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

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.

Does my baby need vitamin supplements?

An article for new and weaning parents, exploring whether babies and toddlers need vitamin and mineral supplements.

Many parents participating in our practical weaning course 'Cooking for baby' ask us about supplements for their babies. We asked Abby Ixer, RD for her advice on supplements for babies and toddlers.

Does my baby need vitamin supplements? If so, why?

Babies who are exclusively breastfed should be given a vitamin D supplement containing 8.5 to 10mcg of vitamin D every day from birth up until one year of age. This is because there are very few dietary sources of vitamin D and maternal levels may be low. Vitamin D is vital to enhance absorption of calcium for strong bones and teeth, so it is important to ensure adequate intake.

However, infants who are fed with at least 500ml formula every day do not need vitamin supplements. This is because formula is fortified with these vitamins so no additional supplementation is required. 

What about when they start eating solid foods?

 The Department of Health recommends that all children between the ages of six months to five years should be given daily vitamin supplements containing vitamins A, C and D, unless they are receiving more than 500ml of infant formula a day. It is essential to ensure that babies receive enough of these nutrients to aid healthy development. These vitamins have important functions in the body.

          - Vitamin A – needed for healthy growth, vision and skin.

- Vitamin C – important for development of the immune system and maintenance of healthy tissue. Also helps to absorb iron.

- Vitamin D – essential to help absorption of calcium for healthy bones and teeth. This is particularly important as it is very difficult for young infants to consume enough vitamin D from dietary sources alone.

I have a toddler, should I give them supplements and if so for how long?

Although infants should be eating a varied diet by 12 months, it is important to continue to give vitamin supplements until they are five years old to ensure that they receive enough nutrients for growth and development. If a child does not eat much or is a fussy eater, they may struggle to get their recommended intakes of vitamins and minerals through food alone. Supplements should be used in addition to a balanced diet and are by no means a way of replacing the nutrients acquired through food.

Are some brands of supplement better than others? What should I be looking for?

Many supplements can be purchased over the counter, but it is always best to ask a pharmacist for advice on which is most suitable. Any vitamin supplements given to babies need to be labelled as 'suitable for children under one year of age'. Always follow the recommended dose and do not be tempted to give more than one supplement to your child. Some people are entitled to ‘Healthy Start vouchers and vitamins’, which provides free vitamin drops to children and is specifically designed to help low income families. Your health visitor can provide advice on vitamins and where to access them.

For more information about Healthy Start vitamins, please visit:

https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/healthy-start-vouchers/healthy-start-vitamins/

For more ideas on meeting you baby's changing nutritional needs, check out our recipe books with full nutritional breakdown or sign up for one of our courses

References:

Healthy Start Vitamins

https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/healthy-start-vouchers/healthy-start-vitamins/

Start4Life

https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/baby-foods

National Institute of Clinical Excellence – Maternal and Child Nutrition (2008)

Available at:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ph11/resources/maternal-and-child-nutrition-1996171502533