Sisters' Pops Could Help Finicky Eaters

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- You know that finicky eater in your family? There is a potential solution that doesn't involve only making French fries every day.

A local sister duo is pioneering a solution that goes beyond sensitive palates.

In 2009, a family friend of sisters Jessica Welsch and Stephanie Williams was diagnosed with leukemia. That friend turned to them for help with her eating difficulties brought on by chemotherapy.

"She wanted something that was blended, didn't have a strong food aroma or flavor. Something similar to baby food, but the thought of that turned her off," said Welsch.

The sisters both had babies around the same time and were already making homemade baby food.

"We thought let's take some of our favorite baby food recipes and tweak them to meet her nutritional needs versus those of an infant," said Welsch.

They added things like extra calories, and healthy sources of fats and proteins.

"Whole food ingredients like nut butters, healthy oils like coconut oils and walnut oil, fruits and veggies, yogurt and dairy substitutes," said Williams.

Then they stuck them with a stick, put them in the freezer and called them "pops." And those "pops" kept their ailing friend off of a feeding tube.

"Her oncology docs and nutritionists had never seen anything like it. They encouraged us to do something with it," said Welsch.

Instead of bringing a food product to market, they developed a kit with recipes, a mold and bag for transporting the frozen pops. They called their venture The Hopefull Company. Now, the sisters also offer a version for kids called Bellyfulls.

"It's really geared toward getting kids excited about the foods. Really fun illustrations, fun names of the foods," said Williams. "It's a way of introducing a subtle flavor in a very safe way."

The Hopefull and Bellyfull kits cost $39.99. They are dishwasher, oven and microwave safe, as well as being BPA, PVC and phthalate free.