Written by: Sarah Hester, MS, RD

You’ve seen them lining store shelves and they are probably shoved in your child’s diaper bag right now… plastic pouches of puréed fruits, veggies and sometimes proteins or grains are a fairly recent innovation that the current generation is able to take advantage of.

Pouches can be, and are enjoyed by, all ages from children tasting their first bite of food to busy millennials on the go, to the elderly. They’re chosen for a variety of reasons like convenience, health and ease but are they actually healthy for you and your family? Read what this dietitian has to say! 

What are the benefits of eating pouched food products? 

Convenience

Pouched products are shelf- stable, portable and tasty. They are a life-saver when feeding a hungry child on the go, IYKYK. Athletes and hikers often use them as a quick, easy way to power their movement and they can be a good source of nutrition for those with limited mobility or ability to cook for themselves.

Taste 

Pouches go beyond applesauce, but most often we see shelves stocked with pouches that have a fruit purée as the base like apple, mango and bananas due to their high acceptability with kids. Not only are fruits sweeter but they often mask purées from veggies that may be combined like purée from sweetpotatoes, carrots or squashes. 

Health

You can find pouch products containing fruits, veggies, dairy, animal proteins and grains - all things we encourage eating at The Millennial Nutritionist! We recommend our clients eat a variety of foods in a variety of forms, not only in purée form but whole as fresh, canned and/or frozen. Eating a variety of foods and forms can work to prevent malnutrition. There has been research to show that some nutrients found in foods are better absorbed when they are processed (like in purées) or cooked so eating pouch products can be nourishing alongside a diet that incorporates other forms of foods as well.

So, what does a dietitian think of pouched food products? 

I think pouches can be a great source of accessible nutrition for all age groups! The benefits stated above cannot be refuted. 

One main argument against these products is the lack of texture they provide and their ability to be relied upon too heavily. Children (and adults!) need to experience eating different textures of foods, so the consistency of puree is not suitable for everyone in large amounts. There are many children that enjoy pouch products but have developed healthy eating habits and can accept whole foods just fine; the issue arises only if the pouch products displace the nutrition coming from other foods. 

Since most pouch products are a combination of just fruits and veggies, they are most likely lacking in the macronutrient protein. As we know, protein is key in not only helping us lose weight by helping preserve our lean body mass but also helps keep us satisfied between meals or snacks, a must for both children and adults! I’d recommend either choosing products that contain a protein source or pair the product with a protein source like a cheese stick or beef jerky. You find some pouch products that contain protein from dairy and animal proteins below, both are great options for children and adults. Below are some ideas on incorporating pouch products into a healthy diet.

Happy eating!