Homemade Baby Food Recipes: Avocado Puree
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About 2 months ago, we gave Layla her first solid food: Avocado! Since then she has had a variety of fruits and veggies: Sweet potato, Butternut squash, Zucchini, Carrot, Fuji Apples, Plums, Pears, Bananas, Green Beans, Peas, Spinach, Broccoli, Pumpkin, Apricot… and we’ve also given her Oatmeal and Organic Whole Milk Plain Yogurt. She has turned into a wonderful eater! Gobbles up almost everything we give her (peas and green beans have to be disguised in yogurt with a little bit of pear, but then she downs them like you wouldn’t believe).
And since I’ve been making all of her food at home from scratch, I thought I’d start a Baby Food Recipes section on my blog!
I’ll be adding the baby food recipes in the order that we introduced them to Layla – to the extent that I can remember 🙂 Avocado was definitely first – because it was the easiest, and because it’s so nutritious for your little ones.
1/5th of an avocado has only 50 calories but 20 vitamins and minerals! Talk about nutrient dense. Avocados also contain:
- Folate
- Fiber
- Potassium
- Vitamin E
- Iron
- Healthy fats that help with brain and nervous system development
I mashed up the avocado raw, and fed it directly to her mixed with a little bit of breast milk (you can also mix it with formula or water to thin it out at first). Here’s how she reacted 🙂
The first time she was like “what are you giving me??” but soon she couldn’t get enough avocado. It’s definitely one of her favorites. And since avocado gets oxidized so easily, I actually tried freezing it and it worked great!
I used these Mumi & Bubi 
ice cube trays for freezing. I love them because they come with a cover, a recipe book, and the cubes are super easy to get out. One ice cube = 1oz of food. And once I started making this puree in bulk, I used a Vitamix to puree large quantities of it at the same time – which was super convenient!
Also, if you can afford it, I’d recommend using 100% organic ingredients for your baby’s food. That way you can leave the peels on various fruits and veggies (e.g. you won’t have to peel apples and pears before pureeing them), and it’s much more nutritious for your baby.
Of course, there will be times when you’re on the go and need a healthy pre-made option for your little one. And in those cases, I’d recommend buying one of the pouches on my list of the healthiest baby food pouches!
Below is my recipe for super simple avocado: a perfect first food for babies!
Looking for 150+ more baby and toddler food recipes? Check out my Baby Food Cookbook here!
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Or, are you looking for ideas for healthy, easy family meals that your little one can eventually help prepare in the kitchen? If so, pick up a copy of my newest cookbook: Kid Chef Junior (will arrive on your doorstep on October 9th 2018!)
Baby's First Food: Avocado Puree
Ingredients
- 1 organic avocado mashed
Instructions
If Serving Fresh / Immediately
- Mash the avocado with a fork or blend it in a food processor.
- Mix with breastmilk, formula or water to reach desired consistency.
If Freezing
- Mash the avocado with a fork or blend it in a food processor.
- Divide into ice cube trays, wrap/cover, and freeze.
- Thaw in the fridge the night before use, or thaw by putting the ice cube in a bowl over a bowl of hot water on the counter to defrost.
- Once defrosted, mix with breastmilk, formula or water to reach desired consistency
Hi can I start avacado fr my 4 months old baby
Hi! If your pediatrician says your baby is ready for solids at 4 months, then you can introduce avocado as their first food. Personally, I waited until my kids were about 5.5 months before starting solids, but that’s because I didn’t feel like they were developmentally ready for it at 4 months. Hope that helps!
hiii
glad i found your blog.. im planning to start giving avocados to my 11month old… can i mix it with cerelac or veggies likes sweet potatoes, beans, peas or carrots …
secondly, i would also like to ask if i can freeze the mashed avocado without adding any water..
thanks🤗
Hi! You can totally mix avocado with just about anything – it’s super mild so it will just make any other veggie or puree creamier! You can also freeze it mashed without adding water – that shouldn’t be a problem at all.
Hey!
Avocado Turns brown so easily so wondering if this will happen if I freeze it?🥑
Hi Tiffany! If you freeze it immediately after making it in an airtight container, it won’t turn brown. It might oxidize slightly but it should still remain mostly green. And if you’re worried about it turning brown, you can add a squeeze of lemon juice to the puree which will help it not oxidize at all!
Hi Anjali – just bought your book and I’m super excited!
My babies are 6 months old but being twins and preemies they are I’d say 4 months adjusted. I’m so ready to start solids and decided on avocados.
A couple quick questions – should they be ripe?
Also, what consistency is best for their first solid food taste ever?
Thanks!
