Baby Food Recipes with Mango
Mango is among the best addition you can make to your baby’s diet. Mango is a seasonal fruit. Therefore, it acts as an alternative to foods which your baby may have been bored. Mango is also classified among the best healthiest fruit you can give your baby.
In this article, we talk about introducing mango to your baby’s diet and we name 3 easy recipes for tasty homemade baby food.
The recipes in this article:
Recipe 1 – Mango puree
Recipe 2 – Mango and Rice
Recipe 3 – Mango, Strawberry, and Banana
You might also be interested in our recipes with avocado, kiwi fruit or strawberries.
When can a baby eat mango?
The recommended age to introduce mango into your baby’s diet is 8-10 months. Some individuals usually introduce this diet early at the age of 6 months immediately; the child begins to take semi-solid foods. It is a good idea to consult a medical practitioner at the best age to feed your baby with mangoes.
Recipe 1: Mango puree (8-10 months+)
The easiest recipe you can make using mango is mango puree.
Ingredients:
- 1 Mango
- ½ Cup breast milk or formula (optional)
Instructions:
Step 1 – Clean the mango, remove the pit and scoop out the meat.
Step 2 – Put the mango in a blender or use a hand blender to make a creamy puree. You can add some breast milk or formula to thin the puree.
If you want to make a batch of mango puree and freeze it, you can put small portions in kitchen storage containers or an ice cube form.
Recipe 2: Mango and rice (8-10 months+)
A very popular recipe is mango and rice.
Ingredients:
- 1 Mango
- ½ Cup rice (white or brown)
Instructions:
Step 1 – Bring a saucepan with a small amount of water to a boil.
Step 2 – Add the rice and boil it for 16-18 minutes.
Step 3 – Pour the water off and let the rice cool down.
Step 4 – Clean the mango, slice the mango en remove the pit. Scoop out the meat and put it in a blender, together with the rice.
Step 5 – Blend until you reach the desired consistency.
Recipe 3: Mango, strawberry, and banana (8-10 months+)
A sweet and tropical fruit snack for your little one.
Ingredients:
- 1 Mango
- 1 Cup strawberries
- ½ Bananas
Instructions:
Step 1 – Clean the mango, slice it and scoop out the meat.
Step 2 – Clean the strawberries and remove the green crowns.
Step 3 – Peel the bananas and chop 1/2 of the banana into pieces.
Step 4 – Put all the fruits into a blender or food processor and blend them into a smooth puree.
Feeding guide for mango
4-6 months | 7 months | 8 months | 9-10 months | 11-12 months | |
No. of tbs per portion | 1-2 | 2-3 | 2-3 | 2-4 | 2-4 |
No. of feedings per day | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Please keep in mind that this feeding guide only applies to mango. If you add other ingredients to the meal, such as meats and pasta’s, the guide doesn’t apply anymore.
We recommend that you consult with your baby’s pediatrician on introducing solid foods as generalities may not apply to your infant.
Which kitchen tools to use
In order to prepare these baby food recipes, you will need the following kitchen tools:
Blender or food processor
Knife
Tablespoon
Vegetable peeler
Cutting board
Saucepan
Food storage containers or an ice cube form
How to select and store mangoes for your baby
It is essential to select the right mango for your baby, which should be soft when touched and has a nice aroma. These are the two distinct qualities you need so as to determine a ripe mango. Be keen to detect any signs of bruises, cuts, blemishes, or nicks. Any kind of these damages may cause your fruit to rot specifically inside when you don’t have a clear view or can be an indication of a worm inside.
The best mango should be a little soft when squeezed and firm not puffy. You can only store ripe mangoes in a refrigerator for no more than five days. Keep unripe mangoes away from a refrigerator. It is advisable to keep them in a closed paper bag to ripen.
Nutritional Benefits
1. Helps indigestion
Mango fruit contains enzymes and biochemicals such as esters, terpenes, and aldehydes, which helps in promoting your baby’s digestion. In addition, mango is rich in fiber; therefore it helps in preventing any cases of constipation.
2. Good Eyesight
Vitamin A is the basic nutrient for vision development, which is found in a ripe mango. Also, mango has some content of iron, vitamin B, vitamin C, potassium, and protein.
3. Anti-microbial
Mango enhances epithelial function in your baby’s body, which helps in lowering microbial attack. Consumption of mangoes by baby will lessen any chances of developing sinusitis, a common cold, and rhinitis.
4. Improves your baby’s Immunity
Mango fruit is rich in beta-carotene. Basically, carotenoids help in the removal of the free radicals in your baby’s body, thus boosting your child’s immunity level. In addition, mango plays a vital role in preventing cancer and heart disease.
5. Brain Development
Mango is rich in vitamin B6, which helps in improving your baby’s brain functioning. In addition, it contains Glutamine acid, which is essential in enhancing your baby’s concentration and memory.
6. Good for skin
Vitamin A contained in mangoes not only help in improving your baby’s vision but also is good for your child’s skin. Vitamin A helps in keeping your baby’s skin glowing and soft. If you apply mango pulp to your baby, it will improve your baby’s skin complexion and moisture. This helps in preventing sunstrokes, which can cause dehydration to your baby’s skin.
7. Enhances Healthy weight gain
This fruit contains minimal content of fats and a huge amount of good calories, which helps a baby attain a healthy weight.