I have never met a baby who didn’t like bananas. And what’s not to like? They’re soft, they’re sweet, and they’re easy to digest (although they can cause constipation in excess quantities!). They are also one of the easiest baby foods to prepare–just peel, mash, and feed. And while bananas do contain a lot of sugar, they are also nutrient rich providing fiber, potassium, iron, vitamin C, and vitamin B6. To top it all off, they are uber-frugal. I see them regularly for as little as $0.29 per pound!
But you don’t have to limit your baby to plain ol’ bananas. Instead, try mixing and matching bananas with some of your baby’s other favorite foods or use bananas to help introduce your baby to new flavors. Try a few of the palatable combinations below or make up some flavors of your own. Bananas are so mild that they go well with a variety of other foods.
Banana Yogurt
Ingredients
1 ripe banana, peeled and cut into chunks
1/4 cup plain yogurt
Directions
Add both ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
Bananacado (Maya loved this!)
Ingredients
2 ripe bananas, peeled and cut into chunks
1 avocado, pitted, scooped, and cubed
Directions
Add bananas and avocado to blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
Beans and ‘Nanas
Ingredients
2 ripe bananas, peeled and cut into chunks
1 cup beans of your choice cooked (butter beans and northern beans work especially well)
water, breastmilk, or formula to achieve desired consistency
Directions
Add all ingredients to blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
Banana Cocktail
Ingredients
1 ripe bananas, peeled and cut into chunks
1 apple or pear, peeled, cooked, and cut into chunks
1 peach, peeled and cut into chunks
Directions
Add all ingredients to blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
Banana Risotto
Ingredients
1 ripe banana, peeled and cut into chunks
1/2 cup brown rice, cooked until sticky
1-2 tablespoons plain yogurt
Directions
Add bananas, yogurt, and rice to blender or food processor and blend until creamy.
Tropical Chicken
Ingredients
1 ripe banana, peeled and cut into chunks
3 oz cooked chicken, cubed
2 tablespoons crushed pineapple
water, breastmilk, or formula as needed to achieve desired consistency
Directions
Add chicken to blender or food processor and pulse several times. Add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.
