Baby Care

Fresh Baby Review AND Giveaway!

9:19 PM

**GIVEAWAY CLOSED**

This is my very first giveaway and I am so excited about the product that I was given to review and give away to one of my readers! Fresh Baby is a company that specializes in feeding your infants and toddlers GOOD, FRESH and HEALTHY food. It is food that can be easily prepared by you...in your own kitchen! I don't know about you, but baby food prices are going sky-high these days and it is getting harder and harder to really trust baby food companies and what they are putting into their food. This is why I am thrilled with the products I was sent from Fresh Baby! The goals and strides that Fresh Baby has made is incredible. Read for yourself...

"Fresh Baby is the inspiration of two sisters, Joan Ahlers and Cheryl Tallman, who live in rural parts of The United States, thousands of miles apart. In raising their children, they could not identify all-natural alternatives for healthy and hassle-free feeding. Drawing upon their own concerns as parents, the two women began developing products for today's busy parents and caregivers with a product line that includes: homemade baby food kits, baby food cookbooks, baby food and breast milk storage trays, breastfeeding reminders, and child development diaries. Since its inception in October 2002, Fresh Baby has leveraged the ever-increasing consumer interest in natural living and healthy eating to curb the childhood obesity epidemic plaguing the nation. Through the development of products that encourage breastfeeding and developing children's healthy eating habits, Fresh Baby is helping parents proactively respond to this healthcare crisis. Selected by Entrepreneur Magazine as a “Hot Company to watch in 2004”, Fresh Baby is a company on the move. It’s approach, expertise, and thinking has been tapped by major media outlets, including The Daily Buzz, Fit Pregnancy, Organic Style, Scholastic Parent & Child, The Boston Globe, The Detroit Free Press, and many other print, radio and TV outlets. Fresh Baby has an iParenting award and was one of five finalists in the new product awards at the 2004 Natural Products Show.
*Making fresh, natural foods easy, convenient, and fun:*Both Cheryl and Joan started out by making food for their own children and found that it was actually easy with a few simple tools. And interestingly, once they got started making baby food, it was really quite convenient. All total, it took about 30 minutes a week. The So Easy Baby Food Kit is the result of this experience and much research. The kit provides families with everything they need to create homemade meals for their babies. Just open the box and get started.
Fresh Baby puts a modern twist on the conventional wisdom that when you make it yourself, you know it’s better. From writing easy-to-follow, tasty recipes for using fresh ingredients, to recommending simple activities that build good eating habits, to answering all the questions and eliminating the guesswork, Fresh Baby has thought of it all.
*Fresh Baby Goal*
“The ultimate goal of Fresh Baby is to have our name synonymous with family-friendly healthy eating." says co-founder Cheryl Tallman. Over time, Fresh Baby will offer a complete array of products for newborn through school-aged children that support parents in developing good eating habits for their children and thereby reduce their children’s risk of obesity."
I don't know about you, but I am all about trying to prevent childhood obesity in my children. It is getting increasingly harder and harder to do that these days.
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Fresh Baby graciously sent me two products to review...the So Easy Toddler Food Cookbook, and the So Easy Baby Food Kit.
I have never made my own baby food before, so this was a totally new experience for me. Fresh Baby makes it SOOOO easy to do...and it was not a drag to do it either! My son is 15 weeks old now and won't be eating baby food for several months yet, but I decided to make some up so it would be ready for him when he is hungry for something other than milk! The So Easy Baby Food Kit comes with two, heavy-duty coverable ice cube trays, a 22 minute DVD to instruct you on HOW to make baby food, a laminated baby nutrition chart and an instructional book complete with recipes and tips for making all kinds of baby food. I definitely felt like I was properly equipped to take on this new venture!! :) I chose to make Acorn Squash, as it is in season here and can be readily found anywhere. (Oh yes...the book also tells you how to select your produce, store and ripen it and how much you need to prepare your baby food!) So...here is how you make Acorn Squash Baby Food:
Step 1: Wash, cut in half, and remove seeds with a spoon. Cut into quarters.
Step 2: Place squash and 2 Tablespoons of water in a microwave-safe dish. Add ingredients from Variations list (there is a list of different things on the page that you can add in way of spices/seasonings to complement the particular food you are preparing.), if desired. Cover with plastic wrap. Cook 10-12 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes. The squash is done when it can be pierced easily with a fork.

