiepie on August 3, 2014 at 11:49 am

    Sometimes my kids prefer to squeeze and sometimes they prefer to spoon.

  31. Samantha Daleo
    Samantha Daleo on August 3, 2014 at 5:42 pm

    We tend to spoon in our family but a little squeezing never hurt anyone 😉

  32. Madeline
    Madeline on August 3, 2014 at 5:47 pm

    My child prefers to squeeze—no bothering with utensils. I prefer to use a spoon.

  34. Erika
    Erika on August 3, 2014 at 7:49 pm

    My daughter likes the squeeze pouches, but my son like the fruit chunks.

    chambanachik(at)gmail(dot)com

  35. courtney b
    courtney b on August 4, 2014 at 8:00 am

    we like to squeeze. my kids hate spoons- if you can squeeze it my kids will eat it!

  37. Melissa M
    Melissa M on August 4, 2014 at 10:20 am

    We are squeezers.

  39. Cynthia C
    Cynthia C on August 4, 2014 at 11:46 am

    We do more spooning than squeezing.

  41. vickie
    vickie on August 4, 2014 at 7:48 pm

    We do both..but, mostly spoon..thanks so much..and, thanks to Del Monte for the giveaway too.

  42. amy pugmire
    amy pugmire on August 4, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    i spoon my kids squeeze.

  44. latanya
    latanya on August 5, 2014 at 6:59 am

    prefer to squeeze

  46. Joy Person
    Joy Person on August 5, 2014 at 1:08 pm

    we prefer spoon

  47. Ashley H
    Ashley H on August 5, 2014 at 2:41 pm

    They prefer to spoon.

  50. Karen Ostrom
    Karen Ostrom on August 6, 2014 at 11:49 am

    squeeze by all means squeeze

  52. Mary W
    Mary W on August 7, 2014 at 8:46 am

    Squeezies are a big hit at our house! Thanks Delmonte!

  54. Elle
    Elle on August 7, 2014 at 12:07 pm

    We definitely prefer to spoon!

  56. tammy shelton
    tammy shelton on August 7, 2014 at 1:36 pm

    My grandkids prefer to squeeze.

  58. Jessie C.
    Jessie C. on August 7, 2014 at 8:45 pm

    We prefer to spoon.
    tcarolinep at gmail dot com

  59. Jessie C.
    Jessie C. on August 7, 2014 at 8:45 pm

    -https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/497589152570150912

  60. Name*
    Name* on August 9, 2014 at 1:19 pm

    We prefer to squeeze.

  62. Amy P.
    Amy P. on August 10, 2014 at 8:36 am

    Squeezing is so much cleaner!

  63. Martha @ A Family Feast
    Martha @ A Family Feast on August 11, 2014 at 6:16 pm

    We WERE definitely on the same wavelength! I have to try your version Meg!

  64. Mia
    Mia on August 11, 2014 at 7:46 pm

    I prefer to squeeze.

  66. Amy
    Amy on August 15, 2014 at 1:19 pm

    Such fun vibrant lunches and the popsicles looks amazing!

    WE are all squeezers, and huggers 😉 hehe thanks for the opportunity =)

  68. Dandi D
    Dandi D on August 15, 2014 at 3:08 pm

    We prefer to spoon it in our family.

  72. Denise L
    Denise L on August 18, 2014 at 5:27 pm

    We spoon at my house!

  74. jennifer horn
    jennifer horn on August 21, 2014 at 9:37 am

    We squeeze at our house.

  76. Kimmy Ripley
    Kimmy Ripley on August 21, 2014 at 11:47 am

    My 4 year old daughter enjoys to spoon and squeeze! But if she had to choose just one way she would probably go with SQUEEZE! 🙂 I myself would have to go with spoon though.

  78. Rebecca
    Rebecca on August 22, 2014 at 4:45 pm

    My kids like the squeeze, and I like that they can use them on the go.

  79. Amy S
    Amy S on August 22, 2014 at 7:38 pm

    The squeeze ones are so convenient!

