Filed under: superfoods for immunity
I’ve got a new way to start my day, and it’s called “Banana Oaty Shake”. It makes a perfect breakfast on-the-go option for me and it’s also just perfect nutritional bomb for my little one. What’s the secret? – It’s easy to make, it’s yummy and it’s packed with all the ingredients needed to keep me (and my entire family) going.
1 banana
1 cup of fine oats, boiled in water or milk (I use Ready Break as it’s quick to prepare and it’s fortified with vitamins and minerals)
2 oranges
½ tbsp cinnamon
50g natural probiotic bio yogurt
Not much to explain: I just mix everything in the shaker and press the button. Voila – e perfectly healthy breakfast! My daughter also likes it as a snack. To make an immune booster banana oaty shake I add 2 tbsp of quinoa flakes to the oats before boiling them. We also just discovered a milled flaxseed with added cocoa & dried berries blend so I add a tablespoon to the shake. It contains flavanols (very beneficial antioxidants), and it is also high in Omega 3, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc and Selenium. It tastes even better and hopefully would help us survive the flu season.
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February 6, 2011
Creamy Butternut Squash Risotto
Purees (from 6 months)
Ready in 20 minutes
Makes 6 portions
Ingredients
• 1 small butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and finely chopped (about 400g prepared weight)
• 1tbsp baby rice
• Place the butternut squash into the Philips AVENT Combined Steamer and Blender jug. Pour 150ml cold water into the boiler unit and steam for 15 minutes until tender
• Turn the jug to the blending position and blitz 2-3 times until smooth
• Place the baby rice into a bowl. Add 3tbsp boiling water and stir until smooth. Add 4tbsp butternut squash puree, stir well and allow to cool before serving
Cook’s tip
Refrigerate or freeze your remaining portions of butternut squash puree for later use. These will store in the fridge for the next day or in the freezer for 1 month.
Chicken Pot Pie
Chunkier (7-9 months)
Ready in 25 minutes
Makes 4-6 portions
Ingredients
• 100g lean skinless chicken breast, finely chopped
• 1 spring onion, trimmed and finely chopped
• 75g frozen peas
• 1 small sweet potato (about 175g) peeled and roughly chopped
• 1 small potato (about 175g) peeled and roughly chopped
• Place the spring onion, sweet potato, potato and chicken breast into the Philips AVENT Combined Steamer and Blender jug. Pour 150ml water into the boiler unit and steam for 15 minutes
• Add the frozen peas to the jug. Add another 50ml water to the boiler unit and steam for a further 5 minutes
• Turn the jug to the blending position and blend 2-3 times until coarsely pureed
• Transfer to a bowl (add a little unsalted chicken stock to get the correct consistency if necessary) and allow to cool before serving
Cook’s tip
Refrigerate or freeze your remaining portions of chicken mixture for later use. These will store in the fridge for the next day or in the freezer for 1 month. Defrost thoroughly and then reheat well and allow to cool before serving.
Spiced Apple & Pear Puree
Purees (from 6 months)
Ready in 10 minutes
Makes 4 portions
Ingredients
• 2 large, ripe, juicy pears, peeled, cored and roughly chopped
• 2 sweet dessert apples, peeled, cored and roughly chopped
• Pinch of ground cinnamon
• 1-2 tbsp unsweetened apple juice
• Place both fruits into the Philips AVENT Combined Steamer and Blender jug with ground cinnamon. Pour 50ml water into the boiler unit and steam for 5 minutes until tender
• Turn the jug to the blending position and blitz 1-2 times until smooth
• Transfer to a bowl and stir in the apple juice to loosen the consistency if necessary. Allow to cool before serving
Cook’s tip
Refrigerate or freeze your remaining portions of puree for later use. These will store in the fridge for the next day or in the freezer for 1 month.
See even more healthy baby and toddlers recipes here.
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September 27, 2010
I am always pro home-made food and freshly squeezed juices. But it’s spring now and spending more time outside is part of my toddler’s daily routine. I had no idea how to make it work – being out and about and still giving my precious organic-fan girl… organic juice… until I found the new range from Organix – Goodies Organic Squeezies! It’s an organic blend of natural fruit purées in three delicious flavours, a tasty and fun way for toddlers from 12+ months and young children to eat fruit, and get one of their recommended five a day portions.
There are the three delicious flavours – Organic Mango, Pear & Orange; Organic Strawberry, Banana and Pear; and Organic Kiwi, Pear & Banana – all of them are made with 100% pure organic fruit – just what I’ve been looking for! The moment my girl tasted them, she loved them! (A bit jealous though, now she prefers those to mine).
Each comes with the Organix No Junk Promise, guaranteeing mums only the best quality ingredients are used and no unnecessary, artificial ingredients are added to the Squeezies. That’s no added sugar, no additives, no artificial colours or flavours, and no thickeners – just 100% organic fruit for a tasty, healthy snack or a delicious dessert.
In a convenient, re-sealable pouch, Goodies Organic Squeezy is a fun and guilt-free way to feed your toddlers a variety of fruit and give them one of their recommended daily portions of fruit whilst out and about… or at home when I’m feeling a bit lazy.