Hi Pavitra!! Thanks so much for reaching out! To your questions — avocados on the riper side would be better since they’ll be softer and easier to mash. As for consistency, that’s really up to you based on what you think your babies can handle. If you think they need a thinner puree to start, then I would use a blender to get it super smooth. If you think they’ll be ok with a chunkier mash – then you can just mash it up with a fork. It takes a bit of trial and error to figure it out too. My daughter was totally good with a chunky consistency but my son was not at all! Hope that helps, let me know if you have any other questions and I hope you like the recipes in the book too! 🙂
Can I give steam and then mashed the avacoda and give to my four month old baby
Hi Dhivya! You actually don’t have to steam the avocados – you can just mash them raw. Cooking the avocado will oxidize it so it’ll become discolored. As for whether to start your baby on solids at 4 months (vs. 5 or 6 months), that is something you should discuss with your pediatrician. Hope that helps!
Hi there…happy to see new recipes for my little one..he is turning 6 months nw..I wanted to know how should I start with weaning …is cereals first or veggies fruits and then cereals like oats ragi kanji
Hi Afrah! I’d recommend starting with mild tasting veggies/fruits first — like avocado, green beans, sweet potato, butternut squash, pear. Then you can move onto stronger tasting veggies (broccoli, spinach, cauliflower, etc.) – and then I’d do more fruits like apples, berries, etc. You can incorporate whole grains like oats or quinoa into any/all of these purees – so you can introduce grains as early or as late as you’d like. Hope that helps!
Hello, hope you are keeping safe! I was browsing through the internet and found your page. I have a two parts question-
1. Planning to feed avocado tonight to my almost 8months old. Usually, avocados are bland and in case she doesn’t like it, can I add salt to the puree?
2. Can I mix veggies with oats? Any recommended recipes?
Thank you and appreciate you taking time out to answer.
Hi Kriti! Thanks for reaching out! To your questions:
1) Typically, I don’t recommend adding salt to your baby’s food until 12 months because their kidneys can’t process more than 1g salt (0.4g sodium) per day. You can try adding lime juice, cilantro and mild spices – like cumin, etc. to make it more palatable to your baby – like a “baby guacamole”!
2) You can! I usually would just cook oats like I’d make them for myself, and then add sweeter veggie purees into it like butternut squash, pumpkin, carrots, zucchini, etc! You can add mild spices to that mixture too if you like!
Hope that helps!
I have a 5 month year old. How much am I supposed to give him eat feeding?
At 5 months, feedings are more for “taste” than full meals — so I’d start with 1 tablespoon per feeding and if he seems like he wants more, increase the amount from there!
Hi there!
Thanks for the quick tips & tricks
My LO is almost 8 months now and i wanted to start avacado and puree it with Orange.. is that ok as a combination?
Hi Kanchan! I have never pureed oranges before to be honest — mainly because they are so fibrous and there is no way to really cook them down — and I think pureed oranges probably wouldn’t taste that appealing since they wouldn’t be smooth. Instead I’d just serve avocado puree to your 8 month old and then take oranges and cut them up into tiny pieces and remove the fibrous membrane from each slice before serving (assuming your 8 month old can gum them without choking). Hope that helps!
Hi!
I hope you are all keeping well and safe!
I have a 6 mos girl, she drinks Similac Pro Sensitive. Could you please kindly share what yogurt you use. Should it be from cow milk or almond milk?
Best,
Iro
Hi! Does your daughter have a diagnosed dairy allergy? Or is she on similac sensitive for just other digestive issues? If she has an actual severe dairy allergy (to all dairy, not just milk) then I’d go with almond milk yogurt but you’ll have to find an organic brand that doesn’t have any sugar added (and I’m not sure if that exists!) If she is ok to eat dairy but just can’t drink milk right now, and if your pediatrician says that cow’s milk yogurt should be ok for her, then I’d go with organic whole cow milk yogurt! Hope that helps!
Can I mix it with carrots (steamed and blended) and use it for the next day? This recipe is super easy but I love adding different stuff to his food! He’s 6 months.
Absolutely! That would work great!
Amazing recipes. I have b started to give my daughter rice kanji but she just hates it. Can you please recommend any better options? Can i give beetroot to my 7 month old ?
Thanks
Hi Brindha! Thanks so much! I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying my recipes! To your question — it’s ok if your daughter doesn’t like rice kanji! Rice kanji isn’t really nutritionally rich either — and oatmeal is a much better choice anyway 🙂 If you haven’t given her anything other than rice kanji, I’d recommend starting with a milder veggie or fruit first like avocado, green beans or butternut squash. And then you can move to beetroot and other fruits/veggies (you can see a bunch of ideas and recipes here). Hope that helps!
Hi Anjali.. hope you and your family are keeping safe in current situation. I came across your blog and am absolutely loving it. I am a first time mom of a 7.5 months old and trying to make and stock as much food as I can. I have a question regarding the avocado purée . I actually followed your recipe and have frozen avocado purée but after thawing I saw it has turned black (probably oxidised). Do you recommend using it for feeding my baby or is it spoiled and can’t be used. Appreciate your help and suggestion here.
