Introducing Pitaya!

Our vibrant friend known as the pitaya is a tropical fruit that originated in southern Mexico and Central America. Pitaya, also known as Dragon Fruit, is such a cool looking fruit and really has a distinct appearance your baby may truly be intrigued by. Two of the most common types of pitaya have bright red skin with green scales that resemble a dragon! How cool, right? The more widely available variety has white pulp with black tiny seeds populating the entire inside. In terms of taste, its taste has been described as a cross between a pear and a kiwi, so it’s pretty sweet. Yum! (Source)

Pitaya’s Nutritional Facts

To start off, just to throw it out there, allergies to pitaya are rare (2 cases so far), but are not impossible. With that said, for the most part, your baby should be perfectly fine! Getting into the nutritional facts, 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of pitaya contain 60 calories, 1.2 grams of protein, 0 grams of fat, 13 grams of carbohydrates, and 3 grams of fiber. Pitaya is helpful in the sense that it contains several antioxidants. Antioxidants are compounds that protect our cells from unstable molecules. These molecules are known as free radicals, which contributes to chronic diseases and aging. Pitaya contains flavonoids (antioxidant), which is linked to better brain health and reduces risk of heart disease, which is essential to your baby’s healthy development. In addition, pitaya promotes beneficial bacteria in the gut and may reduce fatty liver. This will contribute to overall metabolic health. As an incredibly tasty tropical fruit, pitaya can also function as a substitute for other sweeter fruits and candies. To get some more ideas on how you can use sweet fruits in your baby’s diet, visit our blog at: Little Cocoa Bean Co.! (Source)