Baby Led Weaning and Everything Avocados

Baby-led weaning and avocados go hand in hand as one of the top first foods little ones may consume on their solid food journey. Avocados can be budget friendly, are easy to prepare as well as have a variety of essential nutrients. When starting baby led weaning, avocados are easily on of the top ten pantry staples caregivers should have readily available.

It is no secret why avocados take the spotlight in the baby led weaning community. It was actually our daughter’s, first solid food! Based on my history with food intolerances, we wanted to start her out with a ‘safe’ food (IE low allergen).

In this post we will explore:

• Benefits of consuming avocados
• How to purchase avocados on a budget
• When avocados are ready for eating
• How to serve avocados for Baby Led Weaning (based on age)
  • Plus, tools to make serving avocados easier
• Recipes

Are avocados healthy for baby led weaning?

There are many benefits of eating avocados as they are considered a healthy fat. Avocados are important for baby led weaning because they have healthy fats which are essential for brain development. Avocados are also nutrient dense.

What nutrients are in avocados?

Avocados are packed with vitamins like B6, C, vitamin E and zinc. To boost nutritional absorption, try serving avocados with vegetables like carrots and root vegetables like sweet potatoes or yams which contain fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K).

Additionally, avocados are low on the glycemic index with a score of 40. Any fruits and vegetables with a glycemic index under 55 are considered ‘low’ on the scale. They are a good source of healthy fats and fiber, too.

Are Avocados a good source of fiber?

Avocados contain fiber which can help ease constipation- an unfortunate side effect occasionally experienced by little ones when transitioning to a diet rich in solid foods.

Because avocados have both soluble and insoluble fiber, they are an important part of every diet which wants to have a healthy a digestive track. Their creamy texture and mild flavor makes it a great first food to help get things moving.

What stores have cheap avocados?

Avocados can be a budget friendly food when purchased in bulk or when on sale, in the state of Michigan, grocery stores like Meijer often have a 10 for $10 sale or places like Costco often have large bags of six or more avocados for a discounted price.

Because buying in bulk often means all the avocados will ripen at the same time, we have plenty of tips on how to speed and slow down ripening to ensure they are ready to eat at the perfect time.

How can you tell if an avocado is ripe?
The ripening process of an avocado is easier to spot than some think. An avocado is ripe when the outer shell changes from green to black in color.

It will be slightly soft to the touch when squeezed, though it will still hold its shape. Another trick for avocados is to wiggle the stem located at the tip of the avocado. If this stem pulls out easily, with little to no effort, the avocado is ready to eat.

Mom-to-mom hack: If avocados are not ripening quickly enough on the countertop, try placing them in a brown paper bag with fruits like bananas which release phosphorus gas. If the opposite effect is occurring and the avocados are ripening too quickly, place them into the refrigerator.

Additionally, you can make a smooth puree, stick them in an ice cube tray and top them with lemon juice before placing in an airtight container or plastic baggie for storage.

This way you can pop out as many of the avocado cubes you want from the freezer at a time. Allow them to thaw in the fridge and serve. By following these tips, avocados will be at peak ripeness for serving.

How to Serve Avocados for Baby Led Weaning (BLW) – By Age

When it comes to starting baby led weaning, avocados are one of the top five foods caregivers will provide to their little one due to their nutritional content, ease of digestion and overall ‘soft’ texture.

However, they can be slippery! Size and shape will change as a child gets older from long strips to bite sized pieces.

From six to nine months, avocados should be cut into spears about the length and width of two adult fingers. This is one great finger food to begin baby-led weaning!

From nine months and beyond, or once a child has developed the pincer grasp, bite sized cubes are appropriate. At all stages, make avocados into a smooth dip or avocado purée.

And there are a few tools to make preparing and serving avocados easier for those little hands.

How to Serve Avocados for Baby Led Weaning (BLW) – By Age

It is possible to have an allergy to avocado. Though not a common allergen in comparison to the top 10 allergenic foods, avocado allergies do exist.

If child has a sensitivity to tree nuts, keep an eye on them the first time they try this popular first food. An allergic reaction would occur like any other allergy would present itself (skin, breathing, vomiting, shock) and may not occur the first time they try the new food. It is always a good option to be aware of the variety of ways allergic reactions present themselves.

Avocado Recipes

Baby led weaning avocado recipes are endless. From eating them whole, to spreading them onto bread or adding them into smoothies, there are many different ways to prepare avocados!

Here are a few ideas on how to eat an avocado them (I.E.)

• Eat by iteself!
  • Prepare by itself in combination with protein (perhaps salmon, hard-boiled eggs, chicken or beef) and a carb (perhaps sweet potato or pasta).
  • Keep it simple and top with a shake of salt and pepper or a squeeze of lemon.
• Make an easy avocado toast recipe
  • We love this homemade sourdough bread recipe made with simple ingredients and no additives
• Coat with homemade sourdough breadcrumbs, hemp seeds or shredded coconut
• Add avocado on eggs (amp up that avocado toast!)
• Turn an avocado into guacamole
  • The easiest guacamole recipe has 5 ingredients: lemon or lime juice, salt, pepper, onion and garlic. Add in cayenne pepper for a little extra spice, cilantro (as long as the super taster “soap” taste does not come through), or salsa.
• Blend avocado, mayo, olive oil, salt and lime into a simple avocado crema recipe
• Mix avocado into salmon or tuna in replacement of mayo for sandwiches
• Smear onto a cracker or rice cake
• Make a chocolate pudding (I promise no one will know there is an avocado hidden in chocolate pudding).
• Blend into an avocado smoothie (i.e.):
  • It’s as simple as 1/2 -1 frozen banana, 1/4 cup oats, 1/2 ripe avocado, dash cinnamon, dash of milk* (to thin)
  • Mom-to-mom hack #1*: For a baby led weaning avocado smoothie, use milk of choice. We use frozen breastmilk to get through some of our freezer stash
  • Mom-to-mom hack #2: If there is any leftover smoothie, pour it into popsicle molds to freeze and use as a teether or snack.

How to Prepare Avocado for Baby

While there are no necessary tools required to eat an avocado (outside of a knife for opening it or a spoon / fork to eat it), these items can make it easier for children to eat. After all, baby led weaning avocado recipes should be easy, right?

Because avocados are slippery, this crinkle cutter creates a pattern which is easier for grasping avocados. By adding ridges, little ones can grab the food and guide it to their mouth before mashing it with their gums.

These spoons are perfect for the first steps of baby led weaning. This set is specific to the first stage of baby led weaning spoons which are used from 6-12 months of age.

The second stage of spoon and fork (not shown above) can be used from 12+ months of age. Both sets are designed to be small to grasp, soft for mouthing and chewing on, and can start to facilitate the use of utensils to scoop and poke food independently.

Use this silicone food tray to store large quantities of food in the freezer in 1.5 ounce blocks. This tray has a lid making it easy to pop into the freezer. Try using it to store leftover guacamole or mashed avocado with lemon. Simply pop a block out a few hours prior before eating.

To make smooth avocado cream or a green avocado smoothie, we use the Vitamix blender or food processor. I have had mine for almost 10 years now and swear by the silent motor and ability to create silky, smooth beverages.

We also use it for soups, salsa and homemade nut butter! There is a reason this is the #1 blender on Food Network. For leftover smoothies, use these popsicle molds to freeze them for later!

These silicone popsicle molds are our absolute favorite for children because they are easy to hold and not difficult to clean.

Do you have any favorite baby led weaning avocado recipes? Share them in the comments below!