Quick & Easy Guac: A Brain-Boosting Snack to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo
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Time to Read: 7 min
Welcome to The Pediatrician Kitchen at Ahimsa
I’m a pediatrician—and a busy mom of three. So I understand how chaotic mealtimes can feel. But I also know, from science and real life, that what we serve our kids—and how we serve it—matters more than we think.
That’s why I created The Pediatrician Kitchen: to help families shift from convenience to intention when it comes to food. Because mealtimes aren’t just moments to fill bellies—they’re powerful opportunities to shape lifelong health.
Here, you’ll find simple, fast, affordable recipes that don’t just solve snack time or dinner—they build habits, support brain and body development, and reduce long-term risk of chronic illness. This is where food is medicine and food is health—practiced daily in kitchens just like yours.
Each recipe breaks down the three biggest barriers to healthy eating: time, cost, and skill—while also explaining the why behind the ingredients so you know exactly what you’re investing in: your child’s future.
To make every meal safer and more sustainable, I also rely on Ahimsa’s stainless steel kids dishes . They are non-toxic, durable, and made to protect growing bodies at every bite.
Along the way, I’ll share parenting tips, food strategies, and joyful kitchen routines that give both you and your child the skills and confidence to create lifelong healthy habits—starting at the table.
About Ahimsa
Founded by a pediatrician and mom of three
Stainless steel is the only kid-friendly material recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics
We are guided by a Scientific Advisory Council comprised of environmental and medical experts, guiding us in creating the safest products, following the latest science and promoting policy to protect human health and our planet
Want to know more? Check out our story and our products.
Let’s Talk Guac: Why It’s the Perfect Pediatrician-Approved Snack
This guacamole is creamy, fresh, and full of healthy fats your child’s growing brain craves. It’s also a great way to explore Mexican culture during Cinco de Mayo—a holiday that’s just as much about learning and celebrating as it is about flavor.
Whether you’re serving it with veggies, whole-grain chips, or as a taco topper, this recipe is a go-to for parents who want quick, nourishing wins.
And with Ahimsa's colorful, stainless steel bowls , you can turn a simple snack into a fun, safe, and visually inviting moment for little ones.
Quick & Easy Guac Recipe
5 minutes
5 Minutes
4 snack portions
Snack
Ingredients:
- 2 ripe avocados
- 1 small lime (juiced)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup diced tomato (optional)
- 1 tablespoon minced red onion or green onion
- Optional: chopped cilantro or garlic for adventurous eaters
Instructions:
- Scoop avocado flesh into a bowl and mash with a fork.
- Add lime juice, salt, onion, and tomato. Mix until just combined.
- Serve immediately in an Ahimsa Conscious Bowl or stainless steel snack container.
Tip: For younger kids, mash the guac very smooth. For older kids, let them help stir or mash with a safe tool.
Serving Tip: Portion guacamole into individual Conscious Bowls alongside colorful veggie sticks or whole-grain crackers for an easy, no-mess snack setup.
Mealtime Essentials
The Nutritional Power of Avocados
Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fats, which are essential for:
- Brain development
- Nerve function
- Cellular health and growth
They also deliver:
- Fiber for digestion
- Folate + Vitamin E for growing bodies
- Lutein, a nutrient that supports both eye and brain health
In short: guac is more than a dip—it’s a functional, whole-food snack packed with benefits.
The Science of Expanding Taste Palates & Cultural Curiosity
Introducing global flavors—like lime, onion, or cilantro—at an early age does more than build a healthy palate. It also:
- Encourages openness to new foods
- Reduces picky eating
- Sparks curiosity about other cultures and cuisines
Food is medicine. Food is health. But food is also education.
Celebrating holidays like Cinco de Mayo through food offers a fun, fast, and delicious way to teach children about the world—bite by bite.
Culinary Medicine in Action: Time, Cost, Skill
Every recipe at The Pediatrician Kitchen is designed to break down barriers:
Time:
- 5 minutes start to finish
- No cooking required
Cost:
- Avocados + simple pantry staples
- Budget-friendly when avocados are in season
Skill:
- Mash and mix—it’s that simple
- A perfect first recipe for kids to help with!
Keep It Healthy from Kitchen to Table
What you serve food in matters just as much as what you serve. Acidic foods like guac can react with plastic, leaching harmful chemicals like BPA and phthalates into your child’s food.
Serve this guacamole in Ahimsa’s non-toxic stainless steel Conscious Bowls or snack containers, designed to protect your child’s health and reduce plastic waste. Ahimsa’s stainless steel dishes help preserve freshness, resist staining from colorful foods, and keep your kitchen free from harmful toxins.
