Avocado, banana & ghee mash — buttery good fats for gentle weight gain (6–12 months)
Buttery avocado and banana with a spoon of ghee — good fats for the baby who tires before the bowl is empty.
Why am I making this?
Some babies simply get full before they've eaten enough to grow. The answer isn't more food — it's richer food. Avocado and ghee pack a lot of calories into a few creamy spoons, and banana makes it sweet enough that babies take it without fuss. No cooking, no stress, just an easy way to add energy on a slow-appetite day. (Avocado also makes this a lovely pick for parents abroad who can find it easily.)
Ancient text
Wholesome fats, especially ghee, are among the best nourishers for one who needs building up.
The classical texts hold sneha — the wholesome fats, especially ghee — among the best nourishers for one who is thin and needs building up, and recommend pairing them with sweet, easily digested foods. A sweet fruit carrying ghee is exactly that principle made simple.
Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana — the chapters on nourishing fats (Sneha); Ashtanga Hridayam, Sutrasthana — Sneha Vidhi. Reviewed by the Aayu Ahaar editorial team.
Modern research
Avocado and ghee are rich in fat (~9 kcal/g), so an energy-dense mash helps babies who fill up before they meet their needs — the WHO approach of raising energy density rather than volume.
ICMR-NIN, Indian Food Composition Tables (IFCT) 2017 — fat and energy values for banana and added fats. WHO, Complementary feeding guidance — energy density of complementary foods and the role of added fats. Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), Infant & Young Child Feeding guidelines.
How to make it
What you'll need
- 1/4 small ripe avocado
- 1/2 small ripe banana
- 1/2 tsp ghee
- A tiny pinch of cardamom (optional)
- A little warm milk or water, to loosen
- Scoop the soft avocado and the banana into a bowl.
- Mash together with a fork until completely smooth and creamy — no lumps.
- Stir in the ghee (and a tiny pinch of cardamom if using). Loosen with a little warm milk or water to a soft, spoonable texture.
- Serve fresh at room temperature — avocado is best eaten right away.
How to feed it
| Texture | completely smooth, loosen with milk for younger babies |
| Portion | 2–3 tbsp as a snack between meals |
| How often | 3–4 times a week |
| Best time | mid-morning or evening snack |
What's inside
Grow this recipe with your child
| 6–8m | very smooth, thin with a little milk |
| 9–12m | slightly thicker, let baby self-feed soft spoonfuls |
| 1–2y | spread on a soft toast finger or roti piece |
| 2y+ | mash with a squeeze of lime as a quick dip-and-scoop snack |
What every mother asks
Avocado isn't an Indian food — does it fit?
Is avocado safe this young?
Will all this fat make my baby gain too fast?
A few honest notes
- Introduce avocado and banana separately first to rule out any reaction.
- Use only fully ripe, soft avocado and banana to avoid choking; mash smooth.
- Serve fresh — avocado browns and is best not stored.
- A companion to your paediatrician's growth advice, not a replacement.
Storage & make-ahead
Best made and served fresh, as avocado discolours quickly. If you must hold it briefly, press cling film onto the surface and refrigerate for no more than 2–3 hours; the banana keeps it from browning a little.
A gentle, honest note — this is one nourishing food among many, not a complete meal on its own. Aayu Ahaar walks beside the doctor's care, never in its place.