Gerber Graduates microwave meals

ShanJosh777

Does anyone use these?  They seem like something simple to send to the babysitter for DS for lunch.  Otherwise she will feed him whatever they have for lunch (it's an in-home with just one other child) and I would pay some nominal amount for food.  But I feel like with the little meals at least I know he is getting meat and veggie each meal.  How bad are they?  I know the sodium seems a little ridiculous. 

BabyMenzel

ds refused to eat them. every.single.time i tried to give them to him

momtoRaegan041008

I have used them a couple of times, when we are in a bind and our dinner isn't ready, or if we are goint go be at someone else's house and not sure what time we are eating.  I have never looked at the nutrition label, so I cannot answer that.  Just make sure you get the one's for Toddlers, not Preschoolers.  I picked one up by mistake and the chunks are much larger.  We also buy the Beechnut brand.  The only make 2 kinds, but she likes both of them.  I think they are a little expensive to use everyday, but that is just me. 

SeaBreeze11

I keep them on hand for emergencies (get home to late to cook) or if we are visiting family/freinds.  My DD loves them! 

Aimathy

I thought the sodium was high too....but I bought a few as emergency back-up meals for when we're out and not eating soon enough etc.  I tried one out for lunch one day for DD to see how she liked them and she HATED it!   Darn.      I tried a chicken one and a pasta meal and both times I tried, she would not eat it (and she eats a TON of table food).  Oh well, at least she made the decision easy for me!

food_chick

We use them 1-2 times/week.  I have tried the ones in the can; ds loves both of the mac and cheese ones and he likes the raviolis.  We tried the ravioli in the tray the other day and he really liked that too.  Just a side note, ds loves the mac and cheese recipe in the back of the WTETFY book.  Unless you can find them on sale (I recently saw the cans for $1 each) I also find them kind of pricey for everyday.  But I guess it would depend on what your daycare would be charging for food.

*Scuzzlebutt*

We use them once in a while for all the reasons stated in this thread already.  The sodium concerns me, but I think that as long as you don't feed them to your kid every day, it's fine.  The only one DD likes is the chicken & mashed potatoes with carrots...she won't touch any of the other ones! 

june05iris

BabyMenzel:

ds refused to eat them. every.single.time i tried to give them to him

 

this.  my DD wasnt having any of it.  

BlueBelle2004

I give them to DD occasionally if we are out of town and need a quick dinner for her. She likes the ones in marinara sauce the best, but has eaten all of the ones I've offered to her. She isn't a "picky" eater though, and eats pretty much anything I give her. I'm sure the sodium content isn't great, but as she doesn't eat them that often, I don't worry about it. If I were you though, I'd just ask the DC provider to let you know what she ate for lunch while she's there, and then plan your meals to make up for any nutrients that may be lacking.

weebaby

we use them when we dont have anything else or when we are at someones house.

n&bcarlson

They really don't look at all healthy to me so I've never bought them.  Maybe for an emergency.  But I would just ask the sitter what she normally makes for lunch, and if it sounds like her meals need more fruit or veggies, ask her nicely to add some in.  With just one other kid, she's probably flexible, and I bet her homemade lunches are way better that these packaged meals, unless you have some reason to believe that she only serves junk food. 

lmdbww

DD also refused to eat them.

Meeshe

We've used the Beech-Nut tummy trays.  They have about 1/2 the sodium of the Gerber tray meals.  Alsol, up until recentlly my DD was dairy free and they had several that were dairy-free.  Gerber had none.  My DD likes them.  We used to have them at daycare for when she couldn't have the meal (due to the dairy).