B is for bananas – and they’re super good kids!

When it comes to fruits, the humble banana is often overlooked. If you’re trying to get your kids to eat more bananas try get creative! Bananas are packed full of slow-release carbohydrates, perfect for keeping little bodies and brains fueled throughout the day. They’re also very rich in vitamin B6, which is essential for healthy brain and nerve function.

Here are four creative ways to serve bananas to your kids.

Banana and tofu purée

Although tofu has almost no taste of its own, it combines well with either fruit or vegetables to make a creamy purée. There are two types of tofu – soft or firm tofu – you should use soft tofu in baby food recipes.

Suitable from six months Ingredients

• 1 small banana
• 50g soft Tofu

Method

1. Peel and mash the banana and mix together with the tofu into a purée.
2. You could also mix tofu with other fruits like puréed mango, dried apricot, or peaches on their own or mixed with banana.

Muesli & banana smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 small banana, peeled
• ½ cup muesli
• 2 tsp honey (optional)
• ½ cup milk
• ½ cup apple juice

Method

1. Whizz all the ingredients together in a blender until smooth.
2. Pour into glasses and serve.

Iced banana and pear lollies

It’s easy to make your own baby food desserts from fresh fruit and sucking on lollies will help soothe sore gums when your baby is teething. This baby food dessert tastes delicious – almost like creamy ice cream. This also makes a delicious dessert served in a bowl unfrozen. Use ripe bananas for the best flavour. Ripe bananas will have some brown spots on the skin.

*Suitable from 11 months

*Suitable for freezing

*Makes four ice lollies Ingredients

• 120ml custard
• 2 bananas
• 2 tbsp pear concentrate
• 1 tbsp icing sugar

Method

1. Either use ready-made custard or make up custard using half a tablespoon of custard powder, half a tablespoon castor sugar and 150ml milk.
2. Peel and mash the bananas and liquidise with the custard. Stir in the pear concentrate and icing sugar.

French toast fingers with peanut butter and banana

Ingredients

• 4 slices wholewheat bread
• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup fat-free creamed/smooth cottage cheese
• ¼ cup fat-free/low-fat milk
• 2 tbsp olive oil/ or olive oil non-stick spray
• Sliced banana to serve
• 2 tbsp unsweetened peanut butter

Method

1. Whisk the egg, creamed cottage cheese, and milk together, and dip the bread in the mixture, coating each side well.
2. Heat oil in a frying pan, and over medium heat, gently fry each slice until golden brown and cooked through.
3. Cut int fingers and serve with sliced banana and peanut butter.