This year I went back to work part time. With a 1 and 3 year old, and trying to work, chase the kids around and work on this site, I’ve found myself relying more and more on convenience food for toddlers. We are often out of the house for most of the day, so having meals that are quick and easy to throw in a lunch box makes life a lot easier.
One of our most purchased items have been the squeezie pouch packs, which are so handy to quickly throw in a lunch box when you’re heading out the door. While I’m careful to only buy the healthy choices in these ranges, I’ve recently added up the cost of these and it’s crazy! I’ve also been guilty of buying lunch for them when we’re out, as I’ve been too unorganized to prepare lunch before we leave.
When working out our family budget recently I’ve realised how much we are spending each week on unnecessary convenience purchases for our toddlers. The average price of a squeezie packet of food is around $1.80, which doesn’t seem like much on its own, but when you use 2 -3 a day, this quickly adds up. Add on a store bought sandwich (our local indoor play centre charges $4 for a ham & cheese kids sandwich) , and you’re easily spending around $8 a day ($56 a week!) … and that’s with only 1 child!
This week I decided to get organized and start saving! To help with this, I started using the reusable pouches from Sinchies. Sinchies kindly provided me with a lunch box kit to review for this post (as shown below).
The first things to go were those store bought squeezie pouches of yoghurt, fruit, and meat & vegetable combinations. A quick calculation showed that I was paying an average of $16.50 a Kilo for these items. $16.50! The yoghurt pouches were even worse, with one brand charging $22 a Kilo – and they’re all packed with sugar, even the one ‘especially for babies and toddlers’.
The main ingredient in most of the fruit and meal pouches is apple and/or pear or cheap vegetables like potatoes and carrots. I don’t pay more than $3 a Kilo for any of these, which means I’m paying a mark up of at least 500%. A 1 Kilo tub of Plain Greek Yoghurt (sugar free) is $5 from the store, yet those little pouches are costing me $22 a Kilo!
What I made using Sinchies
Making the Sinchie pouches was easy and took me less than an hour to make at least 2 week’s worth (you can freeze any extra that you make). I made my combinations by buying fruit and vegetables that were cheap and in season, however if you need inspiration there are some great recipe ideas on the Sinchie’s website.
Home Made Yoghurt Sinchies
Using plain (sugar free) greek yoghurt, fresh strawberries and frozen mango I was able to make flavoured yoghurts for approximately 60c for an 80ml packet (slightly larger than the store bought packets). I saved 95c a packet.
1 x 70ml Pauls Squeezie Strawberry Kids Yoghurt = $1.50
1 x 80ml Sinchies Home Made Strawberry Yoghurt = 55c
Home Made Fruit Sinchies
For these I used a base of apple and pear, and varied the flavours by adding a mix of strawberries, peaches, raspberries and mango. Buying seasonal produce and using frozen fruit helps to keep the costs down. These cost me around 30c for a large serving. I saved $1.59 a packet.
1 x 120g Baby Macro Apple, Mango & Pear = $1.89
1 x 120g Sinchies Home Made Apple, Mango & Pear= 30c
Home Made Meat & Vegetable Sinchies
All of the commercial meat and vegetable toddler food that I sampled had no more than 10% meat. I made a variety of flavours using carrots, sweet potato and pumpkin, and adding chicken, beef and lamb. These also came to less than 30c for a large serving, saving around $1.59 a packet.
1 x 120g Baby Macro Lamb & Sweet Potato = $1.89
1 x Sinchies 120g Home Made Lamb & Sweet Potato = 30c
With only 1 hour of my time, I now have a freezer full of snacks for my daughters that will last about 2 weeks. The starter pack I received also included some reusable sandwich and snack bags which has encouraged me to pack a sandwich for the girls each day, and throw in some cut up fruit for a snack. I have already saved over $40 in my first week of using Sinchies, which means that the $35 price of the Starter Kit more than pays for itself. I also know that my girls are eating a healthy, nutritious lunch.
If you would like to start making your own food pouches (and start saving a fortune!) you can purchase starter packs direct from Sinchies, or you can find your local stockist here.
We are also giving you the opportunity to WIN 1 of 2 Starter Kits from Sinchies valued at $70 each. Fill in your details below. Australian residents only. Ends 11.59 March 19, 2017
Enter below!
Victoria says
We love our sinchies!
Carol says
Me too!
Ellen-Marie Lloyd says
Thanks for a great post. I never take the time to sit down and do the maths on how much I am spending on baby food. Such a easy thing to do yourself, especially with sinchies. Hope I win and start of solids for my 5 month old on the right track!!
Carol says
Thanks Ellen – it does end up being expensive!
Heather Hopley says
A fabulous idea. Thank you
sapna says
i would love to pack homemade yogurt flavoured with pureed fruit in sinchies …
Carol says
Yum! Good luck with the competition
Lucy says
i’ve been wanting to try these! Thanks for the opportunity.
Carol says
Good luck 🙂
Kirsten W says
Potatoes. From mashing them down to dicing them to good old bubble and squeak. Perfect for Sinchies.
Rosemarie De Bari says
I’d love to make raspberry, vanilla and white chocolate swirl greek yoghurt for my daughters, one of their favourite flavours!
