Banana Mash
Bebe E loves mashed bananas and it is such a nutritious and fresh first fruit (tongue twister?) for babies.
I buy organic bananas although I know that the peel is thick enough to protect the flesh from harmful whatever-bad-is-out-there. I found that these tend to be a bit smaller than non-organic bananas, but they’re perfect for bebe E. One banana is equal to approximately 3 servings for bebe E.
I cut up 1/3 of the banana into her BPA-free bowl (yes, I am all about the hype for NO BPA for bebe) and mash it until it is close to a purée but with little banana chunks that are easy for bebe E to practice chewing and swallow.
1/3 of the banana yields approximately 1 1/2 ounces of bebe banana food.
For breakfast, I usually mix this banana mash with organic brown rice cereal.
Oh, I should probably mention that I DID try to purée the banana with my trusty hand blender according to ‘The Baby & Toddler Cookbook” BUT the banana gets too frothy and filled with air. I tried to feed some of this to bebe E but I believe it was too gaseous for her sensitive tummy.
Rather than pureeing bananas, I highly recommend simply mashing them with a fork.
I bet you’re wondering what I do with the remaining 2/3 of the banana, huh? Especially since banana’s brown so easily. Well, if I don’t feel like eating it, and believe me I’ve eaten a lot of bananas lately, I take the remaining banana, mash it with a fork and scoop them into, you guessed it, Baby Cubes.
Mashed banana will keep in an airtight Baby Cube for 1 day, and in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When I know I’m going out with bebe E for a lunch date somewhere, I cut up a banana into large chunks and store them in one of her little BPA disposable bowls with lid, and keep it in her mini-cooler (which actually used to be my insulated lunch bag for work). When it’s time for lunch, I just mash her bananas and serve. They don’t brown and tend to keep quite well for just a few hours.
I hope my “bebe banana tip” helps you moms-on-the-go. :)
SIDEBAR: Just a few words on the featured cookbook… I absolutely love this book as I’ve probably mentioned in an earlier homemade bebe food post. I’ve cooked through almost all of the recipes for 6 month olds, and that’s a good thing since bebe E just turned 8 months old last Friday. I’ve only got zucchini, pears and avocados left – keep your eyes open for these exciting purees! (That was said with a little sarcasm.)
Judy | bebe mama
- ⅓ organic banana
- Cut up banana into slices.
- In a small baby bowl, mash with slices of banana with fork. Serve immediately.
