Bananas, A Perfect Baby Food

A mashed ripe banana is an extremely simple and healthy baby food.

A banana is basic, but bursting with nutrients, making it an ideal fruit to choose as one of baby’s first “solid” foods. (Please note that the earliest you should introduce any solid food to a baby is at 6-8 months old.)

Bananas are called a perfect food for a perfectly logical reason:

Everything a person needs to survive is contained in this fruit. (Therefore, if stranded on a deserted island, you can consider yourself quite fortunate if it’s a banana island!)

Take a glance at the nutritional goodness packed into a banana:

Potassium, Fiber, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Selenium, Iron, Vitamins A, B2, B6, C, E, Niacin, Folate, and Pantothenic Acid. Furthermore, bananas are very easy to digest, seldom cause allergic reactions, and aid the intestines in making a valuable mucous lining.

Bananas are also perfectly convenient.

Parents don’t have to take time to wash them, as they are protectively “packaged” in their peels. In fact, it makes no sense to waste money on processed, jarred baby food bananas when what you’re really paying for is added sugar, starch, salt and water. In this way, production companies stretch the product and disguise off-flavors. Truthfully, a jar of commercially prepared banana baby food may contain no more than 30% fruit! Why pay for such mediocrity when fresh quality food is easily available and affordable? According to a 1995 evaluation of commercial baby food, the Center for Science in the Public Interest stated: “To give your baby the most nutritious and economical food, prepare your own baby food whenever possible. Using a blender or food processor, it is easy to puree most foods.”

With bananas, you don't even need a blender!

A fork will do the trick. Simply peel and mash a ripe banana (but do feed it to the baby right away, as the banana will turn brown quickly). And if you are just beginning your baby on solids, it’s a good idea to mix the mashed banana with a little breast milk to liquefy it even more.

Simple banana "recipes" your baby will enjoy (and you'll enjoy how easy they are!):

Mashed Banana-Avocado

Peel and mash the pulp of a ripe banana with the pulp of an avocado. Blend in a blender if a smoother consistency is desired.

Banana Oatmeal (for babies at least 8 months old)

Combine 1/4 cup rolled oats with 1/2 cup breast milk; bring to a boil, then simmer 5 min., stirring often. Mash 1/3 cup diced banana with 1/4 cup breast milk; mix into oatmeal.

Other foods you can puree with bananas for nutritious baby food include:

Apples, blueberries, kiwi, peaches, pears, cooked pumpkin, and cooked sweet potato.

Banana Baker

Yucky Bananas, Yummy Bakery