We are on the go A LOT around here. And we haven’t even started the typical “chaos” of school-aged kids, sports, etc. etc. Granted, our travels are usually to get outside (currently go skiing or snowshoeing, etc.) but we are busy all the same. Our car is our “badge of snack honor” – it’s full of the remnants of eating kids. And, try as we might, we can’t get away from that. The (big) grocery store is an hour and a half a way, and kids get hungry. All the time. Therefore, we are constantly on the lookout for good, healthy snacks. And, the less the mess and waste, the better they are.
Additionally, we love the pouch snacks. We don’t love the fact that we cumulate massive amounts of trash from them (though some companies will recycle your pouches for you using Terracycle). Long story short, I was psyched when I discovered Squooshi and only hoped they were as good as they sounded.
The Squooshi pouches are filled from the bottom, sealed (like a Ziploc bag) and used like any other snack pouch. However, the great thing is that they can be cleaned in the dishwasher (or by hand…) and then reused! You choose the filling, whether you freeze them or eat them right away, and they aren’t just for kids.
Filling them up with a green smoothie mix
What we love about them:
- Super easy to use and clean
- Fill them with whatever you want (and then know exactly what you are eating/feeding your kids)
- Fun animal shapes for kids
- Don’t leak and are super strong in general
- Keeps the trash pile down!
Lion Squooshi
Rinsing out with warm water is usually enough! Easy cleaning!
What we wish was different:
- Would love to see some plain designs for older kids or adults who think the animals are too cutesy
Graphic from Squooshi.com
From the source – An Interview with Shannon
I love hearing stories of how things are invented, how businesses begin and where people are going now. Check out this interview from inventor, Shannon. She has some recipe suggestions, talks about how it all got started and is all about working with family.
1. First of all, I am SO glad that I wasn’t the only parent always wishing there was a way to fill up my own pouches with what I wanted and reuse them time and time again. Please tell me how Squooshi was started
When Reid was about 14 months old, I ran into a neighbor whose son was eating a store bought pouch. She called it “astronaut food”. I was intrigued and went up to the local health food store which was one of the only places that carried them at the time. (Imagine! Now Starbucks has them!) I bought some and Reid LOVED them. It was so fun for him to hold and squeeze them. He learned how to roll up the bottom and get out every last drop. But I felt bad buying these while I was constantly making my own food and green smoothies at home. I would much prefer to give him fresh food. The waste of the store bought pouches is incredible as well. Over 6 billion single use food pouches end up in landfills every year! I was also spending about 40-50$ a month on these!
One day I just had the idea…I should make a reusable version of these! I began to brainstorm with my dad Noel, who has a background in manufacturing, and together we created Squooshi – reusable food pouches designed for healthy fun, convenience, and less waste.
2. Finding healthy snacks for kids and families on the go can be really tough. Our society is inundated with prepackaged, full-of-preservative STUFF. Can you tell me what are your favorite (or Reid’s favorite) recipes in the Squooshi?
It really changes as he changes as he changes. Right now he likes yogurt blends, so I will throw some Greek yogurt with a banana, spinach and berries together in my blender and whip that up. He also loves applesauce with spinach and a bit of cinnamon.
3. Lots of moms are busy, busy, busy (as I am sure you are also.) Do you make a batch of a puree and then fill pouches and freeze them or are you making purees every day? Do you have any tips for making the process easier?
I do both actually. I will spend an hour or so making a batch for the freezer the week. I will choose something I know freezes well and I can use in two different blends.
An example:
Carrot-Applesauce & Apple, Pear, Spinach
You can quickly peel and chop apples, pears and carrots. Then put them in a steamer insert in separate piles. Steam the spinach for a second in another pan. When they are all finished you just need to separate out what you need for each blend and puree. Pour or spoon into your Squooshi and freeze.
You have used a cutting board, peeler, knife, two pans and your blender and you can have snacks on the go for a week!
I personally drink green smoothies almost everyday so it is very easy for me to make my smoothie and then add some yogurt or something to Reid’s Squooshi for his lunchbox.
4. Squooshi comes in two sizes – what sizes do you think are best for what ages (approximently, of course) of kids?
We created the smalls (2.5oz) for early eaters. These really can replace freezer cubes or ice cube trays. Moms with young babies can just put their food directly in the pouches and grab and go. No more bowls, spoons or jars!
