Applesauce that's fun and healthy to boot

Remember a while back when I bemoaned the presence of HFCS in applesauce? Well, a company that is getting into the applesauce business read that post too and were kind enough to send me a couple of samples of their new HFCS-free applesauce! Luvli Foods, Inc. is introducing a new applesauce product called Smashies next month. As they describe it, Smashies is "applesauce in a handy squeeze pouch: no mess, no fuss, all fun."


We are not a big applesauce family. My 5 yr old son would eat it when a mere baby but won't touch it anymore. My 2 yr old daughter wouldn't even eat it as a baby, though I suspect that she might have liked it once she got over the texture. So when we got our samples, I was intrigued. The applesauce comes in a kid-friendly, colorful pouch with a place to suck out the applesauce at the top. The final verdict of my kids? My son wouldn't try it - even with the nice pouch. My daughter, on the other hand, thought it was great! She slurped up the whole thing. She would take a slurp, smile, and look at me and say, "Drink, Mama!" Success! While she won't have anything to do with applesauce in a tub, the novelty of the Smashies was enough to win her over. (Unfortunately, in her excitement to eat/drink the second Smashies today, she grabbed it out of my hand and squeezed the pouch hard enough to squirt applesauce up her nose. After that, she would have nothing more to do with it. Sigh.) I tried a bit myself. It tastes like, well, applesauce, though it has a finer texture than the applesauce in the little tubs.

I would have no problem recommending this product - especially if you have applesauce loving kids. The pouch is handy and though messes can still be made, no utensils are needed and an older kid can easily handle the pouch without spilling a drop. It would be a great snack to throw in a lunch box, diaper bag, or purse. The applesauce ingredients are simple: organic apple puree, natural flavor, and ascorbic acid (vitamin C). The applesauce is USDA organic, kosher, vegetarian, and gluten free.

Smashies won't be in stores until October, but if you really have a hankering to try them, you can order samples from their site now. The line is starting with plain apple flavor (called Snappy Apple) with more fun flavors to come beginning early next year.