Introducing Your Baby To Avocado

Avocados are considered one of the best first solid food for babies.  Creamy and rich when mashed, they offer a texture that young ones are likely to enjoy.  Apart from that, they’re sodium-free , cholesterol-free and are a great source of healthy nutrients like fat (babies need it for physical and brain development), fiber, potassium, vitamins (A, B1, B2, B6 and C), folate, phosporus, magnesium, iron and various other minerals in smaller amounts.  More than a few people haved referred to the nutrient-filled avocado as the “perfect fruit”.

When picking an avocado for feeding your baby, you want one that is ripe enough to be tasteful but not too much to potentially upset your child’s stomach.  Look to get one that’s firm to the touch but isn’t too hard not to yield when pressed.  When opened, the meat should be green turning into a buttery shade of yellow going into the center.  To prepare avocado, separate the meat from the seed and peel, cut it up in slices and mash it.

You can mix the mashed avocado with a variety of food types including milk, applesauce, peaches, pears, yogurt and other healthy fruits to vary your baby’s snacks.  You can also refrigerate it and serve cold if your child likes it that way.  Citrus fruits like lemon juice can also work well, although they’re usually not advisable for babies under one year due to their acidity.