I spent 2 years searching for better-for-you kids’ food brands — these 3 passed my test

When you were one of the babies who graduated from Gerber jars to Lunchables, learning about hidden ingredients may feel like a bit of a learning curve.

Personally speaking, I was reasonably shocked when I started looking back on some of the popular kids’ food brands from my childhood. Now that I’ve turned into a bit of a wellness fanatic and have my own toddler to worry about, I’ve also become more wary of what’s in her food. I guess that explains how I started researching kind-friendly, healthy food brands.

A few things remain true: cooking from scratch is a great way to control the ingredients and avoid hidden ingredients. But for many working parents, there’s not always time in the day to serve à la carte. Admittedly, it’s tempting and usually cheaper to buy from those big-name brands with catchy packaging.

But after I started spiraling down the rabbit hole, I found that many of these companies cut corners with hidden ingredients like fillers, artificial colors and flavor enhancers designed to hook kids. There were the usual suspects like margarine and sugar alcohols, but also deeper concerns, like synthetic dyes, aspartame, benzoic acid and even “mechanically separated meat.”

The reality is that many of these additives are more than fluff. Some hidden ingredients have serious health consequences. Artificial dyes have been tied to hyperactivity, while excessive sugars have been linked to obesity. Even common preservatives like BHT and BHA are potential hormone disruptors.

Hence, the time came for me to start searching for better-for-you kids’ brands. Over the last two years, since my daughter started solids, I’ve spent hours (and maybe even days) researching and testing out some of the best companies making baby and kids’ food with my picky toddler. It’s been a journey.

Now that we’ve sailed into the new year, it feels like even more families are looking to create healthier habits and opt for higher-quality food options. In my own quest, I’ve discovered three standout companies that lead with wholesome ingredients: Little Spoon, Cerebelly and Once Upon a Farm.

Not only do these brands skip the hidden fillers, but they also meet my daughter exactly where she’s at in her development. Not to mention, they provide convenient, ready-made meals and snack options that save me time and energy preparing and cleaning up.

Best Healthy Food for Kids Overall: Little Spoon

Little Spoon

Early in my search for the best better-for-you kids’ food brands, I was introduced to Little Spoon. A few of my mom friends swore it was the “crème de la crème” of baby food, and I’d already seen the ads of perfectly presented blue plates pop up all over my social media.

Naturally, I was curious if these snacks and meals were really as good as they looked, and free of all those sneaky, hidden ingredients that parents work hard to avoid.

Off that bat, I was impressed with the company’s nutritional standards. For its baby products, Little Spoon was the first baby and toddler food brand in the U.S to adopt EU standards, testing over 500 toxins and contaminants, including heavy metals and pesticides.

Little Spoon works with expert pediatric dietitians to craft food for every stage, from organic BabyBlends for the littlest eaters to Biteables for when they’re ready to transition to finger foods, as well as convenient Smoothies and YoGos to bring anywhere. They’re not just palatable and easy to serve, but also designed to meet your childs’ nutritional needs exactly where they are.

The brand is proudly “junk free,” offering a list of over 100 common grocery store ingredients that they do not use — additives like high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners and coloring agents. It’s also reassuring that many of their options are organic, non-GMO and Clean-Label Project-Certified.

In my book, one green light is a tight ingredient list, and Little Spoon delivers. Many Little Spoon snacks combine no more than six or seven simple ingredients at a time. It’s also easy to filter for dietary needs and see exactly what kind of nutrition your child is getting with each meal.

Every ingredient is pronounceable, and intentional — and as a parent, that provides me with enough peace of mind to know that my daughter is getting what she needs as she grows. The fact that it’s delivered straight to my door in beautiful, BPA-free packaging is simply a wonderful bonus.

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Best with High Fiber Foods for Kids: Once Upon a Farm

Once Upon a Farm

Farm-fresh flavors are hard to get your hands on, but Once Upon a Farm wants to change that. The next-generation childhood nutrition company was co-founded by Jennifer Garner, and much of the inspiration behind it’s recipies come from Garner’s century-old family farm in Locust Grove, Oklahoma.

All of Once Upon a Farm’s items are organic, have no added sugars and are Clean Label Project-Certified. The brand works alongside trusted organic farms to carefully source over 115 diverse ingredients. From there, each product is cold-pressure protected or freshly frozen to preserve the flavor and nutritional benefits. The menu also rotates seasonally to capture the best of what’s growing.

The O’Farm standards meet U.S. regulations and are guided by rigorous EU testing, measuring over 400 environmental and industrial toxins, including heavy metals. Many of these ingredients are coming from farms that are certified by the Equitable Food Initiative, assuring they meet the highest standards for fresh produce.

Once Upon a Farm has plenty to choose from. The grab-and-go Oat Bars, Pouches and Pantry Snacks are all popular options, as well as plant-rich Frozen Meals and organic Meal Starters. The variety is colorful and the shapes are slightly imperfect — like real food — not processed. It’s simple to get stage-based recommendations and filter for dietary needs and key ingredients, too.

