Banana

Age of Introduction|  4-5 months 

Ingredients|  4 medium bananas; do not add water 

Yield|  2 c. puree (16 cubes) 

Prep Time|  4-6 minutes 

Cook Time|  No cooking required 

Storage|  Freeze up to 3 months; refrigerator storage not recommended 

Choose|  Bananas can be purchased at different levels of ripening (almost totally green peels, not ripe at all — bright yellow with green near stems or light yellow with speckles, very ripe and ready to eat).  No matter their ripeness, bananas should have no obvious bruises, black spots, or breaks in peel.

Ripen bananas on your countertop at room temperature – usually takes 2-3 days depending on level of ripeness when purchased.  When bananas begin to get brown speckles or a bit darker (not totally black), they are perfect for mashing into puree.  

Prep|  Place peeled ripe bananas into a large bowl and mash with fork until just slightly lumpy, pudding-like consistency.  (If using as baby food, puree bananas in food processor until smooth.  Add water, breast milk, or formula as needed for desired consistency.)  

Serve|  The sequence of baby ages is listed to show the appropriate stages of introduction for foods that pair well with banana puree.  All of the suggestions for 8 months and older are also appropriate for older children and adults.

4-5 months	Plain or mix with rice cereal
6-7 months	Mix with rice or oat cereal Combine with mango, pumpkin, or pear puree or applesauce
8 months	Mix with rice, oat, or multigrain cereal Mix with cooked brown rice Stir into plain whole milk yogurt Stir in wheat germ Any suggestions from 6-7 months
9-24 months	Mix with mashed raspberries, blackberries, or cherries Any suggestion from 6-8 months
2 years & older	Mix with plain nonfat or lowfat yogurt Any suggestion from 6-8 months

Related Recipes|  Strawberry Banana Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting – Dark Chocolate Banana Bread – Banana French Toast – Whole Grain Banana Nut Pancakes – Carrot Oat Bran Muffins – Fruit, Yogurt & Granola Parfaits – Fruited Yogurt – Peanut Butter and Jelly Banana Flax Muffins – Peanut Butter Banana Flax Bread – Guilt-Free Chocolate Popsicles (pictured below)

Main Nutrients| Vitamin C – Dietary Fiber – Potassium – Vitamin B6