As my son nears the age of two, I am becoming more and more aware that developing a sweet tooth is a real thing. No longer can I convince him to eat the fresh strawberry or organic rice cracker placed in front of him, when anything loaded with sugar is near in sight. Although I try and keep sugary treats to a special or weekend occasion, it is a difficult thing to keep under control (especially as a full-time working mommy who relies on a number of helping hands to feed my boy while I’m at work). There has never been a better time to get creative with sweet treats that are totally delicious, healthy and loaded with nutrients.
This recipe is truly scrumptious and ideal for vegan and lactose-intolerant children. In fact, it’s ideal as a super-healthy dessert for any child of any age (unless your child has a food allergy to any of the ingredients of course). Although I chose to use almond milk -a flavour packed alternative to dairy – you could really use any milk of your choice.
What I love most about this recipe is that it makes use of 3 superfoods for growing little people:
- Avocado: the superfood that needs no introduction, packed with omega fatty acids for healthy brain development, amongst a multitude of vitamins, minerals and fibre for healthy functioning. Using avocado in vegan dessert recipes is a smart and wholesome way to create a creamy and silky texture to sweet treats in place of dairy.
- Cocoa powder:one of the most flavour-filled superfoods around, cocoa is packed with flavonoids – the compound associated with lowering cholesterol and promoting optimal heart and oral health – vitamins, minerals and fibre. It adds a deliciously, bold flavour to desserts, smoothies, yoghurt, and even to oats or porridge. Opt for unsweetened and organic varieties where possible to maximise the amount of antioxidants in each serving, without the unnecessary sugar. Because of the high content of caffeine-like compounds found in cocoa (theobromine) you’ll want to limit the amount you pass on to your little one (everything in moderation!)
- Cinnamon: this nutritious powerhouse has been proven to control blood-sugar, which means less chance of your little monkey’s sugar crashing after eating (it is therefore an ideal addition to any glucose-intolerant/diabetic diet). It’s a healthy way to add in flavour to a number of different meals and snacks from porridge and oats in the morning to yoghurt, baking and even in sweet vegetable recipes (pumpkin, carrots, butternut and sweet potato pair brilliantly).
The best part about this recipe is that you can whip this up in a matter of seconds, without any cooking or refrigerating time needed (for warmer weather you can choose to serve this chilled by popping it into the fridge for 30 minutes before serving). The banana adds a natural sweetness to this recipe, so the honey could be left out for children younger than one.
What you’ll need:
- 1 ripe, medium-large banana, skin removed
- 1 ripe, medium avocado, pip and skin removed
- 1 Tbs sugar-free nut butter
- 2 Tbs almond milk
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 Tbs cocoa powder
- 1 Tbs honey
Method:
- Combine all ingredients in a food processor and process for 10-20 seconds or until silky smooth.
- For an added boost of antioxidants, serve with fresh berries of your choice.
- Enjoy!
*The above recipe will need to be adapted should your child have an allergy to any of the mentioned ingredients.
Hungry Little Monkey 