For-kids/12 recipes

Valentine’s day is a time of appreciation for your better half and typically there’s some form of indulgence involving chocolate. This chocolate pudding pie certainly ticks all the boxes and even considers your nutrition at the same time, you could say it’s a match made in health heaven.

A vegetable cawl recipe specifically created for St. David’s Day which is celebrated every year on the 1st March, in remembrance of the patron saint of Wales. As the Welsh say, “Do the little things” and nourish your body. The recipe serves 6 bowls, as per the image, with 3 quenelles each.

If sweetness is your weakness, then you don’t need to be concerned about including these healthy truffles into your diet. They’re packed with nutrients and are deeply satisfying for those in need of a chocolate fix.

Feast your eyes on these maple syrup granola discs. There’s a hint of wasabi to give them an unusual, yet delightful twist. They truly are a sublime mix of flavours which make for the perfect snack.

In celebration of St Patrick’s day we’ve created this scrumptious colcannon stuffed and shamrock shaped ravioli recipe, that’s accompanied by a delectable saffron and sun-dried tomato oil to top the dish off. You’ll certainly feel like you’ve got the luck of the Irish if you try it. If you’re wondering how the shamrock originally became associated, well according to Irish legend, Saint Patrick used the three-leafed plant as a metaphor for the Holy Trinity when he was first introducing Christianity to Ireland.

Here is a meat-free, gluten-free, nutrition packed recipe, which you can add to your collection in readiness for National Vegetarian Week, which starts on the 15th May. Chickpeas are a high protein alternative to meat, they contain a whole host of other benefits like Selenium (not found in most fruits and vegetables) which helps to detoxify cancer causing compounds and decreases tumour growth rates. The herbs not only provide flavour but each play a part in improving our health from boosting the immune system to lowering blood pressure. Enjoy this healthy, tasty twist on an Italian classic.

This recipe could be fun for the kids to do for a healthy father’s day, Pizza isn’t often considered a healthy meal but this option definitely is. Let’s look at the base – Cauliflower – high in Choline which helps liver function, brain development and nerve function, and Oats – contain beta-glucan, a soluble fibre that reduces blood sugar and LDL Cholesterol levels. Now for the cheese topping – Cashews contain Magnesium, older people can quite often be deficient in Magnesium and this is linked to Osteoporosis, Coronary Heart disease and Insulin Resistance. A last look at the sauce and topping – Oregano – a potent anti-oxidant and a good source of fibre that binds toxins and removes them from the body while Tomatoes contain Lycopene that has been linked to Prostate Cancer prevention and also protects the eyes from age-related Macular Degeneration. We think this is a great way for kids to show their dads’ how much they care. Happy Father’s Day.

A nutrient packed, winter warmer to be enjoyed over the festive period and all through the year. Nuts contain several important B vitamins necessary for enzyme metabolism inside the body. Introduce a handful of pecan nuts into your diet to ensure you are getting a good supply of vitamins, minerals and protein. Bananas contain fibre, potassium and have 33% of the daily recommended amount of Vitamin B6. Enjoy this fruit and nutty treat!

Chocolate is usually thought of as a guilty pleasure but for the Maya civilisation and their ancestors it was a daily staple; the Mayans murals and ceramics capture the abundance of chocolate available to them. Chocolate is made from the seeds of the cacao tree which flourished in southern Mexico. Recent studies found that cocoa extract, Lavado, could have a positive effect on cognitive decline, other studies indicate chocolate could help lower the risk of developing heart disease. Let’s celebrate the history and the benefits of chocolate with this enticing, vegan, recipe on the 13th September – National Chocolate Day.

This recipe is ideal for any get together but maybe bear it in mind for your New Year’s Eve party, easy to make and so healthy too – just in time for those resolutions! Cashews may be small but they have huge benefits. Studies have shown that eating a fistful of nuts may reduce the risk of heart disease, cashews contain powerful antioxidants called Lutein and Zeaxanthin which are absorbed directly by our retina and help prevent age related macular degeneration, they are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, they have a great percentage of dietary fibres and have many more positives. We know one New Year’s resolution you’re going to make!

A healthy vegan recipe, ideal for using up leftover Christmas day vegetables on Boxing Day. It’s a light dish perfect after the indulgences of Christmas day. Chickpea flour is naturally gluten free, chickpeas are a super source of protein, fibre and iron. The skin of vegetables and fruit are quite often a good source of nutrition in itself, the dark skin of the Zucchini/courgette is high in soluble fibre which slows digestion and stabilises sugar levels. The dark skin of the Eggplant/Aubergine is full of fibre, potassium, magnesium and antioxidants, Tomato skin is full of antioxidants too so before removing skins bear this information in mind.

The power of pears is boundless, we’ll spell it out for you. P for Potassium which lowers blood pressure and takes pressure off the cardiovascular system. E for Eyes, the lutein and zeaxanthin help in the reduction of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. A for all the Antioxidants and their anti-carcinogenic activities which are linked to the prevention of some cancers. R for the Red blood cell count improvement because of the copper and iron content. S is for the synthesizing of new tissue in various organs and helps to keep the metabolism working efficiently.

An alternative sandwich that’s full of fibre due to the plantain and lentils. They are both great sources of fibre which, as we know, aids digestion. This sandwich is healthy for everyone, but pregnant women especially will benefit from the iron and high quantity of folate in the lentils, one cup (200g) provides 358 micrograms of folate and considering the daily requirement is 400 micrograms it doesn’t take a mathematician to know this adds up.

The recipe is perfect for World Diabetes Day, it not only looks good, it does you good. Blueberries definitely deserve the accolade of being one of the ‘Superfoods’. It is considered that they contain one of the highest antioxidant capacity of all of the more well known fruits and vegetables. The main antioxidant compounds belong to a large group of polyphenols called flavonoids, one group of flavonoids are called anthocyanins, it is this group that have the impact on diabetes – several studies show that insulin sensitivity is improved and blood sugar levels are lowered when Blueberries are included in the diet. You will enjoy this delicious dessert even more in the knowledge that it’s a ‘Superdessert’.

We can be sure that these little cookie people don’t have joint inflammation or digestive problems. Ginger, Cinnamon, Cardamom and Cloves all have anti- inflammatory properties as well as many others, studies show that chronic inflammation and oxidative stress speed up the aging process that play a large part in age-related cognitive decline. It’s amazing to think that Coconuts are the stones of the Coconut fruit, similar to an Avocado stone. The white Coconut meat is rich in fibre which aids digestion, Ginger too is renowned for relieving nausea and sickness. Adults and children alike, will love these flavoursome cookies.

This recipe not only looks fantastic, but it is fantastic for you in many ways. Let’s look at your heart, grapes contain phytonutrient resveratrol which is great for heart health, strawberries, heart- shaped for a reason, contain anthocyanins which are associated with heart health as well as being what gives fruit and flowers their colour. Pecans contain monounsaturated fats that help prevent coronary heart disease. All this and more, vitamin C, folate, manganese, potassium, fibre to name just a few.