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The Toddler Food That's Made My Life as a Busy Mum So Much Easier
Sponsored by Odi Nutrition
By Melissa Mason, Content Editor, One Fine Baby
If you've ever tried to get out of the house with a toddler, you'll know that it’s practically an Olympic sport. Where’s the water bottle. I swear those shoes were here two minutes ago. Wait, where has the toddler gone now? Oh, back to his farm animals after a session of pulling out books!
Packing the nappy bag becomes an afterthought, but like all mums, I really care about what my son eats. I'm also a working mum with a very busy kid, and I don't always have the time (or energy) to prepare nutritious, travel-friendly snacks from scratch. That's why I've become a big fan of Odi Nutrition.
Founded by clinical nutritionist and mum of four Gina Urlich, Odi Nutrition makes nutrient-dense food pouches for little ones, using real, wholefood ingredients. They're convenient, easy to pack and, most importantly for me, offer something more substantial than another snack designed simply to fill a hungry tummy.
Why toddler nutrition is something I think about
My son Joey is a big eater. He's growing quickly, constantly on the move and, like most toddlers, has some very strong opinions about what he will and won't eat.
I try to give him a varied diet, but some days are easier than others. Vegetables aren't always a hit, and getting enough iron-rich foods into his meals is something I'm particularly conscious of.
Iron plays an important role in healthy brain development, growth and energy metabolism, and toddlers have surprisingly high iron requirements for their size. In fact, Australian dietary guidelines recommend 9mg of iron per day for children aged one to three, compared with 8mg for adult men. So basically a toddler has higher iron needs than a grown man! That’s wild to me.
When I discovered that an Odi Nutrition pouch provides 30% of a toddler's recommended daily iron intake, I was sold.
What makes Odi Nutrition different?
There are plenty of baby and toddler food pouches on supermarket shelves, but what appealed to me about Odi was its approach to ingredients.
Rather than relying on synthetic vitamin and mineral fortification, Odi focuses on naturally nutrient-rich wholefoods, including sources of heme iron, which the body can absorb more readily than non-heme iron.
The pouches contain no added sugar or unnecessary fillers, and they're designed to make it easier for parents to offer nutrient-dense food when cooking from scratch isn't gonna happen.
I also appreciate that the brand was created by a clinical nutritionist who happens to be a mum of four. She gets what parents are looking for: good nutrition without another time-consuming cooking session added to the day.
The ultimate nappy bag essential
One of my favourite things about Odi is how easily it fits into our routine. If we're heading to the park, meeting friends or running errands, I can grab a pouch from the pantry and pop it into the nappy bag. No elaborate preparation required.
Joey can enjoy it from a spoon, or I'll serve it as a dip alongside other foods. It's an easy way to add variety and extra nutrients to his snacks without having to prepare an entire meal while we're out.
And while convenience is a huge part of the appeal, knowing I'm offering him something made with thoughtfully selected, nutrient-dense ingredients is what makes me keep reaching for it.
My verdict as a busy mum
I'm never going to be the mum who has every snack homemade, every meal perfectly balanced and every outing running to schedule. And I'm completely fine with that!
Some days Joey gets a beautiful homemade lunch in his high chair. Other days we're eating at the park between trips down the slide, and I need something quick, nutritious and easy. For those days, Odi Nutrition has become one of my go-to options.
It's not about replacing home-cooked meals or expecting one pouch to do all the nutritional heavy lifting. It's about having a genuinely useful option on hand that makes feeding a busy toddler that little bit easier.
And as any parent will tell you, those small things can make a very big difference. Discover the Odi Nutrition range and find your new nappy bag essential.