Hi Ankita! Thank you so much for your kind words and I’m so glad my blog has been helpful for you! Regarding the puree, it depends on how “black” it is. If it has just slightly browned then that is totally fine and safe to eat. If it’s completely black I would throw it out – too oxidized. When you make the puree I would freeze it in an airtight container right away – you can even put some parchment paper or saran wrap on top to help keep the air out. An alternative is to mix it with a little bit of lemon juice or lime juice before freezing it which will also help with oxidation!
Hey, I plan to serve avocado to my LO tomorrow, but afraid I dont have the freezing trays to preserve & it’s too late to get it. I plan to give it to him all 3 meals for 2 days atleast. Is there any way I can preserve the cut avocado & how big a piece do you suggest I serve him the first time.
Hi! You can cut the avocado into 6ths and give him 1/6th of it at each serving (so it will last two days). You can preserve it by not cutting and mashing the entire avocado at once — instead, just cut it in half and leave the pit in, scoop out about 1/6th of it, and then close the avocado back up and put a rubberband around it. That will help it to not oxidize as quickly!
Thank you.
Also, after adding breastmilk/ water, how long can I keep the puree out (before serving)?
I started weaning him about 2 weeks back, started with cereals, as thats what the ped suggested. 2-3days, 3 meals. Rice powdered at home (Kanji), Ragi, Barley, Carrots (he loved them), spinach, now starting with avocado, any suggestions on the road ahead? Haven’t tried fruits as yet as wanted to do few veggies first.
Can prunes be given as is, without combining them with anything else? What best do they go with?
He dint quiet enjoy powdered rice, I tried adding spinach puree to it, he barely ate it, he would take spinach puree as is, any suggestions??
No problem! I’ll answer your questions in order:
1) If you add breastmilk to your puree, you have to serve it within 4 hours (since breastmilk can only last at room temperature for 4 hours).
2) Great plan to do veggies first! I’d do as many veggies as you can green beans, squash, peas, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, etc. are all great to try. When you start on fruits I’d do less sweet fruits: pears, apples, berries, stone fruits and I would do banana, pineapple, mango, etc — sweeter fruits last.
3) You can absolutely give prunes as is (just watch the portions since too many prunes can cause diarrhea!) If your son doesn’t like prunes as is, you can combine it with apples and serve it.
4) Rice cereal is one of the least nutritious items you can give your son – so if he doesn’t like it I wouldn’t push it at all. When he’s able to chew a bit better I’d move to less refined grains like quinoa, sprouted wheat, oats, barley, etc.
Hope that helps!
Hi , can I blend avocado and breast milk together in blender ?
Hi Divya! I wouldn’t recommend it – mainly because then you will shorten the shelf life of your breastmilk. I’d just add the breastmilk to the avocado right before serving and keep the two separate. Hope that helps!
I’m about to make this, can I thin it with breast milk before I freeze it?
Hi Tiffany! I wouldn’t recommend adding the breastmilk before you freeze, and instead just adding the breastmilk after you thaw it (right before serving). The reason I suggest that is for two reasons: 1) The puree will become thinner after you freeze and then reheat on its own (because of the ice/water content developed while freezing). And 2) If you don’t add breastmilk before freezing, you won’t have to worry about how you reheat the puree before serving. Hope that helps!
When can I start feeding avacado?? To my baby
Hi Rikta! You can start your baby on avocado as soon as they are ready for solids (ask your pediatrician when they recommend your baby start solids — typically the recommendation is between 4-6 months of age). Avocado can be your baby’s first food!
I will be trying this today. Thank you! Quick question. When can I start giving my baby oatmeal? Do you recommend rice cereal? Thank you!
Hi Sandra! You can give your baby oatmeal anytime after you start solids! It’s a really mild, allergen friendly grain (you can just get gluten-free oats to be safe). I wouldn’t buy pre-made baby oats/baby cereal – instead I’d get organic gluten-free rolled oats, grind them into a flour, and cook them they way you would regular oatmeal. Then I’d portion that out into ice cube trays and freeze them. I don’t recommend rice cereal – it’s super refined, often contaminated with heavy metals (even organic rice cereal has this problem) and it’s low in fiber. Oatmeal is much better if you do choose a grain!
Hi,
Regarding rolled oats can I cook them then blend them if I don’t own a grinder? My hubby does have one for coffee beans but I don’t think it’s a good idea , afraid of contamination with caffeine!
Makes sense! And yes you can cook them and blend them! You can also just grind them up while they’re still dry in a regular blender or food processor if you have that — that should work just fine. Hope that helps!
Hi! There were a few water droplets in the glass plate I was putting the avocado flesh in. Will it have an effect on my freezing? Will it ruin the storage process? Sorry, I’m a little paranoid. Thank you though!
Hi Tia! That should actually be fine! I wouldn’t worry about it 🙂
hi!
can you link what organic oatmeal you used?
Thank you!
Hi Jenna! I actually just used these organic rolled oats, and then ground it up into a “flour” like consistency, and then cooked it the way I would regular oats before mixing it with all of my purees! Hope that helps!