Mango is one of the exotic fruits in the world with great health benefits. Some of the health benefits from mangoes in baby food includes protection of eyesight, fights microbial infections, easily digestible, improvement in brain development and many more.

Cultivated mainly in the tropics of India and South East Asia, mango is considered to be the ‘King of Fruits’. The benefits that we can realize from mangoes include easily digestible, protection of eyesight, fights microbial infections and improvement in brain development.

In South East Asia, summers are very hot and tough. But people have a great reason to celebrate summer and that is, arrival of summer brings mangoes. In India, mango is a welcome as it is eaten both in unripe and ripe states. Unripe and extremely sour mangoes are craze, as most households prepare mango pickles which last for more than a year. Ripe mangoes are also a craze due to their sweet taste. It is eaten after meals and/or in the evenings.

Mango is believed to have originated in South East Asia. One can find many varieties of mango fruit which vary in size, shape, texture and taste. While some unripe mangoes are very sour, others are less sour. As the fruit ripens, the sourness disappears and what remains is a very sweet flavour. While in some mangoes, the flesh with fiber texture develops into sweet juice and with seemingly hard flesh would develop into smooth and soft fruit. Most of these varieties have been cultivated in India for a very long time. India is the highest producer of mangoes in the world, with over 16 million tonnes produced in 2010-2011, while the whole world’s share of mangoes is about 38 million tonnes.

Mangoes for babies

Now a question of whether or not mangoes can be fed to baby food arises. Well, the answer is yes. The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends introducing fruits such as mango, apple, avocado, banana, etc and vegetables such as carrot, peas, green beans which are pureed.

When can my baby have mango?

Make sure to feed mangoes only to babies who are at least 6 months of age and those for whom solid or semi solid food has already started.

Nutritional information about mango

Principle	Nutrient Value	Percentage of RDA
Energy	70 Kcal	3.5%
Carbohydrates	17 g	13%
Protein	0.5 g	1%
Total Fat	0.27 g	1%
Cholesterol	0 mg	0%
Dietary Fiber	1.80 g	4.5%
Vitamins
Folates	14 µg	3.5%
Niacin	0.584 mg	3.5%
Pantothenic acid	0.160 mg	1%
Pyridoxine (vit B-6)	0.134 mg	10%
Riboflavin	0.057 mg	4%
Thiamin	0.058 mg	5%
Vitamin C	27.7 mg	46%
Vitamin A	765 IU	25.5%
Vitamin E	1.12 mg	7.5%
Vitamin K	4.2 µg	3.5%
Electrolytes
Sodium	2 mg	0%
Potassium	156 mg	3%
Minerals
Calcium	10 mg	1%
Copper	0.110 mg	12%
Iron	0.13 mg	1.5%
Magnesium	9 mg	2%
Manganese	0.027 mg	1%
Zinc	0.04 mg	0%
Phyto-nutrients
Carotene-ß	445 µg	—
Carotene-α	17 µg	—
Crypto-xanthin-ß	11 µg	—
Lutein-zeaxanthin	0 µg	—
Lycopene	0 µg	—

(Source: USDA National Nutrient Data base)

Introduce mango to your baby not because, it is an exotic and seasoned fruit. But, introduce it because, it contains a lot of good things that your baby needs for developing a strong body and mind.

Fruits such as mangoes contain high amount of vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. It would be an understatement to say that vitamins and minerals are essential for your baby. In fact, underestimating their role in baby’s growth can result in deficiencies later on.

How to cut a mango for a baby?

The skin helps baby grip this slippery fruit, so make sure it is squeaky clean. Take the mango and stand it upright with the stem down on a cutting board. Cut around the pit, leaving two large “cheeks” of mango. Slice each cheek lengthwise, or about 4 to 5 slices per cheek. Slowly feed these slices to your baby in order to avoid choking.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF MANGO FOR BABIES

Good for eyesight:

The eyesight of new born babies is not as much developed as adult humans. Their sight efficiency develops during the course of their growth in the subsequent months. During this time, good supply of vitamin A is needed for proper and quick development of eye sight. Ripe mango can be a very good choice because it is high in vitamin A. (HK Bakhru, Foods That Heal).

Easily digestible:

Puree of mango fruit is easily digestible, especially for infants. Feeding them with mangoes is also advantageous because, mangoes contain enzymes and biochemicals such as esters, terpenes and aldehydes which promote digestion. (Organic Facts.net).

Fights microbial infections:

One might wonder about this benefit. Eating mango fruit promotes epithelial function in the body and thereby the attack of microbes is reduced to a significant extent. The microbes attacking can bring in common colds, rhinitis, sinusitis, etc.

Strengthens immunity:

Infants and children have a weak immune system and it would be developing stage. During this period any food that promotes the immune function is a welcome. Mangoes are such fruits which promote immune system in your baby. The high carotene and beta-carotene content present in mangoes promotes the immune system and makes it stronger.

Enables brain development:

Brain development is also important in infants as body development. Brain functioning improves by consuming mangoes. Mangoes are rich in vitamin B-6 which helps in improved brain functioning. Apart from vitamin B-6, mangoes contain glutamine acid and it is known to improve memory and concentration. (Organic Facts.net).

