Peach Melba Chia Pudding

Here’s the second recipe in our series of chia seed puddings which are perfect for babies (over 6 months), toddlers and big kids too! Based on a classic peach melba, it’s perfect for summer months when peaches and raspberries are plentiful.

100 million times better than a processed kids’ dessert, it’s also got the thumbs up from Abby, our registered dietitian.

“This delicious dessert is bursting with vitamin C and fibre from the combination of fruits. Chia seeds add omega 3 to help healthy brain and heart development. They also provide healthy protein for normal growth and development.”

— Abby Ixer, Registered Dietician

With no added sugar and vitamins and minerals galore, you'll want to try this with your fussy eater too.

Ingredients

2 ripe peaches

8-10 raspberries

1 small ripe banana

½ can coconut milk

3 tablespoons chia seeds

Method

1) Peel and chop peaches (plunge into hot water for 10 secs to help to remove skin)

2) Mash banana and raspberries and mix with coconut milk and chia seeds.

3) Leave in fridge for 3 hours minimum (overnight is fine)

4) Consume within 48 hours

Healthy Valentine Recipes Your Kids Will Love

We love Valentine’s day at The Organic Cookery School. Partly because it often falls in our February half term (so extra time for kids’ baking classes!) and because it’s Lucy’s wedding anniversary (awww!) on the 14th.

So whether it’s a weekend or school hols activity, Valentine’s is a perfect time to get hands on in the kitchen with your little ones.

Here are some our our favourite health(ier) recipes for Valentine’s.

These raspberry yogurt mousse pots from Eats Amazing are super quick and lower sugar than your average dessert.

Peanut Butter fans will go crazy for Healthy Little Foodies  Raspberry Peanut Butter Freezer Bites     

More than Just Carrots have also rethought the Jammie Dodger, with a strawberry chia jam and wholemeal hazelnut biscuit.                                                                                                                            

Frozen strawberries work perfectly in these healthy Strawberry Breakfast Bites from My Kids Lick The Bowl with oats, coconut and sunflower seeds.

All About Kids have reinvented the traditional Jammie Dodger with raspberry chia jam. Yum!         

And if hummous is your thing, you can’t go wrong with this Beetroot Hummous recipe from Baby Gram

And Valentine’s is one time when breakfast balls needn’t just be for breakfast! Healthy Little Foodies’s Raspberry and Coconut ones look delicious and are perfect for little hands to roll.

Lucy and Clare over at The Happy Weaner have plenty of ideas for cute Valentine snacks

But one of our favourites has to be these super cute Valentine apple love bugs from Grace at Eats Amazing Who could resist?

We hope that’s given you a little inspiration for 14th February and we’d love to hear if you try any of the above.

Three Chia Seed Pudding Recipes your baby will love

Chia seed recipes are everywhere - but are they suitable for your baby / toddler? And what does this weird frogspawn like superfood taste like?

Chia originates from Mexico, where the seeds were highly prized for medicinal and nutritional properties, and even used as currency.

Left to soak for a few hours, the small seeds absorb water, milk and other liquids and have little flavour of their own. The soaking process is particularly important for young children as it means they are easily digested.

Image courtesy of Dr Axe

They are nutritionally rich in omega 3 and protein as well as a mix of vitamins and minerals, making them a perfect healthy pudding for your little ones.

Over the next three weeks, we’ll be posting three of our favourite chai seed weaning recipes, which are also perfect for toddlers, older children and adults alike.

Note from Abby Ixer, Registered Dietitian.

Chia seeds are nutritious, but not uniquely as other seeds also provide the same benefits. They can add an interesting texture to recipes, so are useful for increasing variety in the diet. Try flax, hemp and other seeds too. Suitable from 6 months +

Our first featured recipe (which we bet will be a hit with parents too) is Chocolate Chia Pudding,  a rich creamy chocolate pud, sweetened with prune and vanilla extract.

Next week, we'll be sharing a coconutty Pina Cola Chia Pudding and finally a summery Peach Melba Chia Pudding Recipe.

Chocolate and Prune Chia Seed Pudding (for babies/toddlers)

So we’re cheating here - this recipe isn’t just for babies and toddlers and we give you and your older kids full permission to enjoy this as much as your little people.

However, that said, it is a perfect weaning recipe and full of protein, omega 3 and dietary fibre. Suitable from 6 months plus - there can’t be many puddings which pack as much goodness and flavour in. With no added sugar and plenty of vitamins and minerals, you'll want to try this with your fussy eater too.

This is the first of three chia seed pudding recipes we’ve developed for our Cooking for Baby parents. Enjoy!

Ingredients

½ tin Coconut Milk

3 tablespoons Chai Seeds

½ Ripe Banana

½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract

8 prunes soaked in hot water

2 heaped tablespoons Cacao or Cocoa

Method

1) Finely chop or blend soaked prunes to a puree.

2) Mash banana and mix with prunes, coconut milk, cocoa/cacao, vanilla extract and chai seeds.

3) Leave in fridge for 3 hours minimum (overnight is fine)

4) Consume within 48 hours

NOTE:

This chocolate flavoured pudding may sound indulgent, but has a healthy twist. The sweet coconut milk complements the fibre packed prunes – great for ensuring a healthy gut and preventing constipation. Omega 3 is essential for young children to support brain development and good heart health, and is found in abundance in chia seeds.