Previously we spoke about the health benefits of bananas for your baby. Now that you're acquainted with all those benefits, you're probably dying to prepare a delicious banana treat for your little boy or girl. Here's one of the simplest recipes available that delivers all of the incredible nutritional benefits of banana in a preparation method that's easy for your baby to chew and digest:
Step 1: Acquire Fresh and Ripe Bananas
First, you'll need to get a hold of bananas that are "just right." Bananas that are green will be hard for your baby to digest, but bananas that are old and covered with brown spots are also poor choices. At your local supermarket, pick up a bunch of bananas that are fully yellow and as spotless as possible. Also, it's best to choose organic bananas whenever possible.
Step 2: Clean and Slice a Banana
Before you peel it, it's best to wash your banana in a mixture of three parts water and one part vinegar. Then, rinse your banana under cool water, and dry it. Next, peel the banana and remove the tips of the fruit. Finally, slice the banana into coin-shaped segments, and quarter these segments.
Step 3: Puree the Banana
Use a food processor or blender to puree the banana. Don't be concerned in the banana changes color after it's pureed since this is normal for this type of fruit. If you want to alter the consistency of your pureed banana, you can add breastmilk or formula (like Holle baby formula) to the mix.
Alternatively, you can mash your banana in a bowl with a potato masher if your baby is 10 months old or older. Babies that have reached this age are generally able to chew banana when it is in a chunkier form.
Step 4: Add Optional Ingredients
Before you serve your banana puree to your baby, you might want to add some optional ingredients. For instance, avocado is another soft food that babies love, and you can make your puree taste more tart by adding peach, cherries, or blueberries. Also, pureed banana mixes well with oatmeal or full-fat yogurt.
Step 5: Freeze or Refrigerate for Later
If you have any banana puree leftover, this baby food favorite stays good in the refrigerator for up to three days. Also, frozen puree can be thawed and served months after it was prepared. Just make sure to store your banana dish in BPA-free containers.