Chicago-based and Mom-owned organic food start-up lil’gourmets is now part of Target’s newly-created Fresh Kids Snacking Destination. Target shoppers will now have access to lil’gourmets veggie meals in the chilled produce aisle of select Target stores across seven Midwest states, as well as Target.com.

As the creators of the first and only fresh, organic veggie meal, lil’gourmets’ is excited to offer more parents an easy way to introduce their lil’ones to global flavors like Moroccan Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Curry. Their recipes feature veggies and beans combined with nourishing ingredients like coconut milk and extra virgin olive oil paired with chef-crafted spice blends to create uniquely delicious, ‘closest to homemade’ meals.

Founded by two former Kraft Food executives and first-time moms, lil’gourmets was created to cultivate curiosity in lil’ones by exposing them to veggie-focused, global cuisines at a young age to help them fall in love with vegetables and flavorful, culturally-rich foods for life.

Target Fresh Kids Snacking destination offers health and convenience for busy parents

“We are beyond excited to partner with Target as they expand their fresh food options for kids,” says lil’gourmets co-founder & CMO Becky Graham. “We know how important vegetables are to our overall well-being but making well balanced meals is not always possible during this incredibly difficult time. As parents ourselves, we want to help other parents who may be feeling overwhelmed with homeschool and working from home. Our fresh, convenient, delicious veggie meals can offer that much-needed break from cooking, without sacrificing taste or nutrition.”

“We started lil’gourmets because, as moms, we saw firsthand the incredible impact that introducing vegetable-focused and flavorful foods had on our kids’ early eating habits,” says founder and CEO Shibani Baluja.

“Medical research is showing that our experience was not a coincidence. Through the early introduction of diverse, veggie-forward foods, we not only deliver essential nutrients today, but can also shape a lifetime of healthy eating habits. We are thrilled to partner with Target to offer more parents convenient ways to help nurture our kids’ health.”

Staying healthy as flu season approaches

Pediatrician Rupa Mahadevan, MD FAAP, who has focused her mission on children’s nutrition, recommends her patients eat a variety of vegetables and spices to boost immunity and stay healthy, “Plants help the body get rid of toxins, promote health, and improve the immune system. Those who eat more plant foods boost their immunity and have reduced risks of chronic disease such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Vibrant colored vegetables, whole grains, herbs, lentils, and spices all promote better health and I recommend eating at least two colors of vegetables daily. An easy, convenient way to do this, is through lil’gourmets’ selection of veggie meals, which also helps incorporate variety into kids’ diets so they can discover tastes that they love!”

Try lil’gourmets in 6 authentic global cuisines

Responding to the demand from parents for a greater variety of vegetables and flavors, the lil’gourmets assortment now represents 6 authentic global cuisines: Cinnamon Beets & Apples (US), Coconut Cauliflower Mash (Australia), Moroccan Butternut Squash (Morocco), Pumpkin Navy Bean Shawarma (Middle East), Spanish Corn & Bean Gazpacho (Spain) and Sweet Potato Curry (India).    

Lil’gourmets’ veggie meals retail for $3.49 and will be available in select Target stores across Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, North Dakota, Wisconsin and at Target.com. 

About lil’gourmets

Lil’gourmets is the first and only fresh organic veggie meal for kids. Created with a unique veggie-first promise, 100% of the lil’gourmets global recipes feature veggies and beans as the first and primary ingredients, delivering 1+ serving of vegetables per cup. With only 2-5g of sugar and uniquely delicious chef-crafted spice blends, these fresh, ready-to eat veggie meals are a perfect meal for a baby, a side dish for a toddler, or a healthy snack or dip for kids and adults of any age.

Lil’gourmets also proudly serves as a Sustaining Partner to the Partnership for Healthier America, pledging support and resources to the Shaping Early Palates effort. Winner of the NEXTY award for Best New Natural Kids Product, lil'gourmets products are refrigerated, certified organic, non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, and cold-pressure processed. All 6 global varieties of lil’gourmets are now available nationwide online and in select grocery and retail locations across eleven states in the Midwest.