The Role of Avocados in Complementary and Transitional Feeding

Abstract

Infant dietary patterns tend to be insufficient sources of fruits, vegetables, and fiber, as well as excessive in salt, added sugars, and overall energy. Despite the serious long-term health risks associated with suboptimal fruit and vegetable intake, a large percentage of infants and toddlers in the U.S. do not consume any fruits or vegetables on a daily basis. Since not all fruits and vegetables are nutritionally similar, guidance on the optimal selection of fruits and vegetables should emphasize those with the greatest potential for nutrition and health benefits. A challenge is that the most popularly consumed fruits for this age group (i.e., apples, pears, bananas, grapes, strawberries) do not closely fit the current general recommendations since they tend to be overly sweet and/or high in sugar. Unsaturated oil-containing fruits such as avocados are nutritionally unique among fruits in that they are lower in sugar and higher in fiber and monounsaturated fatty acids than most other fruits, and they also have the proper consistency and texture for first foods with a neutral flavor spectrum. Taken together, avocados show promise for helping to meet the dietary needs of infants and toddlers, and should be considered for inclusion in future dietary recommendations for complementary and transitional feeding.

The Bioprocessing Quick Wins from Avocado Fruit in Uganda

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Drying Kinetics and Changes of Total Phenolic Content, Antioxidant Activity and Color Parameters of Mango and Avocado Pulp in Refractance Window Drying

“…Among food materials, avocado and mango are fascinating objects of study. Avocado fruits are superfoods rich in nutrients and phytochemicals [Comerford et al, 2016]. Mango possesses high nutritional value [Abbasi et al, 2015;Haytowitz et al, 2018;Shariful et al, 2015].…”

Scientifically Formulated Avocado Fruit Juice: Phytochemical Analysis, Assessment of Its Antioxidant Potential and Consumer Perception

“…Avocado could be a gateway fruit of the future in India. It possesses a large number of bioactive components and phytochemicals [3] and is responsible for cardiovascular medical advantages. The fruit is reported to play a significant role in defending against the advancement of CHDs (coronary heart diseases) [4,5].…”