Toddler Friendly Prune Smoothie
I have created this smoothie just for little monkeys who are going through toilet training and maybe reluctant to drink water and/or are experiencing being 'backed' up and constipated. It's a problem that is not really wonderful dinner time conversation but it is really common. This is more so in children who do have a lot of processed foods or going through a fussy stage of eating and refusing vegetables. I also see some infants (often around 8-10 months old) in the process of starting solids encounter constipation.
This smoothie is packed full of nutritious ingredients to help the gut do its job. In addition, it is made with coconut milk so it's dairy-free which can also help reduce any additional irritation to the sensitive gastrointestinal tract (GI tract), or for those bubs who are intolerant to dairy. Prunes are well known for helping move waste through the gut. In this smoothie I use actual prunes rather than prune juice as they have significantly more fibre (7g/100 compared to 1.1g/100) - fibre is absolutely essential to help manage and reduce the risk of constipation.
Kiwi-fruit is also included, and I actually make this with a little bit of kiwi-fruit skin (see photos) as this is one of the best sources of fibre to help with constipation. Likewise the spinach is an important source of fibre and phytochemicals to support the GI tract. You can also add a little bit of natural yoghurt (if not dairy-free) which will provide a boost of probiotics in the smoothie. While the colour of this drink may not win any awards this is truly one nutrient-packed drink and been approved my both my monkeys!.
Directions:
1. Peel the kiwi-fruit and cut roughly. Place into the blender. Cut a few pieces of kiwi-fruit skin (about thumb-nail size) and put these in too.
2. Place everything else into the blender, pulse and adjust if need be!
3. Hmmmm!!
xxx Dr Julie Bhosale
This smoothie is packed full of nutritious ingredients to help the gut do its job. In addition, it is made with coconut milk so it's dairy-free which can also help reduce any additional irritation to the sensitive gastrointestinal tract (GI tract), or for those bubs who are intolerant to dairy. Prunes are well known for helping move waste through the gut. In this smoothie I use actual prunes rather than prune juice as they have significantly more fibre (7g/100 compared to 1.1g/100) - fibre is absolutely essential to help manage and reduce the risk of constipation.
Kiwi-fruit is also included, and I actually make this with a little bit of kiwi-fruit skin (see photos) as this is one of the best sources of fibre to help with constipation. Likewise the spinach is an important source of fibre and phytochemicals to support the GI tract. You can also add a little bit of natural yoghurt (if not dairy-free) which will provide a boost of probiotics in the smoothie. While the colour of this drink may not win any awards this is truly one nutrient-packed drink and been approved my both my monkeys!.
Ingredients
1 x 400ml can of coconut milk
1 cube of frozen spinach (or 1 handful of fresh spinach)
2 kiwifruit*
4 small pieces (thumb-nail size) of kiwi-fruit skin (optional)
12 prunes
4 tablespoons of natural yoghurt (optional)
* You could use frozen berries instead of kiwi-fruit which will help the colour
Directions:
1. Peel the kiwi-fruit and cut roughly. Place into the blender. Cut a few pieces of kiwi-fruit skin (about thumb-nail size) and put these in too.
2. Place everything else into the blender, pulse and adjust if need be!
3. Hmmmm!!
xxx Dr Julie Bhosale