Mango is a beloved seasonal juicy fruit packed with essential nutrients. Ask anybody and they will tell you how much they love to snack on this fruit during the summer season.
It is also hypoallergenic, and easy to digest, making it a great choice for babies as well. You may be excited to give your little one a taste of this deliciously juicy fruit, but you still need to wait till the right age and know appropriate ways to feed this fruit to your munchkin.
When Can Your Baby Eat Mango?
Most babies can eat ripe mangoes from around the age of six months when they start eating solid foods. You can begin by feeding your little one small amounts of lump-free smooth mango mash or puree. Once your baby develops the taste and digestibility of the fruit, you can consider adding mango mash/puree to other foods, such as beetroot or banana mash to create a more versatile meal option for them.
If your baby is older than nine months, you can serve bite-sized and small pieces of mango, serve minced mango on top of cheese or yogurt to practice finger-feeding. In the case of baby-led weaning, serve thinly sliced mango wedges (without the peel or skin) to your baby to hold and eat. However, remember mango without the peel can be slippery. Hence, monitor your baby carefully while they are self-feeding to prevent the risk of choking.
Also, note that unripe mango has a tangy sharp taste, with a hard texture. It is rich in starch and pectin as well and may upset your baby’s digestive system. Hence, feeding unripe mangoes to your baby isn’t advisable.
Health Benefits Of Mango For Babies
Mango is a fruit rich in hydration, bioactive compounds, and vital nutrients that help your baby grow and develop healthily. It also provides the following health benefits to your baby:
- Aids digestion: Mango is packed with dietary fibre and feeding them to your baby, as a part of their daily, balanced diet can help them get adequate fibre. This is can help promote better digestion in your baby and avert stomach conditions like gas and constipation.
- Supports healthy growth and development: Mango is an energy-dense fruit enriched with several vital nutrients such as vitamin A, which is responsible for the healthy functioning of different body parts. Vitamin A also helps form healthy hair and skin in babies and aids in their vision development.
- Strengthens your baby’s immune system: mango is an excellent source of vitamins A and C, and several phytochemicals such as phenolic acids and flavonoids. These compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help in making your baby’s immune system robust and keep them away from seasonal infections.
Besides these, mangoes also offer small amounts of folate, iron, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin B6. These nutrients are again responsible for performing different physiological functions, responsible for your little one’s growth and development.
4 Healthy And Tasty Mango Recipes For Your Baby
Mangoes have a soft texture that makes them easy to puree or mash. Always use fresh and ripe mangoes to feed your baby, and try the following tasty and healthy mango recipes for babies.
Mango And Banana Mash
This recipe is ideal for your baby’s lunchtime and packs a punch of vitamins and minerals that replenish their daily nutritional requirements.
You will need:
- ½ cup ripe mango pulp, chopped
- ½ cup ripe banana, chopped
How to prepare:
- Put the mango pieces and banana in a bowl. Use a fork to gently mash the pieces and make a lump-free, smooth paste.
- If needed, add some formula or milk to adjust the consistency of the past. Feed the mash to your baby immediately.
Mango Puree
This recipe is a great way to incorporate mango into your little one’s diet. Your little one will definitely enjoy the sweet taste of mango puree, and once they grow a bit older, you can add the puree to their other meals as well.
You will need:
- A ripe mango, chopped and peeled
How to prepare:
- Blend the mango pulp in the blender until it reaches a smooth and lump-free consistency.
- Transfer the puree to your little one’s feeding bowl to feed them. If needed, add some breast milk to adjust the consistency of the puree.
- Once your baby is comfortable having the mango puree, try mixing it with other foods such as sweet potatoes, pear, butternut squash, oatmeal, and applesauce.
Mango Pineapple Smoothie Bowl
This recipe is suitable for babies older than 12 months. You can give them this smoothie bowl during breakfast or also as a light snack. Both ways, the recipe will benefit them in many ways, as it is packed with essential nutrients and dietary fibre.
You will need:
- ⅓ cup of frozen mango and banana
- ⅓ cup frozen pineapple
- ⅓ cup of fresh pineapple and mango, thinly sliced into small pieces
- ¼ cup cooked quinoa
- Unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tablespoon of coconut flakes
- 2 tablespoons of granola
How to prepare:
- Blend the quinoa, frozen fruits, and almond milk into a lump-free smoothie, using a food processor.
- Pour the smoothie into a bowl and top it with fresh pineapple and mango pieces. Add the granola and coconut flakes as well.
- Serve it to your little one and encourage them to self-feed.
Mango Popsicle
Your little one will enjoy this popsicle, especially on hot summer days. It’s sweet, refreshing, and a perfect way to keep them cool during the day.
You will need:
- 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt
- 2 cups of frozen or fresh mango cubes
- 1 tablespoon of raisin puree
How to prepare:
- Blend the ingredients into a smooth, lump-free liquid. Add more mango, or the other ingredients to adjust the consistency or taste.
- Pour the liquid into popsicle molds and freeze them for at least 4-6 hours until firm.
- Serve it chilled to your child.
Mango is a delicious fruit, packed with a bunch of nutrients and bioactive compounds that promote better digestion and aid in the healthy growth and development of your baby. It has many health benefits and you can start giving this tropical fruit to your child around the age of six months. If you are worried about allergies to mango, consult with your doctor first, and then incorporate it into your little one’s diet.