Final Thoughts: A Snack with Purpose
This guac is more than a snack—it’s an opportunity to fuel your child’s development, expand their worldview, and create a joyful, teachable kitchen moment.
Small changes, like swapping plastic for stainless steel plates and bowls, and choosing whole-food snacks like this guac, create ripples that support health and sustainability for years to come.
Want more pediatrician-approved recipes, food science, and real-life tips for feeding your family well?
Follow The Pediatrician Kitchen at Ahimsa—where every bite is rooted in love, backed by science, and made to nourish both brains and bodies.
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi is a board-certified pediatrician whose dedication to children’s health drove her to launch Ahimsa, the world's first colorful stainless steel dishes for kids. She was motivated by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ findings on harmful chemicals in plastic affecting children's well-being. Ahimsa has gained widespread recognition and been featured in media outlets such as Parents Magazine, the Today Show, The Oprah Magazine, and more.
Dr. Mantravadi received the esteemed “Physician Mentor of the Year” award at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2019. She was also named a Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur in 2021, with her inspiring story showcased on Good Morning America. She serves on the Council for Environmental Health and Climate Change and the Council for School Health at The American Academy of Pediatrics. She represents Ahimsa as a U.S. industry stakeholder on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the Global Plastics Treaty, led by the United Nations Environment Program. Dr. Mantravadi leads Ahimsa's social impact program, The Conscious Cafeteria Project, to reduce carbon emissions and safeguard student health as part of a national pilot of the Clinton Global Initiative.
She is dedicated to educating and empowering people to make healthier, more environmentally friendly choices at mealtime. Her mission remains to advocate for the health of all children and the one planet we will leave behind for them through real policy change within our food system.
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi is a board-certified pediatrician whose dedication to children’s health drove her to launch Ahimsa, the world's first colorful stainless steel dishes for kids. She was motivated by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ findings on harmful chemicals in plastic affecting children's well-being. Ahimsa has gained widespread recognition and been featured in media outlets such as Parents Magazine, the Today Show, The Oprah Magazine, and more.
Dr. Mantravadi received the esteemed “Physician Mentor of the Year” award at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2019. She was also named a Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur in 2021, with her inspiring story showcased on Good Morning America. She serves on the Council for Environmental Health and Climate Change and the Council for School Health at The American Academy of Pediatrics. She represents Ahimsa as a U.S. industry stakeholder on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the Global Plastics Treaty, led by the United Nations Environment Program. Dr. Mantravadi leads Ahimsa's social impact program, The Conscious Cafeteria Project, to reduce carbon emissions and safeguard student health as part of a national pilot of the Clinton Global Initiative.
She is dedicated to educating and empowering people to make healthier, more environmentally friendly choices at mealtime. Her mission remains to advocate for the health of all children and the one planet we will leave behind for them through real policy change within our food system.
More Mealtime Essentials
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I use stainless steel instead of plastic? Is stainless steel better for health?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a report in July 2018 suggesting ways that families can limit exposure to certain chemicals at mealtime, including “the use of alternatives to plastic, such as glass or stainless steel, when possible.” The report explained that “…some additives are put directly in foods, while “indirect” additives may include chemicals from plastic, glues, dyes, paper, cardboard”. Further, “Children are more sensitive to chemical exposures because they eat and drink more, relative to body weight, than adults do, and are still growing and developing.” While stainless steel items meet the recommendation to avoid plastic products in children, Ahimsa® products have the obvious advantage of not breaking like glass.
Is stainless steel better for the environment than plastic?
According to the Steel Recycling Institute, steel can be recycled over and over and over again without losing its integrity and requires less energy to recycle than to make anew. Most plastic unfortunately ends up in landfills and it is estimated to take 700 years to decompose. Our special coloring process that allows Ahimsa® products to be fully metal is environmentally friendly, so it does not produce toxic run-off into the ecosystem.
Will Ahimsa products break or peel?
No. Our steel is durable, so it won’t break or shatter with everyday use, like glass. And it won’t peel, like other colored stainless steel products you’ve seen. We use a special process that allows the colors to naturally occur in the metal.
Which Ahimsa products are best for my little one(s)?
Our products are meant to last, you can use Ahimsa at ages 1, 8 and 18! We thoughtfully design our products to be safe for little ones and our planet while reducing consumption. Once your child outgrows the Starting Solids Set and can use regular cups and utensils, the training cup is the perfect size rinse cup in the bathroom, the infant spoon doubles as a tea stirrer and the bowl is great for snacks or as an additional compartment to our modular divided plate. Our plates are great for any age as they encourage choosing a variety of healthy foods at each meal and help visualize portion sizes easily. It’s the lasting beauty of stainless steel - grows with your child and reduces waste.
