Are Avocados Good For Baby?

from Food With Kid Appeal




The Why and How of Baby's Early Introduction to Avocados
This is a guest post by Joanie Whitman, a baby led feeding advocate.
Avocados are an excellent choice for baby’s first food introduction for several reasons:

• They are easy to digest and have the highest fiber content of any fruit or vegetable
• East to prepare. Avocados need only minimal preparation. Because of an avocado’s consistency they are easily mashed by an infant’s jaws.
• Rich in monounsaturated fat, the “good fat”, which is helpful in fattening up underweight infants. High calorie content- good choice for growing babies
• Good source of vitamin A, C and E which naturally boosts their immune system

Throughout the life of a child their taste buds are constantly changing. By introducing avocado early and often, baby will become accustomed to its flavor and learn to enjoy it.
Here are some easy tips to help your child enjoy avocados:

• Selecting a ripe avocado is imperative for flavor, texture and preparation. Choose unbruised, unscarred fruit with no wrinkles. Do not squeeze it or you'll bruise it. A trick to use when selecting an avocado is to look at the stem end; if it is ripe, the stem will pull right out.
• Let them help. My boys love to help with the preparation of dinner during which they are happily taste testing. They may eat most of their meal during this time so I make sure to leave small portions of each ingredient within their reach. I have always allowed my children to be part of mealtime preparation as soon as they could stand on a chair at the counter.
• Encourage them to have fun with their food. Avocados are a great green color with a wonderful large ball-shaped seed babies love to explore. Let your child smash and smear it around. If they learn to enjoy its texture with their hands, the love for its taste will soon follow.
• Serve it many different ways. Some of our favorites: spread on whole wheat toast, sliced into easy to handle wedge shape, with scrambled eggs or dipping our Play and Learn Spoon into guacamole.
• Go ahead and season: although we must limit baby’s salt and sugar intake, avocado is an excellent food to use when introducing seasonings to baby.