Carol says
Wow that sounds yum! Thanks for sharing and good luck 🙂
Neil says
What a great way to save some dollars and excess waste!
April says
My baby girl loves homemade smoothies! Frozen mango, berries, banana, yoghurt and milk (and some sneaky spinach!).
Carol says
I love that you can be sneaky with the veg! Good luck with the giveaway!
abbytwinn@gmail.com says
I would love to try making the yoghurt – would save me a fortune!
Abby L says
Hi – please could you hide my email address before publishing?
Carol says
Hi Abby, Your email address will not show up on the site. It’s only for us to contact you if you win.
Carol says
It’s so cheap and my kids love it. Good luck with the competition 🙂
Sacha Pech says
What a fabulous idea! I will definately be looking for these in the shops. I’m always looking for ways to save money.
Carol says
They’re great! Check their website for stockists.
Kelly Sammut says
I would make things to freeze – mainly fruit flavoured yoghurt and fruit smoothies. For when we have to rush out and I know I’ll need some morning tea.
Carol says
These are always popular with my girls – quick and easy too. Thanks for sharing and good luck 🙂
Rebecca says
My girls love our homemade Greek yoghurt with lemon curd mixed through.
Carol says
That’s an interesting combination – I’ll have to try it!
Russell says
Sinchies are the best thing since sliced bread 😀
Tamara Lamb says
Vanilla yogurt. My son’s favourite!
lynsey says
great product 🙂
Sara @ Handy Herbs says
Fab idea – and what is not to like? Saving money, healthy and not too time consuming! Thanks for sharing and hosting #ToddlerApprovedFriday
Mikaela C says
Roast potato and pumpkin mash, my babies favourite!
Trish W says
Yoghurt and Mango – yummy especially in summer!
Carol says
Yum – one of my favourites!
Leanne white says
I will be making absolutely anything and everything that my little one eats!
Christina says
Looks amazing and so useful!
Judith Senese says
Flavoured Yoghurt, with fresh fruit and Greek yoghurt. So simple, but a great money saver and one all of my sons will love.
cheryl says
apricot chicken
Kate H says
I need to get me some of these. They look great for when you are on the go.
Carol says
They’re really handy!
Kate H says
Vegetarian lasagne with spinach and ricotta.
christine morris says
A great Idea, this perfect for my Granddaughter, my daughter-inlaw would love these sinchies, she purees all my granddaughters foods and she would be happy to save money with these products 🙂
Carol says
Thanks for entering Christine – good luck!
Kelly Ryan says
Porridge with berries
Tina says
Love these! Super practical. And the great thing about making our own baby’s food is we know exactly what’s in it.
Adele Smith says
Such a brilliant and economic idea! Something to help out the budget and put your mind at ease, knowing what’s in the food your baby is consuming.
Melanie says
We have been pureeing and freezing our own baby food for age. Would be so much more convenient in these than the containers I am using at the moment.
sapna says
custard with honey would be perfect..
Michelle V says
Natural yoghurt with a drizzle of manuka honey
Amelia says
The frugal mum in me loves the idea of blending up adult lefovers (meat and veg) for simple kiddy meals!
Paolo says
Apple and banana smoosh. Never goes begging !!
VandaB says
I can’t wait to start my little girl on solids when she reaches 6 months. I plan on making all her food so this prize would be awesome.
Stacey Elliott says
I have been planning to buy reusable pouches for ages for my two daughters and your post has inspired me to try Sinchies for the Greek yoghurt and fresh berries yoghurt!
Carol says
Great to hear – we’re loving ours!
Melinda Bolitho says
My children love the squeezie yoghurt packs from the shops but my bank account really doesn’t! A lot of them are also full of sugar. I’d love to make my own and not only save money but know what my kids are eating!
Leanne white says
I have just discovered I’m not really useless and I can make yoghurt and other yummy treats that I can put in these sinchies.
Ashley Beech says
I’d love to save money at the check out, but most of all make our own treats so we know exactly what the kids are eating.
Linda S says
What a great idea!
Judith Senese says
A healthier option for my son’s for their school and kinder lunch’s, while saving me money.
Anna says
Devoured without protest,
Nutritional VALUE this “SINCHIE” does address!
Legume is by far the top,
A handful of “RED-LENTILS” in EVERY pack! I can stop purchasing overpriced “SQUEEZIES” from my local shop!
High in nutritional value and obtainable all year!
It’s easy to disguise and it’s an ingredient the kids DON’T fear!
Adding pumpkin, sweet potato, spinach; pending the season,
Overdue to save a penny with more than JUST one reason!!!!
“Sinchies” will eliminate the daily stress I endure,
Being “organised” and “preplanning” is certain to be this mummy’s cure!
Alana Ashford says
I want to make Sinchies using Yogurt/Fruit and Meat/Veggies which will all be Cheap Beaut and Yummy.
Carmen Clement says
Awesome giveaway ❤️❤️
hayley shaw says
My niece is almost about to pop with her second baby now more then ever she is getting prepared for anything that will save time and money . these would be perfect
M. Cowan says
It will encourage my baby girl to eat healthier!
Tess D says
Peace of mind knowing what ingredients are in my homemade foods and snacks.