The prize is not bad, too – they cost 89p each for a 100g pouch.
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March 20, 2010
Blog about GreenKiddie for a chance to WIN a fab “Healthy Baby and Toddler Recipe Book”!
All you have to do is to spread the word for GreenKiddie’s recipes. Then send us an email to info@greenkiddie.co.uk with your name, email address and a link to your blog, post or comment, which must include the following sentence: “Just found out great healthy baby and toddler recipes on www.GreenKiddie.co.uk/Recipes.php – go and check it yourself!”.
Closing date: 24th December 2009.
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November 3, 2009
Apples: Apples have long been thought to be a healthy food, indeed many of us grew up hearing that they kept the doctor away! It is now known that apples contain the phytonutrient quercitin, which prevents the oxidation (damage) of LDL cholesterol thus lowering the risk of damage to our arteries and in turn, the risk of heart disease. They also contain pectin, a soluble fibre that seems to be very effective in lowering levels of blood cholesterol. Pectin also binds to heavy metals in our body, such as lead, and removes them from the gut. Ideal baby first food when cooked and pureed.
Avocados: Pound for pound avocados provide more heart healthy monounsaturated fat, fibre, vitamin E, folic acid and potassium than any other fruits. As if this was not enough, they are also the number one fruit source of beta-sitosterol, a substance that can reduce total cholesterol. They also supersede other fruits in the antioxidant lutein, which, in studies has shown to protect people from cataracts. Lutein has also been linked with protecting your cardiovascular system and preventing prostate cancer. Avocados are very easily digested, which makes them ideal for people that have problems digesting fatty foods.
Bananas: Bananas are slightly higher in energy than other fruits but the calories come mainly from carbohydrate; excellent for refuelling before, during or after exercise. Great first baby food, too; just mashed them well and add some of the baby milk to get the right consistence.
Bananas contain phytochemicals known as antioxidants. These antioxidants protect cells in the body against damage from free radicals that can cause heart disease and cancer.
Bananas are also jam-packed with potassium that helps lower blood pressure, and vitamin B6 for healthy skin and hair.
Blueberries, Cranberries and Blackcurrants: They not only look and taste great but blueberries contain antioxidants known as anthocyanidins, some of the strongest antidotes to oxidative stress, which many scientists believe to be the cause of aging in humans. They are great immune-stimulants. Also they are not real berries, so you can introduce them in your baby’s diet as soon as 8-9 months.
Broccoli: If the other foods here are “super” foods then broccoli should be a “mega-super” food. Researchers are finding a wealth of healthy compounds in this vegetable, which include two power anti-cancer substances, sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol. Sulforaphane destroys any carcinogenic compounds that you have ingested and then it creates enzymes that eat up any carcinogens left over from that reaction. Broccoli is also a good source of beta-carotene and potassium, which helps lower your risk of heart disease. Many therapists suggest eating broccoli at least three times a week and now we know why.
Garlic: Numerous clinical trials have shown garlic to be an excellent cancer fighter – studies suggest that it has the ability to prevent development of cancers of the breast, colon, skin, prostate, stomach and oesophagus. Garlic also helps stimulate the immune system by encouraging the growth of natural killer cells, which directly attack cancer cells. It also has the ability to kill the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, a major cause of ulcers and stomach cancer. Introduce garlic to baby’s diet slowly and wait until he/she is at least 12 months old.
Pumpkin: Pumpkins and squash are packed full of beta carotene (only carrots and sweet potatoes have more) and are the number one source of alpha carotene, a cancer inhibitor potentially more powerful than beta-carotene. They also provide vitamins B5, C, E, potassium, calcium and fibre. And don’t throw out the seeds, as they are an excellent source of zinc, essential fatty acids, and are a great source of plant protein. Cooked and mashed pumpkins are great first food for babies! And they love them because of their natural sweet taste.
Salmon: One of the best oily fish providing an excellent source of Omega 3. Omega 3 fatty acids have been linked with protecting against breast and other cancers and relieving autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and asthma. Omega 3 is also essential for a brain as well as heart health, and has been linked with accelerated learning and attention span in children and helping mental functions in the elderly. Other oily fish include herring, tuna and mackerel.
Whole Grains: Several epidemiological studies show that people who consume large amounts of whole grains every day have a lower risk of heart disease. Whole grains include brown rice, millet, oats and wholegrain bread. Population research also suggests that whole grains help prevent colon, breast and prostate cancer. The complex carbohydrates and fibre slow the release of blood sugar providing a great slow energy source. Fibre can also help to prevent constipation, encourages the growth of “friendly “bacteria in the gut, and aids the removal of toxins from the body.
Yogurt: Yogurt is an easily absorbed source of calcium. It’s also a useful milk substitute for people who can’t digest large amounts of the milk sugar, lactose.
Yogurt has long been credited with a range of therapeutic benefits, many of which involve the health of the large intestine and the relief of gastrointestinal upsets.
The bacteria Lactobacillus GG, added to some yoghurt, are not digested, and reach the large intestine intact where they top up the other friendly bacteria living there.
Read more about how to fight Swine Flu naturally and what to include in Natural First Aid Kit.
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September 25, 2009