Step 3: Scoop out squash meat with a spoon and put into blender or food processor. Discard skins. Add 1/2 cup of water. Puree. Add additional 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water, as needed, to develop a smooth texture.

Step 4: Spoon into Fresh Baby trays. Makes 2 trays.
Step 5: Freeze 8-10 hours or overnight. Remove from trays, place in storage containers or freezer bags, and return immediately to freezer.
See what I mean? How hard does that look to do? It took me probably about 30 minutes total to make the acorn squash into baby food. AND, I feel super good about what I will be feeding my baby. The options that are given in this book are endless and really makes you feel like you are doing something good for your child.
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I then tackled the toddler cookbook...I was excited about this because the cookbook was loaded with child-friendly recipes full of nutrition.
I decided to make my 2 year old's dinner from the cookbook and chose the Macaroni with Ham and Peas dinner made with Classic Cheese Sauce. Here are the recipes on how to make those two dishes:
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Classic Cheese Sauce
2 Tbsp of butter or margerine
2 Tbsp flour
1 1/2 c. milk
1 1/2 c. cheddar cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste
Directions:
In a saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour and saute' for 2 minutes. Continue to stir and SLOWLY pour in the milk. Add the cheese. Continue to stir until melted. Add salt and pepper to taste.
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Macaroni with Ham and Peas
Classic Cheese Sauce (recipe above)
1/2 c. frozen peas (I didn't have any frozen peas so I used canned peas and carrots)
1/2 c. chopped ham
3 c. dry elbow macaroni
Directions:
Make classic cheese sauce (recipe above). Prepare the peas and the macaroni according to the package directions. Drain the macaroni and peas in a colander and rinse with water. Return the macaroni and peas to teh pan. Over low heat, add the ham and cheese sauce.Toss gently to completely coat the macaroni with sauce. Serve warm.
I think she likes it! :) YAY!
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My daughter enjoyed this dinner so much, as did I! It was super easy to make and tasted very yummy. Talk about a complete meal! I was very happy with the results.
**********
Fresh Baby has offered to give away a So Easy Baby Food Kit and Toddler Cookbook to one of my readers! So, here is how it works...

Mandatory Entry:
Visit Fresh Baby and leave a comment telling me what you would purchase and for whom you would purchase it (yourself, a friend, etc.). You do not have to be a blogger to enter, but you must leave a valid email where you can be reached should you win. Leave your email in EACH COMMENT. This giveaway will end 10/25 at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be chosen using random.org and will be notified by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond.
Extra Entries:

1. Become a follower of My Opinion. Leave a comment to let me know that you did/ do. 1 entry
2. Follow me on Twitter. Leave a comment to let me know that you did/do. 1 entry
3. Tweet about this giveaway. Leave a comment with the link. 1 tweet per day. 1 comment per day.
5. Do a post regarding this giveaway. Leave a comment with a link. 2 entries, so 2 comments.

