The Fact: Avocados are one of nature’s perfect foods because they are said to contain everything a person needs to survive.

Baby Age: You can feed your baby avocado mash as soon as you introduce your baby to solids or when your baby turns 6 months old.

Nutritional Value: Avocados are full of ‘good fat’ and are a perfect first food for your baby. “Sodium- and cholesterol- free, avocados contain valuable nutrients including 8% of the recommended Daily Value (DV) for folate; 4% DV for fiber and potassium, 4% DV for vitamin E; and 2% DV for iron. A serving of avocado also contains 81 micrograms of the carotenoid lutein and 19 micrograms of beta-carotene. Per serving, avocados have 3.5 grams of unsaturated fats, which are known to be important for normal growth and development of the central nervous system and brain.” http://www.californiaavocado.com/nutrition

The Inspiration: I was reading up on the need for babies to build up their fat reserves—good fat, to be precise. It’s so very important! With all of us being health conscious these days, it’s easy for us to think that any kind of fat is bad, but please remember that your baby needs fat. Good fats are crucial in your baby’s first year—they’re good for physical growth, brain development and to build up your baby’s immune system. So please please please give your baby some avocado. I was so desperate to give my baby some that I ordered a couple of avocados online since it’s off season where I live 🙂

The Method

1. Buying avocado

Avocados should be firm on the outside, yet should give a little when you press them. They can range from a dark green colour with a bumpy skin to a less dark green variety with a smooth skin. I ordered the bumpy skin variety so I’ll speak for them.

2. Cleaning the avocado

Wash the avocado. Gently roll it before you cut it to separate the flesh from the solid stone/seed in the centre. Run a knife around the seed, along the entire length of the avocado; don’t try to cut through it!

Gently rotate both halves and try to pull them away from each other.

Now, to get the seed off the one half it’s stuck on, use a tablespoon and simply scoop it out—this gets a little messy but it worked better than the ‘poke your knife into the seed’ procedure I read up online. You’ll now be left with the two halves that are buttery and creamy on the inside (that’s how they’re supposed to be when ripe). If they’re not creamy and soft in texture and are firm instead, I wouldn’t feed it to the baby. If your avocado is ripe, it’s ready to eat because ripe avocados don’t need any cooking.

3. Pureeing the avocado

Using a tablespoon, scoop out the flesh of the avocado and separate it from the skin. You can get as close to the skin as you want because that’s where the goodness is.

Cut up the flesh into rough bits.

Mash the avocado bits with a masher or blend them in a blender for a smoother puree.

You can add a tablespoon or two of water or breastmilk/formula to water down your puree and make it easier to swallow for your baby. The smooth puree is better for smaller babies, while babies who are 10 months old or older prefer a slightly chunkier mash.

4. Eating/Storing avocado puree

Feed your baby the mash or the puree directly. You can also combine it with other vegetables, fruits or cereal.

Since avocados can be hard to come by, I divided my avocado puree and froze them in individual puree trays.

If you store the leftover puree/mash in your refrigerator, it turns brown, which is why freezing is the better option. I try to feed my baby at least one cube every day.