Protection against sunstroke:

Another benefit of mangoes during summer is their protection against sunstroke and hot winds. Unripe mangoes can either be cooked in hot ashes or steam boiled and the pulp obtained can be made into a squash mixed with sugar and water. This juice taken during hot summers can protect against dehydration and sunstroke. This is fit to be given for toddlers who are up and running all day during summers. (HK Bakhru, Foods That Heal).

Measures to be taken while feeding mangoes

The age of the baby: Make sure to feed mangoes only to babies who are at least 6 months of age and those for whom solid or semi solid food has already started.

Texture of the fruit: The texture of the mango fruit is also important. Feed only mashed up mango fruit and make sure that it does not contain any fibers. Some mangoes can have number of fibers which can make swallowing difficult for your baby.

Do not feed unripe mango: Unripe mango is not to be fed to infants. Unripe mango can be very sour and babies might not like it and moreover, unripe mangoes can be indigestible to many infants.

Check out for allergies: Mango being a tropical fruit might be allergic to some people. If there is history of food allergies in your family, then take your paediatrician’s advice, as food allergies can pass down from generations. Also perform, the 4 day test to make sure that your baby is not allergic to mangoes.

12 DELICIOUS RECIPES OF MANGO FOR BABIES

Mango lassi

Do you like mango lassis? A favorite drink at Indian restaurants, they’re easy to make at home. Lassis come in all kinds of flavors, some are salty, some are sweet, some have mint, some have fruit. A mango lassi is basically a yogurt based mango milkshake or smoothie. Lassis have yogurt as the primary ingredient. Yogurt, especially probiotic yogurt has healthy gut cleansing bacteria, which helps in aiding digestion and keeps your stomach cool and healthy. Therefore, a glass of mango lassi would be a healthy yet tasty drink for your baby. Link for the recipe:

Link for the recipe: https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/mango_lassi/

Mango salsa

A twist on the Mexican recipe of salsa, this recipe has a balance of sweetness and tanginess, which makes it both healthy and tasty for your baby.

Link for the recipe: https://cookieandkate.com/2015/fresh-mango-salsa-recipe/

Mango smoothie:

Smoothies are probably the healthiest drinks that you can feed your baby. They’re packed with nutrients and flavours. Mango smoothies are refreshing drinks for summer and must be included in your baby’s diet.

Link for the recipe: https://www.foodiecrush.com/mango-smoothie-plus-11-favorite-smoothie-recipes/

Mango puree:

If you don’t have much time in hand, you can simply feed your kid mango puree. It is made in a jiffy and tastes delicious on its own.

Link for the recipe: https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/mango-puree-101134

Mango salad:

Mango salad can be made with loads of fruits and veggies along with the mangoes. The flavors are nuanced and would suit your baby’s taste buds.

Full recipe here: https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/mango-salad-106065

Mango sticky rice:

If your baby shows a tendency to have more sweet foods, then you can make this delicious thai dessert for them. It is easy to prepare and super tasty!

Link for the recipe: https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/sticky-rice-with-mango-12066

Mango and carrot puree:

Preparation time: 20 minutes

You will need:

• 1 ripe mango (peeled and chopped)
• 2 to 3 carrots (peeled and chopped)
• 1/2 cup water

How to:

1. Add carrots and mango into a cooker and pour half cup water.
2. Cook for 10 minutes. Mash the contents with a spoon after it cools down.

Apple mango yogurt puree:

Preparation time: 10 minutes

You will need:

• 1 ripe mango (peeled and chopped)
• 2tbsp yogurt
• 1/4 cup apple/pear juice/water

How to:

1. Mash mango dices until smooth. Add yogurt, and juice to get the desired consistency.

Banana mango tango:

Preparation time: 10 minutes

You will need:

• 1/2 cup mashed mango
• 1 peach (ripe, pitted, mashed)
• 1 banana (mashed)

How to:

1. Add in all the ingredients into a bowl and mash them together. Add a little water to achieve desired consistency.

Note: you may add a cereal or grain to this recipe. The mix goes well even with pork or chicken. Other fruits that are good to go with mangoes are melons, blueberries, and avocado.

Mango juice or milkshake:

Preparation time: 15 minutes

You will need:

• 1/4 cup mango pulp
• 1/4 cup water
• 2tsp sugar
• 1/8 cup milk

How to:

1. Add all the ingredients into a blender and blend for two minutes. If desired, add a few ice cubes and the mango juice for babies is ready.

Note: by adding a little water and milk to mango slices and blending it well, you can prepare mango smoothie for a baby.

Mango ice cream:

Preparation time: 15 minutes

You will need:

• 1/2 mango (peeled, cut)
• 1 banana (diced)
• 1lb silken tofu

How to:

1. Blend in the ingredients thoroughly in a food processor.
2. Place the mixture in the freezer until chill.

Mango chicken:

Preparation time: 20 minutes

You will need:

• 1 cup chicken (cooked, boneless, chopped)
• 1 cup mango slices or flesh
• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup yogurt
• 1/2tsp turmeric

How to:

1. Blend mango flesh, yogurt, turmeric, and chicken stock in a food processor.
2. Transfer the ingredients to a saucepan and warm.
3. Top with cooked chicken pieces and mix well.

Note: You may serve it with cous cous or brown rice.

We hope you enjoy these delicious recipes and reap the health benefits of the king of fruits. Enjoy!