For any parents who prioritize freshness, Once Upon Farm is an impressive option. The company has not only taken out additives and artificial ingredients, but it’s also incorporating farm-fresh ingredients that look and taste like real food — you might even end up stealing some off your kids’ plates.

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Best with Iron Rich Foods for Kids Cerebelly

Miska Salemann

Developing brains need extra support. Beyond standard nutrition, Cerebelly focuses on neuroscience, enlisting the help of neurobiologists and neurosurgeons to create pouches that are packed with brain-supporting nutrients — ingredients include Vitamin E, Zinc, Iron and DHA Algal Oil.

The brand was founded by a mom who earned her PhD in Developmental Neurobiology at Stanford. She saw a major gap in store-bought baby food options: she couldn’t find anything that met basic quality and nutrient requirements. Cerebelly’s offerings are based on her research that revealed 16 essential nutrients were critical for optimal brain development.

While the company hasn’t expanded into the ready-to-eat meal category, it does offer a wide selection of snacks and pouches, including the best-selling Veggie Purees and Bone Broth Purees, which also offer 6 grams of protein sourced from organic, free-range bone broth. The Smart Bars and dairy-free smoothies are also packed with a blend of brain-supporting ingredients.

Cerebelly products are all free of added sugars, USDA-certified organic, and they also meet Clean Label Project standards. The brand was inspired by California Proposition 65 and the European Union’s stringent standards to test every batch for heavy metals. Their team also carefully chooses farms where the soil is naturally low in heavy metals.

Despite the somewhat limited menu variety, it’s still easy to build curated Cerebelly bundles for your child. As a mom, I appreciate the fact that the site offers a short quiz where it will show you the best options curated to your child’s developmental stage and milestones. This process takes out the guesswork.

Cerebelly might not be a complete meal delivery service yet, but it’s a great option if you’re focused on targeted health benefits — and your child is open to trying different flavor options (the carrot beef broth and sweet potato mango puree have been surprising hits in my house).

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Which better-for-you kids’ food brand is the best?

Each of these options offers high-quality kids’ food with strict standards, but they have their own strengths and weaknesses.

Little Spoon provides the widest variety of snacks and meals to cover parents’ needs and relieve mealtime preparation stress. They also excel at incorporating hidden veggies into clean, tasty and kid-friendly portions. With a customizable subscription service and strict testing standards, Little Spoon may be the best option for busy families that are looking to steer clear of hidden ingredients.

Cerebelly offers convenient snacks and pouches that focus specifically on brain development, which could be a major draw for parents seeking targeted health benefits. Meanwhile, Once Upon a Farm features a great range of organic options centered on minimal processing and freshness, designed to deliver a farm-fresh taste.

How We Tested

Since my daughter started solids, I’ve spent two years researching and vetting the best baby and kids’ food brands, evaluating each company based on a number of parameters: ingredient and nutrition quality, packaging and delivery, menu variety, as well as safety and testing standards.

Miska Salemann

• Ingredients and Nutrition: While vetting the best baby and kids’ food brands, I considered the brands’ nutritional standards as well as the quality and variety of ingredients. I checked for common fillers like artificial sweeteners, dyes and preservatives and considered whether brands used organic and non-GMO ingredients. I also filtered through different menu options to search for options that meet certain nutritional needs, such as protein, dairy and fiber.
• Packaging and Delivery: Beyond ingredients, I scrutinized the packaging. I looked for brands that prioritize safety by using eco-friendly, BPA, BPS and phthalate-free materials. I also factored in the logistics, evaluating each company’s delivery speed and shipping costs. I checked for safety seals and ensured that temperature-sensitive items arrived properly chilled. While testing with my daughter, I also evaluated the ergonomics of the packaging — observing how easily she could navigate the pouches, plates and dispensers herself.
• Variety: Each brand has its own menu options and variety; I searched for companies that offered snacks and meals geared towards different ages and stage-based feeding. I also checked for flavor variety, considering that each child has their own taste preferences. Finally, I made note of how easy it was to filter for different dietary needs and common allergens, including sugar-free, nut-free, dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan options.
• Safety and Testing: To guarantee food safety, I conducted a rigorous audit of each brand’s safety protocols, specifically screening for hidden fillers and prohibited substances. My evaluation prioritized brands that utilize independent third-party testing and hold prestigious certifications, such as Clean Label Project verification or USDA 100% Organic status.

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Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

This article was written by Miska Salemann, New York Post Commerce Journalist. As a Gen Z first-time mother of one, Miska tests baby, maternity and postpartum products ranging from stylish new kids clothes to long-trusted diaper brands with her daughter. She evaluates baby- and mom-approved products for practicality and quality, and consults medical and parenting experts to weigh in on safe ingredients, usage and more. Before arriving at the Post, she covered the lifestyle and consumer verticals for the U.S. Sun.

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