Name: Cherry and Almond Smoothie Bowl
Yield: 2
Ingredients: One banana; 150g frozen cherries; 50g ground almonds; 150g Greek yogurt or kefir yogurt; 50-100ml milk, kefir or fortified milk alternative drink,; 1tsp vanilla extract or 1/2 tsp almond extract; oppings: ground seeds, nuts or nut butter, coconut, dried fruit, oats, sliced fruit - all of your choice

Smoothie bowls are a great way to pack in many different gut-loving foods quickly and easily! You can make many easy substitutions to the recipe below by changing the frozen fruit, type of yoghurt, and sprinkles on top. It is a perfect way to get in that all-important variety for your child’s community of gut bacteria.

Suitable from: 6+ months of age (avoid whole or flaked nuts)

Prep time: 5-10 minutes

Servings: 2

Ingredients

One banana - (Can be fresh or frozen - frozen is better for a more ice cream-like texture)
150g frozen cherries
50g ground almonds
150g Greek yogurt or kefir yogurt - (Can be swapped to a dairy-free option)
50-100ml milk, kefir or fortified milk alternative drink, - e.g. soy/oat/coconut-based
1tsp vanilla extract or 1/2 tsp almond extract - (optional)
oppings: ground seeds, nuts or nut butter, coconut, dried fruit, oats, sliced fruit - all of your choice

Instructions

Combine all your ingredients and half the milk in a blender and blitz until smooth. You can add the remaining milk gradually to get the consistency you’d like for your smoothie – the thicker it is, the easier it will be to spoon, but if you want something on the go, keep adding milk until you have a drinkable option.
If having in a bowl, spoon out your smoothie and then add your toppings of choice!

Lucy Upton The Children’s Dietitian

Paediatric Dietitian, Nutritionist and child feeding expert. Lucy is a specialist children's dietitian and feeding therapist with over 14 years of experience. She is passionate about helping all children and their families achieve happiness and health with food and nutrition. Lucy's knowledge of front-line dietetics and nutrition, after over ten years in the NHS, helps to bring experienced, honest, and pragmatic advice to support families and those interested in child nutrition. She has a breadth of experience working in both the NHS and private sector, as well as being an advisor in the early years's public health arena and as a feeding therapist. Lucy is now Director of The Children's Dietitian Ltd, where she and her team enjoy spending much of their time supporting babies and children with tummy troubles, food allergies, feeding difficulties, weaning, growth concerns or those requiring specialist medical and nutrition guidance. She also continues her valuable work as a feeding therapist at The Feeding Trust. She supports essential work within the early years nutrition arena in her role at The Infant & Toddler Forum.