Bianca's Chocolate Pudding

Most kids love chocolate pudding.  What's not to love??  But Chocolate pudding is usually full of un-needed (icky) ingredients (see below for a list of ingredients in commonly found brands).  Here is a recipe Bebe B and I created with only 5 ingredients.  My first batch was not nearly sweet enough or chocolaty enough and all I could taste was avocado.  A few more tests and we have a winner.  A healthy treat.  ps. I promised Bebe B I would name it after her.

Bianca's Chocolate Pudding-10 Months +

Ingredients:

12 Dates (pitted)

3/4 cup Water

3-4 tbsp unsweetened Cocoa Powder

2 RIPE Avocados

pinch Sea Salt (optional)

In either a food processor or high powered blender puree the dates, water and cocoa powder until smooth (this may take a few minutes).  Add a little more water if needed.  Cut open, remove seeds and scoop the green goodness from the flesh of the avocados.  Puree with salt on low into the date cocoa mixture until you have a smooth pudding consistency.  Top with crush pretzels if desired (my girls like it this way).  Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.  Makes about 8-10 small servings.

Some of the Awesome Health Benefits:
Avocados- a wonderful "good fat" food for brain and physical development. They contain valuable nutrients including folate, fiber, potassium, vitamin E; and iron.
Cocoa Powder- Packed with anti-oxidents and minerals
Dates- rich in vitamins and minerals, protein, dietary fiber, and amino acids.



Ingredients of commercial chocolate puddings:

Swiss Miss Brand Pudding Cup Ingredients:
Nonfat Milk, Sugar, Water, Modified Corn Starch, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Less than 2% of: Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Salt, Color Added, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Coffee Powder, Artificial Flavors.

Hunts Chocolate Pudding Cup Ingredients: 
Non Fat Milk, Water, Sugar, Modified Corn Starch, Vegetable Oil (contains one or more of the following: Palm Oil, Partially Hydrogenated Palm Oil, Sunflower Oil, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil), Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Less than 2% of: Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Artificial Flavors, Color Added. CONTAINS: MILK

Jello Brand Pudding Cup Ingredients:
WATER, XYLITOL, MODIFIED CORNSTARCH, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, CONTAINS LESS THAN 1.5% OF MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL (COCONUT AND PALM KERNEL OILS), SALT, SODIUM STEAROYL LACTYLATE (FOR SMOOTH TEXTURE), CALCIUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM ALGINATE, SUCRALOSE, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL
FLAVOR, ARTIFICIAL COLOR. CONTAINS: MILK.