Avocado as a first food for babies
Avocados are super nutrient dense and have one of the highest fat contents of all plant foods- not including nuts and seeds. They have a type of fat called monounsaturated fat which is kinder to our blood vessels and heart health. They also have lots of other nutrients like calcium, phosphate, potassium and magnesium. And vitamins A, B, C, E and K.
Avocados are great as a first food for babies! They can be served as finger food by cutting a slice from a ripe avocado. They are also one of the few foods which can be mashed very easily with a fork - perfect for little fingers to explore! Try mashing with a little breast milk or formula in the early days to make a smoother texture
To check if an avocado is ripe you can use the squeeze test to check it before peeling: if an avocado is firm, it’s less ripe - if it’s soft, it’s on the riper side!
YOU NEED
One half of a ripe avocado (you will only use a small amount - you can eat the rest yourself!
TO MAKE
Slice the avocado in half lengthways
Use a spoon to peel the avocado flesh away from the skin and remove the stone
From one half, cut one or two slices off so you have a nice finger-sized pieces - you want the avocado slices to be soft and squishable between your fingers
Mash a little of the remaining half using a fork (option to add a few drops of breast milk or formula)
TO SERVE
Offer the avocado slice as a finger food along with a spoonful of the mashed avocado pre-loaded onto a weaning spoon
Baby-led weaning tip
Load some of the mashed avocado onto a spoon, place it in front of your baby and allow them to grab it themselves!
TIPS
If the avocado slice is slippery in your little ones fingers, try rolling it in some dessicated coconut next time, or in some ground seeds or nuts (once nuts have been offered safely)
