YES to rooibos
Adding rooibos tea to drinks, meals and desserts helps ensure that your little ones benefit from the complex antioxidants and nutrients found in rooibos.
“Rooibos tea is an incredibly healthy addition to any child’s diet,” explains Joburg-based specialist dietitian Mbali Mapholi. “It doesn’t replace other sources of nutrition like healthy foods or milk but rather provides children with healthy hydration that is caffeine-free and packed with benefits.” Mbali shares some ideas.
#HEALTHY&YUMMYIDEA 6 ADD IT TO OATS
Oats, whether prepared as overnight oats or served hot in the morning, can be cooked with rooibos tea to enhance the flavour and health benefits. They are quick to make, delicious to eat and extremely filling.
#HEALTHY&YUMMYIDEA 9 JELLY TEA FOR DESSERT
Children love desserts, but parents and caregivers often worry about them being unhealthy. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Simply make jelly with Tea4Kidz+ Peach & Apricot infused rooibos instead of water, and a tin of peaches in juice.
#HEALTHY&YUMMYIDEA 7 MAKE YOUR OWN ICE TEA
Childhood obesity has become a huge problem in South Africa, and one of the major contributing factors is a high intake of sugary drinks. Homemade iced teas are a healthy alternative since the sugar quantity can be controlled. They can be sweetened with natural ingredients such as fruit and honey. It couldn’t be easier. Make a litre of tea, let it cool and add some apple juice or fruit. Laager Tea4Kidz Peach & Apricot is particularly delicious.
#HEALTHY&YUMMYIDEA 8 ICE LOLLIES FOR HOT DAYS
Store-bought ice lollies are often packed with sugar. With homemade rooibos-tea ice lollies, you can cut out the excess sugar.
Pulse together 2 cups fruit of your choice (pineapple, nectarines, kiwi fruit), ¼ cup of full-fat coconut milk or fullcream yoghurt, ½ cup cooled Tea4Kidz+ Peach & Apricot, 1 to 2T honey and a 1 banana. Scrape mixture out of processor into a Ziploc or piping bag. Cut the corner off, and pipe mix into popsicle moulds. Freeze overnight.
TIP For berry lollies, use 2 cups frozen berries of your choice and Tea4Kidz Strawberry rooibos tea. ●