Smoothie makers and juicers have become very popular in the last year with all kinds of blenders coming on the market. However, you do not need a Nutri-Bullet to make any of these shakes – a hand blender or blender attachment will work just as well! With all the colds and bugs going around at this time of year, we have looked at some recipes that use real superfood ingredients. These boost the immune system and help to ward off illness. Although these shakes can be strong tasting, they are probably the best way to get your children to consume some of these foods. The secret is to mask them as much as possible with more palatable healthy ingredients! I also find that children get excited if they can help to make the shakes and the bright colours can be a bonus in making them seem more attractive…
Ginger Boost Smoothie
Ginger is well known for its benefits for digestion and has been used as a remedy for upset stomachs for thousands of years. It is also believed to help prevent the common cold and acts as a natural anti-inflammatory. Yoghurt is valuable to the body in many ways and adds a nice consistency to shakes/smoothies. Besides being a good source of calcium and protein, it also has plenty of vitamins and is low in fat. The good bacteria contained in yoghurt helps to increase antibodies, which makes the body better at fighting off illness. Lastly it is very easy to add some fresh fruit into the mix as this will provide both flavour and extra vitamin C to further strengthen the immune system.
All in all, this makes a fantastic winter snack for your child…and while you’re at it why not make one for yourself?!
Tip – These smoothies/juices are better when made fresh, so if time is an issue in the mornings then try preparing/laying out all your ingredients the night before. That way you can just whizz and pour! It is also possible to freeze a lot of smoothie ingredients in portion sized bags to aid convenience and avoid waste!
Ingredients
• 1 orange
• 1 fresh banana
• 2cm ginger, peeled and minced
• 1 mango
• 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tsp honey
• 1 cup natural yoghurt
Place everything in the blender and process until smooth.
