4 Brain Boosting Recipes for Kids
The first day of school has come and gone, and now we’re all settling into early morning and after school activity routines. While getting through a busy day, deciding what to feed the kids can be a bit of a stressor, especially when you want to make sure its quick, nutritious and delicious. Well, we’re here to help and have four Wild Blueberry recipes that are easy to make, will put a smile on your child’s face and may even help improve their mood or concentration. According to recent research, Wild Blueberries, may have a significant positive effect on memory, concentration, and mood in children and teens.
Much of the focus regarding cognitive benefits is on the flavonoid content of the wild berries— particularly the health-promoting purple pigmented anthocyanins. Not sure what anthocyanins are. Well, the word means blue flower in Greek, and they are part of the flavonoid group of plant compounds. Anthocyanins appear to protect the plants from the damage of ultraviolet light and other environmental impacts. A growing body of research is revealing that anthocyanins are beneficial to humans, too.
And on the plus side of things, Wild Blueberries have an amazingly delicious blueberry flavor and more brain health-promoting anthocyanin in their dark blue pigment than other commonly eaten berries in the U.S.—and a wider variety of them as well. The research indicates that it’s not just the amount of anthocyanins, but the variety that makes wild blues stand out among berries.
Now on to those recipes and eating a little bit smarter this school year….
Breakfast:
Wild Blueberry Kefir Breakfast Smoothie
Some mornings are easier than others, and there are definitely days when everyone is running late. Don’t let the kids skip the most important meal of the day, even on the most hectic of mornings! Try our kid-friendly Wild Blueberry & Kefir Smoothie made with bananas, graham crackers, iron-rich baby spinach, and of course Wild Blueberries! Wild Blueberries are especially good for kids because they deliver more than a quarter of the fiber per serving, they need every day and are loaded with brain-building plant compounds. Plus, using kefir in this smoothie adds calcium and a special probiotic punch (kefir is a fermented milk drink usually stocked in the dairy section). Simply place all these healthy ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a travel cup and send your kids off to catch the bus!
If you like to make snacks ahead of time and store them in the freezer so you’re always prepared, you’re going to LOVE this one! Another WILD recipe creation by Lindsay Livingston, RD of The Lean Green Bean, these mini muffins are perfect for refueling after a workout or enjoying with the kids when they get home from school. One batch makes about two dozen so be sure to store them in an airtight container and pop them in the freezer.
Snack Time:
Mix-in-the-Pan Wild Blueberry Snack Cake
Did we have you at cake or mix-in-the-pan? That’s right, this delicious snack cake only requires the pan you bake it in, and something to mix it with, like a fork! Each ingredient was chosen with intention by Katie Sullivan Morford, MS, RD of Mom’s Kitchen Handbook to boost nutrition including fiber, protein, and healthy fats – and antioxidants from the frozen Wild Blueberries. This tasty and easy-to-make snack cake has us staring at the oven the entire time it’s baking with its beautiful purple marble coloring from the Wild Blueberries.
After a long day at school, kids typically run home from the bus stop and raid the pantry for their afterschool snack. Nothing will satisfy your kids’ hungry bellies more than our yummy Wild Blueberry Yogurt Pops! These pops are made with frozen Wild Blueberries, plain or vanilla yogurt, chia seeds, maple syrup, and lemon zest. To keep the kids full until dinnertime, add some protein powder. And as an extra special treat, drizzle the pop with melted chocolate before freezing. This healthy after-school snack will have your kids screaming for more and make you the after-school snack hero of the day.
