‘Who’d like a Blueberry Muffin straight out of the oven?’
There’s a good chance you’d be among the first to raise your hand, if you’re part of a group that has been asked that question. After all, who can deny the inherent goodness of Blueberries?
Blueberries for Kids take on a special meaning altogether. Apart from that Lip Smacking Taste, they are packed with several nutrients, as you will come to see along the course of this article. From researching the Benefits of Blueberries, to tapping into some cool Blueberry Recipes, we have all the Blueberry-related information you need as a discerning parent.
Get started, with a sneak peek into ‘Blueberries Nutrition’, that shows us just why those Blueberries are absolutely vital for your child’s good health.
Table of Contents:
- Blueberries for Kids: The Nutritional Value of Blueberries
- The Benefits of Blueberries for Kids
- Blueberries for Kids: Cool Blueberry Recipes
Blueberries for Kids: The Nutritional Value of Blueberries
When speaking of Blueberries Nutrition, there’s one thing you should know: There’s a ‘lot’ that goes into a ‘little’!
It’s true. A modest, single cup of raw blueberries is packed with the following:
- Carbohydrates – 21g
- Sugar (natural) – 15g
- Protein – 1g
- Fat – 5g
- Calories – 84
Note: As wonderfully nutritious as those blueberries might seem, you really don’t want to introduce them to Baby until they are at least a year old, to prevent the risk of any sort of ‘allergies’.
The Benefits of Blueberries for Kids
‘Blueberries Nutrition’ is perfectly encapsulated by all the wonderful benefits those ‘Wonder Berries’ afford our kids.
- Great for Bone Development
- Boosts the Immune System
- Good for Digestion
- Aiding Cognitive Development
- A Source of Fuel
Yes we want our kids to have healthy ‘teeth’, but let’s not forget about healthy ‘bones’!
Cool Fact: It is the combination of Vitamin K and Calcium in blueberries that helps fortify those bones, vis a vis stimulating a ‘peptide’ known as ‘osteocalcin’.
If you have ever heard of the term ‘antioxidants’, you should know that they are responsible for staving off infection.
Cool Fact: The way this happens, is via those antioxidants preventing the growth of cells called ‘free radicals’. It’s only ‘radical’, it seems!
Good digestion helps ensure that Baby is never constipated.
Cool Fact: It is the ample content of ‘fiber’ in a small serving of blueberries that makes for one of the top reasons your child should be having enough blueberries.
When speaking of good health, one cannot underestimate the importance of a sound Nervous System.
Cool Fact: Eating blueberries will help your kid in not only ‘maintaining’, but also ‘repairing’ their nervous system.
What’s the one thing that little kids do most? They explore the world around them, by either crawling, walking or running!
Cool Fact: All those ‘carbs’ that blueberries are packed with, make for that vital ‘fuel’ that drives your child with an added sense of gusto!
Blueberries for Kids: Cool Blueberry Recipes
Until now, we have explored the Nutritional Value of Blueberries and even taken a look at the wonderful Benefits those ‘wonder berries’ afford us.
Time now, to see just how we can introduce those blueberries to our children, in a way that will stimulate their taste buds like nothing else!
Blueberry Recipe #1: 2-Minute Blueberry Puree
Maggi Noodles can wait until Baby is a bit older! Presenting yet another ‘2-minute’ recipe, that’s great for children just ‘starting out’ eating blueberries.
Ingredients
- Blueberries – preferably fresh
- A blender
Instructions
- Transfer the berries to the blender.
- Blend the berries, until you get a mixture of smooth consistency.
- Serve that Blueberry Puree to Baby.
Tip: Add it to their ‘smoothie’, and see how they love it!
Blueberry Recipe #2: Blueberry Yogurt
Kids of all ages love eating flavored yogurt. Why not create your very own?
Ingredients
- Yogurt – Greek yogurt from whole milk is what we recommended.
- Blueberries – again, ‘fresh’ is best!
- Vanilla extract
- Lemon juice
Instructions
- Add the blueberries along with the lemon juice and vanilla extract, into a blender.
- Blend the ingredients until a smooth mixture has been created.
- Transfer the ‘mix;’ to a bowl, and add the yogurt. Then combine it well.
- Voila! Your Blueberry Yogurt is ready to serve!
Tip: You might want to add a dash of honey, as an extra ‘treat’.
“Feeling Blue’ is not all that bad, if it entails your child eating Blueberries! As they grow older, they will be able to explore a vast plethora of recipes, that includes that wonderful ‘Blueberry Muffin’ we spoke of earlier! What are you waiting for? Ensure your kitchen is well-stocked with those Blueberries, at the earliest!
References:
- Blueberry.org
- Kids Eat In Color
https://blueberry.org/blog/back-to-school-with-blueberries