They are perfect for small hands up to 2 years. We love that with Squooshi pouches you can freeze, store and serve all from the same container!
The larges (4.5oz) are for kids of all ages. They can be used for kids age 2 and up. We even have 13 year olds using the pouches now! Oh, and moms and dads too.
5. For someone looking to buy some Squooshi – how many would you recommend for a family (say of two children.)
I would recommend starting with an Assorted 8 pack and see how it goes.
6. So….are these still “cool” for kids going to school???
Absolutely! I think this type of squeeze food packaging is “cool” in itself. Kids of all ages are absolutely loving our characters!
7. Anything else you would like to tell me about you, the company or the products? I love any unique stories that help readers relate!
I think it’s pretty neat that my dad and I did this together. For as long as I can remember I have been pitching him ideas on “inventions” (I won’t tell you what they are because I still think many of them are fantastic ideas!)
Squooshi was the first idea he really thought clicked, so we did it. We live on separate coasts so it has allowed us see each other more than ever and we talk all the time. Reid may not have seen him as often and now he calls him Mr. Gramps and just adores him. So just that aspect of Squooshi is very special to me.
Our goal was to create a well designed, high quality product that would be helpful to parents, fun for kids, and better for our environment. Reid is almost 4 years old now and we began this journey when he was 14 months old. We launched Squooshi in October 2012. This means we researched, designed, developed, tested and tested and tested Squooshi for about 2.5 years! It has been a true labor of love, and still is, but we are very proud of Squooshi and feel we met our goal thus far.
Win some!
You have a chance to win an Assorted 8 Pack of Squooshi (definitely enough to get you started!) As usual, please use the Rafflecopter Widgets below to enter to win. Sorry, this giveaway open to the US and Canada only. Winners will be emailed and announced on this post in the Rafflecopter Widgets. Have questions? Please don’t hesitate to contact me at mountainmamatales(at)gmail(dot)com so I can help! Good luck!
Squooshi generously provided us these pouches in order to facilitate these reviews. However, as always, the opinions expressed here are completely and honestly our own. You can find my full disclosure here. Some photos taken from the Squooshi site.
© 2013, Tales of a Mountain Mama. All rights reserved. Republication, in part or entirety, requires a link back to this original post and permission from the author.
my kids would love to take homemade apple sauce in one of these with their lunches.
These are a great idea!
We are taking our soon who will be 9 months old on a trip to Honduras this year and will need an easy way to feed on the go! This it’s perfect!
Fantastic idea! So compact for bags!
We have personally used the store bought pouches for a couple years now and they do work great. Especially when you are out and about and need a quick snack, however it does get expensive.
I love this idea! The disposable ones are must-haves on climbing trips, and I’d love to be able to make my own and re-use them!
My son has a tremendous list of food allergies so I make almost all of his food from scratch. Would be nice to have a large arsenal of these bad boys so that I could take one of the smoothies I make with us on day trips!
I would love to win these for my niece who is about to start eating baby food.
We need these for our outdoor hikes – the 3yo drinks his greens in the sled and the 9mo has food allergies so we make most everything. Curious about when I loose the lids? (cuz we will!) replacements?
I am seriously going to order some of these! Thanks for the opportunity!
That looks like a fun way to carry snacks!
I would love to win these. i’m a busy mom of four, homeschooling and on the go a lot. We also have food allergies, so we need to plan and pack snacks a lot.
I have the assortment 4 pack and they’re our absolute favorite! I’d love to win your 8 pack so I’d have a full stockpile going at all times – some in the freezer, some in the fridge. Thanks for the great review and giveaway!
Brilliant! I’ve never bought the snack pouches from the store because they are SO expensive. I’m sure these would come in nice and handy especially this summer with a toddler!
I have been wanting to try these! My son is addicted to the apple-sauce pouches, and I can see how easy it would be to sneak carrots or spinach into the delicious fruit this way.
i would love to wn bc my son loves the food pouches but i hate the waste!
I would love to win these for my son he loves to eat apple sauce out of these types of packets ..but reusable ones would be so awesome.
My friend introduced me to these and I love them!
