Simple Purees – Round #2 – Fruits

I'm seriously on a roll here :) My third post in a week...I've kept me word so far and I hope to continue doing so (fingers & toes crossed!)

So today we move on to fruits. Fruits are just bound to be loved by kids. The sweet taste is just too much for any baby to resist. Some basic first fruits you can try are:

Bananas

Image source : http://romanlosangelez.wordpress.com

Wholesome and nutritious most babies just LOVE bananas, perhaps the most nutritious of all the fruits. The taste, texture and ease of preparation make them ideal for baby's first food.

The method of preparation is so simple, there is no method - just mash a ripe banana and baby's meal is ready! For very young babies, you can add a little formula or breast milk for a runnier consistency.

Apples

Image source: http://www.newhealthguide.org

1. Take a sweet dessert apple, then peel it, core it and cut it into chunks.

2. Steam the chunks, or slice very thinly and simmer gently with about 1 tbsp of water, until soft.

3. You can puree apple very easily by passing it through a sieve or fine strainer. 

 Here’s a recipe to make your own applesauce to add to cereals if you like.

Pears

Image source: http://mprunotto.com

Pears can be peeled, cored and prepared like apples (above), although very ripe pears can be pureed without cooking for babies from 6 months of age.

Like apples, pears can sometimes be very runny in texture once pureed. So, after you have safely introduced them to your baby, try using them in combination with another fruit ... or vegetable!

Avocado 

Avocado is highly nutritious, creamy in texture and a perfect baby food.

Choose a ripe avocado, then simply peel and remove the stone. You can then mash the fruit with a fork - the consistency is similar to banana, so you won't need to puree it any further.

Image source: http://www.drjoanna.com.au

Read more at Homemade Baby Food Recipes. they have some really good tips and information about do's and don'ts on feeding your baby through to 1 year olds. And also their blog has quite a few interesting recipes as well.

Notes:
Apples - May turn brown - freeze in slices for a nice teething reliever [raw]
Avocado - May turn brown when pureed - best frozen in halves with a bit of lemon juice [raw]
Bananas - May brown when pureed - best way to freeze, cut in half, wrap then freeze [raw]
Pears - May turn brown - freeze well but may be gritty/watery when thawed [raw or cooked]