Berries in Healthy Kids Menu

Blackberry

Blackberry is appreciated for a large amount of potassium and magnesium, copper, calcium, phosphorus, iodine, and manganese. Blackberry is rich in various sugars (glucose, sucrose, and fructose), pectin, and aromatic substances. Blackberry is valuable for vitamins A, C, and E.

Blackberry is a medicinal berry, which is used from ancient times. For example, leaves, roots, and berries are used to treat a sore throat, wounds, and indigestion. Blackberry is famous for its anti-cold properties and as a remedy for allergies. Blackberry leaves stop the blood at injuries and cuts.

Cakes and ice cream with blackberries, fresh berries (or mashed with sugar,), blackberry marmalade, jellies, and jams are always incredible treats for our kids.

Recipe. Take 2 tablespoons of blackberry, wash, and mash, squeeze the juice through cheesecloth, boil marc in 200-250ml of water, and strain. Put 1 tablespoon of any cereal to the broth, cook until done, add 1 a teaspoon of sugar and 1 teaspoon of butter, and let it boil again, remove the blackberry mush from the heat and pour fresh juice into it.

Currant

First of all, black currant is a priceless storehouse of ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Only 25-30 g of berries (a small handful) will provide your child with a daily requirement of ascorbic acid. Black currant is also rich with other vitamins: E, group B, PP, D, etc.

In addition, berries of any color contain a rare vitamin K and pectin, because of which currant jelly is so valuable. Black currant berries are rich in potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, and manganese. And one more important feature of this fruit: it accumulates relatively little nitrate.

The main healing property of the currant is that it increases immunity. It is used against colds, anemia, and gastrointestinal diseases. And if a baby caught stomatitis (tonsillitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis), let him rinse the throat with currant juice, diluted 1:1 with boiled water.

Recipe. For 1 kg of black currant, you will need 1,5-2 kg of sugar. Collect ripe big berries, mince them, and mix with sugar. Stir to complete the dissolution of sugar. Put the resulting mass to the jars and cork them.

Blueberry

There are no so many vitamins in blueberry as in any other berry, but it is rich, for example, in tannins, pectin, organic acids, and essential oils. Its seeds contain fatty oils and proteins. Blueberry is a source of manganese, chromium, and copper. Blueberry has a leading place among the berries in its iron content. Moreover, the blueberry’s iron is contained in such compounds that are absorbed by the body much better than from other berries.

Dried fruits have more of non-laxative effect, but fresh fruits are better to help with constipation. Use them as a tincture (10g of berries in 200ml boiling water).

Give the kids older than 1-year blueberries in any form: fresh or processed, in the form of beverages (juices, fruit drinks, compotes); cook soups and jellies, making jam and marmalade, blueberry pies, and cakes.

Dry blueberries for future use and you will be able to provide your baby with good vitamin resources all year-round. Dry blueberry at the temperature of 50-60°C. Store dried fruits in boxes lined with paper, and the leaves of berry - in bags.

Recipe. To make blueberry soup you will need 50 grams of fresh ripe blueberries. Sort it, wash, pour 1 cup of hot water, and heat until boiling. Once the water boils, add 1 tablespoon of sugar and bring to a boil again. Then add 1 teaspoon potato starch, diluted in a quarter cup of the cooled blueberry broth, and let it boil again.

Raspberry

Raspberry contains vitamins C and P, pro-vitamin A, folic acid, and macro-and micronutrients valuable for the body such as potassium, copper, iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, and cobalt. There are also lots of pectin and cellulose.

It is a perfect remedy for colds. Raspberry improves appetite, positively affects the activity of the gastrointestinal tract, and relieves pain and fever.

Recipe. Take for 4 portions 250 g raspberries, 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar, 150 ml cream, 4 small bananas, 300 ml vanilla ice cream. Pass the part of berries through a sieve and stir in powdered sugar until it dissolves. Mix the received raspberry puree with half of the cream and beat the second half. Now, cut the bananas and place them on saucers. Put a ball of ice cream on the top of each serving and sprinkle with raspberry cream.