6. Follow Fresh Baby on Twitter. 1 entry
Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a So Easy Toddler Food Cookbook and the So Easy Baby Food Kit for review purposes. All quotes are from the Fresh Baby website or email. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

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63 comments

  1. What a fun giveaway!I would love to try the So Easy Baby Trays, since my baby is 6 months. aprongirl@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am a blog follower. aprongirl@gmail.com

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  3. I follow you on twitter. aprongirl@gmail.com

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  4. I follow fresh baby on twitter. aprongirl@gmail.com

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  5. Oh my I love the breastfeedin reminder. My hubby always laughs at me because I feel my breasts to see which one is fullest because I can never remember. This would be great with a new one due in Feb.
    blessed_6@msn.com
    Susan

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh my I love the breastfeedin reminder. My hubby always laughs at me because I feel my breasts to see which one is fullest because I can never remember. This would be great with a new one due in Feb.
    blessed_6@msn.com
    Susan

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am an expectant mother and have been wanting to purchase these!!! My email is robertsh@sccoast.net

    ReplyDelete
  8. i'd get the so easy baby trays for my girl friend's baby

    hockiemack at hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. i'd get the so easy baby trays for my girl friend's baby

    hockiemack at hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I would get the Fresh Baby Food Trays those look cool!!

    frugalista04 at yahoo dot com

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  11. I would get the Fresh Baby Food Trays those look cool!!

    frugalista04 at yahoo dot com

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  12. @navy_frugalista is following you on twitter!!

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  13. @navy_frugalista is following you on twitter!!

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  14. mandatory entry: I would get some copies of the toddler cookbook as I have a lot of friends with picky toddlers right now. I also like the trays and am interested in making my food this time around with #2!

    blondredhead at mac dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. mandatory entry: I would get some copies of the toddler cookbook as I have a lot of friends with picky toddlers right now. I also like the trays and am interested in making my food this time around with #2!

    blondredhead at mac dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. followed your blog.

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  17. followed your blog.

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  18. followed you on twitter: lilmamak77

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  20. tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/LilMamaK77/status/27496468103

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  21. followed fresh baby on twitter.

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  22. followed fresh baby on twitter.

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  23. I would purchase the toddler cookbook for my sister.
    lhoward916 at gmail dot com

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  24. I would purchase the toddler cookbook for my sister.
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  25. I follow your blog on GFC
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  26. I follow your blog on GFC
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  27. I follow you on twitter
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  28. I follow you on twitter
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  29. I follow Fresh Baby on twitter
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  30. I follow Fresh Baby on twitter
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  31. daily tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/LilMamaK77/status/27542349328

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  32. daily tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/LilMamaK77/status/27755538706

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  33. I'd love to get the So Easy Baby Food Kit for my niece who just had a little girl last week. (Even though she doesn't need it quite yet. )
    rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  34. I'd love to get the So Easy Baby Food Kit for my niece who just had a little girl last week. (Even though she doesn't need it quite yet. )
    rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com

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  35. I am following as Renee G on gFC.
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  36. I am following as Renee G on gFC.
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  37. I would purchase the Baby Food Kit...for myself! :)

    lindseycrock@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  38. I would purchase the Baby Food Kit...for myself! :)

    lindseycrock@gmail.com

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  39. I follow you!

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  40. I follow you!

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  41. daily tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/LilMamaK77/status/27889185103

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  44. Great giveaway! I would get the breast feeder reminder for my niece. She is going to have her first baby on Halloween. She would be thrilled!Thanks! jacquecurl1(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  45. I am a new follower. jacquecurl1(at)gmail(dot)com

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  46. I would buy the baby food cookbook for myself to make food for my son!
    mommytrenches at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  47. I would buy the baby food cookbook for myself to make food for my son!
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  48. I follow this blog!
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  50. I follow on twitter!
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  51. I follow on twitter!
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  52. I follow Fresh Baby on Twitter!
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  53. I follow Fresh Baby on Twitter!
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  54. Tweet!
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  55. Blogged!
    http://beeluckymama.blogspot.com/2010/10/fresh-baby-giveaway-ends-1015.html
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  56. Blogged!
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  57. realitybbq*AT*gmail*DOT*com

    My friend just had a baby so I'd buy her "The So Easy Baby Food Kit".

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  58. realitybbq*AT*gmail*DOT*com

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You can leave a valid email address with each comment so I will know where to contact you if you win a giveaway...or make sure it is listed where I can easily find it! Thanks for visiting!