In order for our children to learn well, we must nourish their brains with the proper foods. Avocados are an excellent brain building food for children. These bumpy little fruits (yep they are a fruit) are full of omega 3 fatty acid, vitamin E and have more potassium than a banana. If we want our little ones ready to learn and alert then the avocado is a good friend to have.
Have your kids play with their food. I know we like to discourage too much of a disastrous mess but let them get to know their food. One thing that I used to do with my daughter was put her on one side of the room with a round fruit (avocado, apple, orange.. you get the point) and then I would be on the other side of the room. She would to push the avocado across the room to me then I would push it back. Seems easy enough but if your fruit is not perfectly round it can be a challenge and a fun one. We spent a lot of days on the floor getting to know our fruit. Once she began to become acquainted, she didn’t mind trying it for a snack.
Which brings me to my next topic – Snack time. An easy way to ease kids into eating their food is again.. letting them play with it. Guacamole can be a simple fun snack for your child. My daughter loved to get into the kitchen with me. We would pull up the stool, I would chop and she would stir or squish. The following is an easy recipe for guacamole that requires little time or effort.
Gator skin Guacamole
2 avocados (organic if possible)
1 tbsp. lemon or lime juice
½ tomato or splash of your favorite salsa
Pinch of salt to taste
Cut the avocados in half and scoop out the inside. Keep the “alligator skin bowls” for serving (hey, one less dish to wash). Put all ingredients in a bowl and let your kids squish it together. I know, gross, but I am pretty sure it will be a good time for them.. Scoop back into the gator skins and serve up with their favorite chip or cracker. *Tip – to keep avocados from spoiling to quickly before use, put in the fridge.
So, we have played a game and had a snack. Let’s head into the lunchtime hour with a lesson in what that crazy avocado pit can do (ok, I am being sarcastic about the craziness of the pit BUT a mom/teacher has got to do what we have got to do.. feel me?). I think that there is a good lesson in showing your children where their food comes from so here it the last avocado tip for today. Grow an avocado tree. It is simple but takes patience. Here is what will need.
- Pit
- Toothpicks
- Water
- shallow container
- sunny location
Now, clean and dry pit. Carefully push toothpicks in the widest part of the pit about ½ inch(will look like a stool). Don’t hurt yourself because the fun goes out the window when you are swearing and bleeding. The purpose for the toothpicks is to keep the pit half out of the water. Put pit (legs down) in the container then fill with water until the pits bottom half is submerged and top is sticking out. Put in sunny window. Refresh water every two weeks for 6 weeks and make sure that the water doesn’t evaporate. In 6 weeks the top will split and a stem will sprout. Transfer to a pot with the pit down stem up leaving the stem above the dirt/potting soil. Watch your new avocado tree grow!
So there it is, a morning full of avocado fun. Who knew one little piece of fruit could create hours of entertainment AND beef up the brain cells. If all else fails just put avocado all over your face. You’ll get a facial and your kids will get a laugh.
