When was the last time you zoomed a purée-laden airplane spoon into your own mouth? We wanted to find out what mealtime really tastes like for our tiny diners, so we gathered a smorgasbord of blends from some of the most readily found brands, prepped our palates, and let our taste buds get to work.

Rachel Reiff Ellis, Associate Editor 
Tracy Brown, Associate Editor 
Alyson West, Associate Editor

The real judges:
Max Ellis, 6 months
Braxton Brown, 11 months
Alexandra Murphy-West, 9 months

With no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives, Earth’s Best is made with organic ingredients grown without harmful pesticides. Begun as a Vermont-based baby food company in 1985, Earth’s Best has expanded to other earth-friendly cleaning and infant-care products.

Based in the U.K. and launched in the U.S. in 2009, Ella’s Kitchen boasts simple ingredients: a blend of organic fruits and/or vegetables and nothing else.

A household name in baby food, Gerber began selling its strained veggies and fruits for tots in the late 1920s. Gerber has a vast variety of meal choices for young children of all ages, and offers an organic line with USDA certified organic ingredients.

Two moms with a passion for fresh food for children and social responsibility developed Happy Family, a line of all-organic eats that contains sustainably sourced DHA and supergrains like Salba and quinoa.

All certified organic with no genetically modified ingredients, the Plum Organics line was created by a dad of two with a designer background and a head for healthy eating. Plum Organics was the first to introduce the spouted baby food pouch.

Featuring recipes created by renowned chef and co-founder Tyler Florence, a 15-year Food Network veteran and author, all of Sprout’s offerings are 100 percent organic and come in BPA-free pouches.

Now let's get to tasting!

"Smooth, almost buttery flavor with a subtle earthy sweetness. Like squash should taste!” —RRE

“Sweet and fruity—just as they should be.” —TB

“I was surprised by the freshness of the mango. I wanted to eat it over and over.” —TB

“The mint came through surprisingly well, which may be a help for babies who are not fans of plain old peas.” —AW

"Tangy and sweet with a creamy texture." —AW

 “Simple, straightforward taste. Nothing but carrots.” —RRE

“Nice balance of fruit and veggie flavors.” —AW

“I ate the whole pouch. ’Nough said.” —AW

"Very flavorful! Lots of superfood goodness in this sweet blend." —RRE

“Tart and rich, spinach is visible in each bite. I would eat this for my own breakfast!” —RRE

“It’s like Thanksgiving in your mouth!” —TB

“Robust veggie flavors and a creamy mouth feel.” —AW

“A tangy twist on the traditional blueberry.” —TB

"Very sweet, like dessert, thick with a fine grain texture." —RRE

“A savory blend with lots of tasty veggies and spices.” —AW

“An inventive combination trio that will surprise baby’s palate.” —TB

“Thick and hardy, this combo makes me feel like my baby's menu is fancy.” —RRE

“The cinnamon complements the banana and rice perfectly. This one is my favorite.” —TB