Zucchini and avocado as baby's first foods?

[Shell]

I had never eaten avocado until about 2 years ago when one of my dc kids mentioned it was one of his favorite foods. I bought some for him and since I'm always trying to get the kids to try new foods, I thought I'd better put my money where my mouth is. I found that I like them very much and now include it in my lunches and snack rotations. Some of the kids still won't eat them but a few enjoy them, too.

I love avocado and used to have a family that would give me a spoon and an avocado sliced in half, without the seed. Her girls would just scoop it right out- always thought that was cool. I can't seem to interest the other kids though- ni matter which way I cut it, mash it, spread it,etc. I can occasionally sneak some in the form of guacamole, as long as there are chopped tomatoes. I actually enjoy it cut into wedges in a salad- pairs well with hard boiled egg.

[BrooklynM]

I think because we have so much access to them in California we just eat them more. They've always been a staple on my fridge and a sandwich or salad isn't the same without them. Guacamole and chips is a major weakness of mine!

My husband is from the Midwest and he never ate avacodos or artichokes for that matter! My family grew artichokes so I had them almos everyday. When I moved away I couldn't believe how expensive they were in the store!

[nannyde]

Perfect for babies!

[e.j.]

My husband is from the Midwest and he never ate avacodos or artichokes for that matter! My family grew artichokes so I had them almos everyday.

Artichokes are another food I haven't tried yet. I was just in the grocery store this weekend and when I saw some, I said that was my next food to try with the kids. There's a trick to eating/serving them, isn't there? Do they taste anything like avocados?

[Little Buttons]

Avocado is the way to go!!! That was my son's first food as well! Yummy!

[BrooklynM]

Artichokes are another food I haven't tried yet. I was just in the grocery store this weekend and when I saw some, I said that was my next food to try with the kids. There's a trick to eating/serving them, isn't there? Do they taste anything like avocados?

They taste nothing like avacados I cut some of the top off, then I clip with scissors all of the pointy leaves so they are all flat (it helps them cook faster), I cut off the very end of the stem, just a bit because I love eating the stem. I steam them. Some people dip the leaves in mayonnaise or butter but I like them plain! Sooooo good!

[e.j.]

They taste nothing like avacados I cut some of the top off, then I clip with scissors all of the pointy leaves so they are all flat (it helps them cook faster), I cut off the very end of the stem, just a bit because I love eating the stem. I steam them. Some people dip the leaves in mayonnaise or butter but I like them plain! Sooooo good!

I guess I'm going to have to do some research before I decide to serve them to my dc kids. I didin't even know they needed to be cooked! How bad is that?! ::

[SilverSabre25]

Avocados sprinkled with just a little bit of salt....mmmmm soooo tasty. The salt really helps bring out the flavor IMO.

[MotherNature]

We don't do purees here either. Baby led weaning first foods include sweet potatoes, avocado, and banana chunks, all safe, and great for the baby. We skipped cereals too.

[daycarediva]

I love avocado and used to have a family that would give me a spoon and an avocado sliced in half, without the seed. Her girls would just scoop it right out- always thought that was cool. I can't seem to interest the other kids though- ni matter which way I cut it, mash it, spread it,etc. I can occasionally sneak some in the form of guacamole, as long as there are chopped tomatoes. I actually enjoy it cut into wedges in a salad- pairs well with hard boiled egg.

That's how we eat them. I add sea salt, someone else said it, it's YUM!

I add very ripe avocado to mayo, use for sandwiches and sneak it in there.

[NeedaVaca]

I love avocado too and make them sliced, dredged in panko crumbs and baked "Avocado fries" yummy with dipping sauce!

[LysesKids]

Fresh guacamole.... yum. Even my one year olds love dipping soft pita bread in that. I do a lot of ethnic dishes though, always have; I figure the rest o the world has been doing it this way for their babies for ages, why is the US ass backwards when it comes to first foods, much less mixing things up before a certain age. Part of the reason I dropped the food program.

[craftymissbeth]

We don't do purees here either. Baby led weaning first foods include sweet potatoes, avocado, and banana chunks, all safe, and great for the baby. We skipped cereals too.

I do purees for just a little while, but after that it's all baby lead weaning for me, too. I had a child once whose parents fretted over his food so much that he was literally incapable of "saving" himself when he started to gag. The gagging turned into choking almost every time. He was almost 5 and his food had to be cut up into tiny pieces

Since I started the baby lead weaning approach, I've noticed that not only do my babies self feed faster, but they also at least try everything I throw at them happyface

[LysesKids]

We don't do purees here either. Baby led weaning first foods include sweet potatoes, avocado, and banana chunks, all safe, and great for the baby. We skipped cereals too.

Ditto

I usually have a few babies come in from overseas so I go by their rules... they feed their babies softer versions of their own meals until the kids get the hang of it. I had one Japanese baby feeding himself sweet omelet and rice balls at 10 months (2004); his mom taught me a lot of cool and quick meals and I just continued... heck my babies eat a mild Thai red curry by a year old