Black beans, Rice, queso fresco and Avocado
From 6 months · 4 foods
Ingredients
How to prepare each food
Black beans
Cook black beans until very soft, then mash or flatten each one well, or blend into a smooth spread (a no-salt hummus-style mash). Never offer a whole, intact bean at this stage. Skip added salt.
Mash or flatten every bean, or a smooth spread.
A whole, round bean is a choking shape. Mash or flatten each one until the airway-blocking shape is gone, and keep flattening round beans through the toddler years.
Rice
Cook rice until soft and sticky and let it cool to warm. Serve it as a thick mash or mix it into a vegetable, meat, or fruit purée. Sticky or short-grain rice that clumps is easier for a baby to handle than loose dry grains.
Serve as a thick, sticky mash or blended into a purée. No cutting needed.
queso fresco
Queso fresco is a soft, mild fresh cheese that crumbles easily. The most important step is to choose one made from pasteurized milk, since fresh cheeses made from unpasteurized milk can carry harmful bacteria. Crumble it very finely over soft purees and mashed vegetables, or stir it through warm food so it softens. It is mildly salty, so keep portions small.
Finely crumbled over soft food, or stirred into warm dishes. Avoid cubes or larger chunks.
Although soft, queso fresco can be a choking risk in firm cubes or large pieces. Serve it finely crumbled or stirred into warm food.
Avocado
A ripe avocado is one of the easiest first foods. Peel it, remove the pit, and mash the soft flesh smooth, or leave it slightly lumpy as your baby gets used to texture. You can also offer a thick finger-length wedge to hold and gnaw on. It is naturally soft and squishes easily between two fingers.
Smooth or lightly mashed, or a thick finger-length wedge to self-feed.
Avocado is soft and low-risk, but a very ripe one is slippery and can be hard for little hands to hold. Mash it or coat pieces lightly to help with grip, and always keep portions soft enough to squish between two fingers.
Putting it together
Prepare each ingredient using the age guidance above, then serve them together.
Cook with Lumi
In the nappi app, Lumi joins you in the kitchen. Chat about any recipe: adapt it to what you have at home, swap an ingredient, or ask questions while you cook.
Chat with Lumi in the appSources10
- AAP - Starting Solid Foods (around 6 months)
- NHS - What to feed your baby from around 6 months
- AAP - Choking prevention guidance for infants and toddlers
- CDC - Foods that are choking hazards for infants and toddlers
- USDA FoodData Central - Black beans (nutrient data)
- FDA - Arsenic in rice and rice products
- AAP - Why infant formula instead of cow's milk before 12 months
- AAP - Introducing common food allergens to your baby
- USDA FoodData Central - queso fresco (nutrient data)
- USDA FoodData Central - Avocado (nutrient data)
General informational content, not medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician about introducing new foods, especially if your baby has any medical conditions or family history of allergies.
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