Learn why avocados are a great first food for babies and how to serve them if you're using a baby led weaning approach to starting solids.
Avocado was one of the very first solid foods that I offered to both of my babies. Avocado is such a great first food for anyone starting solids with their little one, so I recommend it throughout your journey starting solids! Here's everything you need to know about avocados and baby led weaning.
Why Avocado Is A Great First Food For Babies
Avocados are perfect for babies from a nutrition standpoint, because they are very calorie- and nutrient-dense, with most of the calories coming from healthy fat, which is great! Babies have high need for both calories and nutrients, and every bite counts for them, especially when they're first starting solids around 6 months old.
Avocados also have a naturally soft texture and mild flavor thatʼs perfect for babies, and they're so versatile, making them easy to include on babies' plates.
Essential Nutrients in Avocado
Avocados contain nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. A few important ones for babies that stand out are:
Monounsaturated fats - Unsaturated fats are the healthy kind. Babies need fat for brain development, and including fat at meals can aid in absorption of fat soluble vitamins, like vitamins A and E. Don't be hesitant when including fat in babies' diets, especially healthy fats!
Folate - Folate is important for brain development.
Fiber - Fiber helps keep things moving in the digestive system.
- Carotenoids zeaxanthin and lutein - These antioxidants are good for eyes.
How To Serve Avocados To Babies
Because avocados are naturally soft and require no cooking, they're so simple to serve, which makes your life easier! Some ideas for serving avocado with baby led weaning:
Sliced into wedges (For easier gripping, you can serve avocado with the skin on all or half of the wedge, or roll it in hemp, chia or ground flaxseeds, crushed cheerios, coconut flakes, or another fine food to add some texture)
Mashed by itself - Load it onto a spoon, or just let baby pick it up with his hands!
- Spread on top of toast fingers
Guacamole
Add pureed avocado to baked goods in place of some or all of the fat
- Add to smoothies
Be sure to read how to modify recipes for BLW and the safety guidelines for serving all foods to babies before beginning baby led weaning!
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