As a new mom, I need all the help I can get. And I mean… all of it.

Since Hazel was born, I've brought my usual appointments in-house. I work from home, get groceries delivered, take at-home exercise classes, and - when the time comes round - I'll even give myself a quick hair trim.

I've been making Hazel's baby food from scratch for the last few months, but it's gotten to be way too time-consuming and I feel like I'm losing my sanity! I spend hours and hours each weekend Googling new recipes to make sure she's getting all the nutrients she needs and buying all the ingredients. But then I end up spending insane amounts of money on organic produce, and a ton of food goes to waste.

As a gift to myself (and a way to not go crazy), I looked into some alternatives I could trust. How far I've come from the days of massages and spa days as a way to treat myself! 😂

I've looked at all the big-name brands that line the store shelves, but I've read so much about recalls and heavy metals found in baby food that I find myself doubting the quality. And I certainly don't appreciate that this baby food is just waiting on the shelf - I mean when is the expiration date? I like knowing exactly what foods I'm feeding Hazel, so I need any brand I buy to be transparent about where they source their ingredients. I was so happy to discover a brand that even tests the soil where they get their ingredients: Yumi.

Yumi is a baby food subscription company that delivers freshly-made, plant-based baby food right to your door. All their meals are certified organic, free from the Big 9 Allergens, and made with whole foods. And, they're not just sitting on the shelves waiting for you to pick them up - once you place your order your blend is made.

I looked into some of their flavors and was shocked at the complexities! I thought banana and apple were good enough, but Yumi has Purple Sweet Potato and Blueberry, Carrot and Raspberry, and even Spinach Blueberry Quinoa Bowl for when Hazel is over nine months old.

It was clear my homemade baby food wasn't cutting it. And, honestly, I was somewhat relieved knowing there's a better option out there (for both of us) and that I can finally cut myself some slack! I imagine all the time I had wasted shopping and prepping can now be dedicated to actually hanging out with my favorite girl. The thought of healthy, wholesome baby food delivered right to my door had me already gaining some semblance of sanity, so I went ahead and placed my first order.

To get started, I input my email, zip code, and Hazel's birthday, and then Yumi created a personalized plan just for her! I got to pick and choose the flavor options she'd like, and then waited for them to be delivered. I went with some of the simpler flavors included in the First Food Singles (for 6 months+) like Peach, Blueberry, Zucchini, and Butternut Squash.

They arrived in a temperature-controlled box, and I popped them in the fridge immediately. They'll stay safe in the fridge for seven days, and in the freezer for up to 2 months!

I couldn't wait for dinnertime - no blending, mashing, or prepping! Hazel's somewhat of a picky eater, and I haven't really helped expand her palate so I was a bit nervous the hours leading up to dinner. Once it came around, she absolutely devoured the peach in a way I've never seen before! So I feel preeeettty confident she'll like the rest.

As strange as it sounds, Yumi really is the best form of self-care. I can finally stop stressing if she's getting the right ingredients to boost her development; I've reclaimed precious time in my day to do things I truly love.

The team at YUMI is extending a special offer to our readers! Follow this link to get 50% off your order for new customers!