  80. Katherine
    Katherine on August 23, 2014 at 12:02 pm

    MIne love the squeeze and no spoon to worry about bringing home

  82. Dee
    Dee on August 23, 2014 at 1:52 pm

    My nieces squeeze! 🙂

  84. BusyWorkingMama
    BusyWorkingMama on August 25, 2014 at 6:50 am

    My daughter prefers to squeeze! Thanks for the opportunity to win!

  87. Shannon
    Shannon on August 28, 2014 at 11:12 am

    We do both…but squeezing is so much easier and convenient especially on the go!

  89. Tina M
    Tina M on August 29, 2014 at 3:36 am

    we like to squeeze

  91. Cindy
    Cindy on August 30, 2014 at 1:32 am

    We squeeze.

  93. Madonna
    Madonna on August 30, 2014 at 9:08 am

    I am a spooner but the grandbabies are squeezers.

  97. Rosie
    Rosie on September 1, 2014 at 12:08 pm

    Squeeze! It is the fun thing to do, and one less utensil to worry about!
    !

  98. maria cantu
    maria cantu on September 5, 2014 at 1:04 pm

    My kids prefer to squeeze.

  99. Cheryl W
    Cheryl W on September 5, 2014 at 8:05 pm

    We are a family of squeezers. Thank you so much for the opportunity to enter.

  101. Gina M
    Gina M on September 6, 2014 at 7:47 am

    My son is a squeezer!

    Thanks for the chance to win!
    wildorchid985 at gmail dot com

  102. Gina M
    Gina M on September 6, 2014 at 7:49 am

    tweet–https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/508265778094026752

  103. LAMusing
    LAMusing on September 7, 2014 at 5:29 pm

    I like to spoon 🙂

  104. Norma
    Norma on September 7, 2014 at 5:30 pm

    We spoon at our house.

  105. Barbara Montag
    Barbara Montag on September 7, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    I’m a spooner – the kids are squeezers.
    thank you

  107. sandra
    sandra on September 10, 2014 at 8:41 am

    prefer to squeeze

  108. Debbie B
    Debbie B on September 11, 2014 at 8:02 pm

    i prefer to spoon!

  110. WHITNEY
    WHITNEY on September 14, 2014 at 11:38 am

    I definitely spoon!

  112. Rebecca Graham
    Rebecca Graham on September 14, 2014 at 10:43 pm

    My choice would be to squeeze.

  113. Neiddy
    Neiddy on September 15, 2014 at 7:58 am

    I prefer to spoon but my kids like to squeeze

  114. Neiddy
    Neiddy on September 15, 2014 at 8:00 am

    tweeted -https://twitter.com/neiddy_ruiz/status/511529788268625920

  116. One Frugal Girl
    One Frugal Girl on September 16, 2014 at 3:00 pm

    My son is a squeezer!
    onefrugalgirl AT gmail DOT com

  117. Kerry
    Kerry on September 16, 2014 at 4:52 pm

    I like a spoon, but the kids prefer to squeeze.

  119. ellen beck
    ellen beck on September 17, 2014 at 3:14 pm

    They are alll squeezers here!

  121. angie
    angie on September 18, 2014 at 8:31 am

    I spoon because I can recycle the containers that way. You can’t recycle these pouches anywhere.

  123. ewhatley
    ewhatley on September 18, 2014 at 4:09 pm

    we are a squeeze household

  124. Carmen N
    Carmen N on September 18, 2014 at 8:09 pm

    My daughter would prefer to squeeze. I need to find that pineapple coconut!

  127. Betty C
    Betty C on September 19, 2014 at 9:34 am

    I prefer to spoon but the children prefer to squeeze.

  129. erica best
    erica best on September 19, 2014 at 10:14 am

    SPOON at home

  131. Alyssa
    Alyssa on September 19, 2014 at 10:39 am

    For lunches I prefer to squeeze. I lose less spoons and it is not quite as messy.

  132. Thomas Murphy
    Thomas Murphy on September 19, 2014 at 10:57 am

    I like to squeeze.

  134. Tabathia B
    Tabathia B on September 19, 2014 at 3:52 pm

    One likes to spoon and the other squeeze

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com