IRVINE, Calif. — What is the #1 fruit recommended to parents as the best first food for babies? If you’re foremost pediatricians and authors Drs. Bill and Jim Sears, it’s the nutrient dense California avocado.
“Avocados are great for growing kids, they are one of the only fruits that contain monounsaturated fats,” said Dr. Jim Sears. “A one-ounce serving of avocado contains 3.5 grams of unsaturated fats, which are known to be important for normal growth and development of the central nervous system and brain.”
“California avocados are, in our opinion, an ideal food for babies,” said Dr. Bill Sears. “The avocado's smooth, creamy consistency makes it a great first fresh fruit for babies to enjoy. Additionally, they are easy to prepare. Ripe avocados can be served without any cooking; which is a big time saver for parents.”
The Drs. Sears include California avocados as both the number one fruit on their “Top 10 Fruits” list and as an entry on their “Top 12 Family Foods” list because avocados are nutrient dense, meaning they provide substantial amounts of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients with relatively few calories. One-fifth of a medium avocado, or a one-ounce serving, has 50 calories and contributes nearly 20 vitamins and minerals, including 4% of the recommended Daily Value (DV) for vitamin E, 4% vitamin C, 8% folate, 8% fiber, 2% iron, 4% potassium, with 81 micrograms of lutein and 19 micrograms of beta-carotene.
Prominent pediatricians, the Drs. Sears are the father-son duo behind AskDrSears.com. They are partnering with the California Avocado Commission to provide parents with nutrition information on avocados and advice about incorporating avocados into the various stages of baby and toddler diets for good growth and development. Dr. Bill Sears is the father of eight children and author of more than 40 books on childcare including the best-selling book, “The Baby Book.” Dr. Jim Sears is co-host of the medical daytime talk show, “The Doctors,” and co-author of five books on childcare including, “The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood” and “Father's First Steps: 25 Things Every New Dad Should Know.”
Another reason why California avocados are among the Sears' favorite foods for babies, infants, and children is their versatility. Here are a few of their recommendations on how to incorporate avocados into children’s diets:
Babies 6-9 months – As early as six months, California avocados can be a great first baby food.
Once the fruit is ripe; parents can cut and seed an avocado to serve in the following ways:
•Spoon-feed directly from the shell
•Mix mashed avocado with rice cereal
•Incorporate avocado puree with apple or pear sauce, cooked squash, or sweet potatoes
•Use a blender or food processor to make homemade baby food and add formula, juice or cooking water to thin out an easy-to-swallow avocado puree
Toddlers – Active toddlers can be opinionated eaters and like to graze their way through a variety of foods, so try offering foods they can eat on their own:
•Mix with oatmeal or mash with yogurt
•Set out a nibble tray with bite-sized portions of colorful foods with fun names such as avocado boats (quartered avocado)
•Prepare guacamole for kids to dip their food in for a fun and delicious snack
Young Children – Inspire kids to make healthy eating choices and offer a few lunchbox surprises with these tasty ideas:
•Spread a thin layer of peanut butter, thinly sliced tomatoes, a thick layer of guacamole, and a mound of alfalfa sprouts on whole wheat bread
•Puree avocado with lemon juice and a pinch of salt as a tasty salad dressing
•Offer guacamole with baked chips or quesadillas
•Mash avocados and spread on graham crackers, whole-grain bagels or muffins topped with raisins
California avocados can be spread, scooped and mashed making them a great food for children at any age. Include California avocados in your family’s diet to add great taste and nutrition like the good fats found in avocados to every meal. For more avocado meal ideas and nutrition information, visit CaliforniaAvocado.com/moms-and-kids.
To further promote California avocados as a first food for babies, the California Avocado Commission is sponsoring the Avo Babies Scholarship Contest. Parents can upload photos of their babies enjoying avocados on Facebook from Mother’s Day through Father’s Day for a chance to win the grand prize of a $5,000 scholarship or one of the two first-place prizes of a $2,500 scholarship. The contest will be held May 8 – June 19, 2011. For more information, visit: CaliforniaAvocado.com/Avo-Babies
About the California Avocado Commission
Created in 1978, the California Avocado Commission strives to increase demand for California avocados through advertising, promotion and public relations, and engages in related industry activities that benefit the state’s nearly 5,000 avocado growers. The California Avocado Commission serves as the official information source for California avocados and the California avocado industry. For information about California avocados, visit CaliforniaAvocado.com, become a fan at Facebook.com/CaliforniaAvocados and follow the California Avocado Commission on Twitter at Twitter.com/CA_Avocados.
Source: California Avocado Commission