I love the idea of not spending so much on those one serving squeeze bags at the store. My Grandson will eat anything if I puree it so these will be great for him.
We love the disposable kind so I know my kids (and me) would love these! I keep thinking about the possibilities!!!
These would be great for my baby when we go out – I love puree pouches, but I much prefer the idea of reusable, eco-friendly, homemade-food friendly pouches than storebought!
Awesome giveaway! We just started using pouches- our little guy LOVES them. I think they make him feel like a Big Boy!
Love blending juices and fruits these would be great for that.
Such a great idea for healthy snacks on the go! love it!
I love this idea! After his tonsil surgery, my son lived off those puree pouches. I wish we had these for him! But what a great idea for my kids lunches!
Love these so much!!! Would love the chance to win some!!!!
I have some and I love these! I need some for grandma’s house and the sitter. Perfect for both of my kids(age 1 and 3)!
Love Squooshi! And so does the tot! An easy way to feed liquids
I think they’d be great for long drives, camping, etc., and think that the larger size would be easier but, then again, the smaller would be portion control. Apple/pear, carrot, a little bit of kale/spinach…and we’re off!
Would love to win these so I don’t have to spend as much money. In general I try NOT to use the throw away pouches because I feel guilt spending money. It would also be nice to have less garbage.
Great idea. Saves a bunch of wasted plastic and they are made by a family business.
We love going to do U-Pick fruits & veggies, but storing what we get is a hassle. These would be great and fun for the kids.
So excited to see these. I would use these to cut down on all the processed foods and higher sugar content. These would be great for all my kids (10, 8, 22 moths)!
My kids love the pouches. They are great for on the go but not at all cost-effective. I have a toddler as well as an 11 and 9 year old. These would also be a great way to sneak in veggies from the garden.
lol it’s about time someone made these! I would LOVE to pack some of my homemade applesauce and pearsauce on the go!
Thanks for the give-away!!
These are genius! We love everything and anything reusable in our house. Would love to win these for my on-the-go-snackin’-boys!
My daughter LOVES squeezie pouches.. even though we always buy organic, I’d rather have more control over what she eats and be more enviro-friendly. Thanks for the giveaway!
I have been wanting these for my little man ever since they came out! Now that he’s one and too busy running around everywhere to take time to stop and eat, I think these would be a great addition to our stash!
Thanks for sharing! I am so glad to hear they are easy to clean!!!
Ever since I first saw squeezy food pouches for sale in the grocers, I’ve always thought – “i wish someone would sell a reusable pouch” and now they have!! Hurray! My daughter is newly 3 and still loves to have mashed mush fruit. It would be a great product to take hiking to feed my 6 month old son too! No spoon needed is my favorite part!
Love these! I make my own baby food but as my son gets a bit older I find we are out and about more. I have been buying the organic baby food pouches as a grab and go meal but I always feel guilty! Thanks for such a great product!!
We are always on the go, as well, so these would be super handy. I am very picky about what my little man eats and this allows for a lot more control, cuz I’m a control freak!
I love squooshi!!! I would love to win some for my daughter!
These are great for in the car eating!
My son LOVES fruit, but not so keen on the veggies all the time. Would love these so I can sneak in green stuff with the fruit, and wouldn’t have to pay for the store-bought stuff!
Great idea!
My girls would love these filled with homemade applesauce.
Who wouldn’t want to eat out of something that looks that cool!
My kids love the snack pouches but they can be pretty expensive. I can sneak my homemade food in and my 4 year old wouldn’t know the difference!
My little man LOVES to suck on these things, and a reusable one would just be the ticket!
My 2.5 year old son and little girl (due in May) will love these and I will love giving them healthy, homemade food even on the go!
I would so LOVE these!
Very eco-friendly! Love the concept!
I love the convenience of these. We already make our own baby food but this would make traveling with it so much easier. Plus the older kiddos could use them for our homemade yogurt, smoothies, etc
I just bought 3 of a different brand of the reusable squeeze pouches and they have work really well for us, but I would love to have some more!
What a great idea!
What a great idea! My girls love the single-use pouches and I love the convenience of them when we are on the go, but hate so much packaging waste! Being able to sneak in more veggies with the fruit purées would be awesome! The girls would love to help create the fillings themselves and feel empowered about making their own snacks.