The high beta-carotene content of mango - evident in its vibrant orange flesh - is converted by your baby's body to vitamin A.
Rich in anti-oxidants, mango helps boost the immune system and can play a role in preventing serious diseases like cancer and heart disease.
Mangoes - and other foods high in vitamin C - help your baby absorb more iron from the foods he eats. That means that
it's a good idea to serve mango with meat dishes, or with other iron-rich foods. This is a natural way to boost your little
one's iron intake and make sure that his iron levels are sufficient to meet his needs.
Mango is not considered to be one of the top allergenic foods - yet!
However, it seems that experts feel the number of people allergic to
mango will rise as the fruit becomes more popular in parts of the world where it was previously not available, so it
is currently classified as an 'emerging allergen'.
Mango allergy is usually a reaction to the sap of the mango tree or to the skin itself. Allergy to the flesh of the mango
is less common. This is because the skin
contains a chemical called 'urushiol' - the same chemical that's found in poison ivy and sumac, both well known
for their potential to cause a nasty reaction on contact.
The symptoms of mango allergy are varied, including redness, itching or flaking around the mouth, swelling of the face, throat
or tongue (sometimes serious), runny nose, wheezing, vomiting and abdominal cramps.
You should - of course - always contact your doctor if you think your child is experiencing an allergic reaction to mango,
or any other food.
Your baby should not usually be given anything other than breast milk or formula for the first 6 months of life (see our guide to
introducing solids for more information).
You may then wish to discuss with your doctor the best time for introducing mango to your baby, particularly if there
is any family history of allergy. Some parents choose to wait to introduce mango to their babies towards the end
of their first year, or at least wait until their little ones have been safely introduced to a variety of other fruits
and veggies.
We don't recommend mango as a first food for baby for several reasons...
the risk of allergic reaction is higher than with some other fruits, such as apple
or banana,
which are more 'baby friendly'!
mango's high fibre content may cause diarrhea if your baby's digestive system is still a little too immature to cope with it.
some parents have found that mango may trigger a diaper rash (nappy rash).
When you do decide to offer mango to your baby for the first time, remember to serve it separately, following
the four day rule, which will help you judge if it causes any problems for your little one.
There are lots of different types of mangos available worldwide and they tend to vary in appearance AND taste.
Some lower quality mangos can be really fibrous (almost hairy!) inside - and some have a peculiar chemical taste
(these are referred to as 'turpentine mangos'). Underripe mangos, too, can be very acrid.
But if that's been YOUR experience with mangos up to now, don't be deterred from this tropical treasure - you may
find another variety far more to your taste (and your baby's!).
Mango.org offers a helpful guide to the many
varieties of mango available.
However, OUR favourites - and those of our little ones - are
Alphonso
Ataulfo
Kensington Pride
We recommend them if you can get them - we think they have the best taste AND texture!
Choose a ripe mango to use on the day of purchase or a slightly underripe one to use a few days later.
How to tell if a mango is ripe...
You can't tell if a mango is ripe by looking at it - some varieties still look green, even when they're
ready to eat. And others may have lovely red patches, but still be underripe!
Instead..
Smell the mango - it should have a sweet and aromatic fragrance at the stem end. If there is no scent, it's underripe - if it has that kerosene/turpentine smell,
avoid it, because it will probably have a chemical flavour, too!
Squeeze the mango to test for firmness, in the same way you'd test a peach. If it gives a little
to pressure, then it's ripe.
DON'T put unripe mangoes in the fridge - they'll never ripen! Instead, pop them in a paper bag, which will speed up the process.
Once your mangoes ARE ripe, you can store them in the refrigerator for 4-5 days - or peel and dice them, then freeze them
for up to 6 months (although we suggest using them within one month for baby food).
Mangos are not the easiest things to prepare for eating! The flattish stone inside makes them difficult to cut as efficiently as you
might like - and they're so juicy they make quite a mess!
There are a few different ways to peel and cut a mango...
Our favourite (but maybe more unusual) technique is to peel the mango with a Soft Skin Peeler, THEN to cut the flesh away
from the pit
You could also try using an OXO Good Grips Mango Splitter
(advertisement), which is a neat solution to a common problem!
OR - you can simply cut off the fatter sections of the mango (known as the cheeks) by
cutting parallel to the flat seed, THEN cut off the remaining sections, THEN scoop out the flesh with a spoon. Another
popular technique is to score the mango with a sharp knife in a 'checker-board' pattern (as shown on the right),
then turn the skin inside out to push up the cubes, which may be removed with a sharp knife.
Cooking mango - is it necessary?
In general, no - mango is perfectly digestible and delicious served to your baby just as it is. However, we have a page
devoted to helping you decide whether or not to cook fresh produce for your baby here -
Fruits and vegetables for baby - do they have to be cooked?
Divide the mango flesh into two portions.
Chop one portion very finely. Put the second portion into your food processor and blend until smooth.
Stir the finely chopped mango AND the pureed mango into the yogurt, along with the vanilla extract.
Serve, topped with a sprinkle of healthy wheat germ.
Print Friendly
Mash the cooked sweet potato.
Either puree or finely chop the mango and stir into the sweet potato, alomg with a good pinch of cinnamon.
At this point, we like to add coconut milk
(read more about using coconut
in your baby food recipes) - it gives a wonderful flavour! But it's not essential if you don't have any to hand.
Serve warm or cold.
Print Friendly
4 oz (1/2 cup) silken tofu
1 mango, peeled and pitted
drop vanilla extract
pinch ground ginger
4 fl oz (1/2 cup) natural yogurt
Simply blend all ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Serve chilled.
Print Friendly
Mango Ice Cream Recipe - (dairy and sugar free)
1/2 mango, peeled and pitted
1 small banana
1 large strawberry (you may wish to omit the strawberry if your baby is under 12 months of age - more information here)
1 lb silken tofu
Blend all the ingredients thoroughly in a food prcoessor, then transfer to the freezer.
Print Friendly
1 cooked, boneless, skinless chicken breast, chopped
1 mango, peeled and pitted
2 fl oz (1/4 cup) chicken stock (here's how to make your own)
4 fl oz (1/2 cup) natural yogurt
1/2 tsp turmeric
Dice the mango flesh, then puree in a food processor with the chicken stock, yogurt and turmeric.
Pour into a small saucepan and warm, gently.
Pour over the chopped chicken, mix well and serve with brown rice or cous cous.
Print Friendly
On this page...
(advertisement), which is a neat solution to a common problem!
