Happy National Nutrition Month!
As a registered dietitian and a mom, I know how challenging it can be to feed your family with confidence. There is so much misinformation on the internet today and it’s causing a culture of fear around food. And if your child is living with food allergies, it makes it a thousand times harder. I am allergic to crustaceans, my husband’s cousin has a severe peanut allergy, and my niece has Celiac Disease, so I have seen firsthand just how tough it can be – the worrying, the isolation, and the work that goes into eating can be exhausting. But Gerbs takes all of that away which, in my humble opinion, is incredibly valuable.
Did you know that March is National Nutrition Month? The theme of the month is “Put Your Best Fork Forward.” And that’s exactly what we’re here to help you do!
If you haven’t tried smoothie bowls yet, now is the perfect time to start. These colorful, nutritious bowls of goodness make a fantastic meal at any time of day. Plus, they are fun to eat, so kids love them! Eat your smoothie with a spoon? You bet! So put your best fork spoon forward and give this healthy, food allergy- friendly recipe a whirl.
The key to a good smoothie bowl is twofold: the base should be thick enough to support the toppings, and the toppings should balance out the meal nutritionally. To keep the base thick, you’ll want to add less liquid than you normally would for a smoothie plus one thick ingredient like yogurt or avocado. For this recipe, we used frozen berries, pomegranate juice, and dairy-alternative plain yogurt plus some frozen spinach. I always add frozen spinach to smoothies – it’s a great way to sneak some greens into the kids’ diets.
This recipe calls for coconut yogurt and shredded coconut. If you or a loved one is living with tree nut allergies, you may be wondering if you can safely eat coconut. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, “Coconut is not a botanical nut; it is classified as a fruit, even though the FDA recognizes coconut as a tree nut. While allergic reactions to coconut have been documented, most people who are allergic to tree nuts can safely eat coconut.” And according to Kids with Food Allergies, “Most people allergic to tree nuts can safely eat coconut. Coconut allergy is reasonably rare.” If you are allergic to tree nuts, talk to your allergist before adding coconut to or eliminating coconut from your diet and get clearance from your doctor before trying this recipe.
The pumpkin seed kernels give the smoothie bowl a nutrition boost. Pumpkin seeds are a good source of protein, vitamin K, iron and copper, and a very good source of magnesium, phosphorus and manganese. They are also rich in immune-boosting zinc. The seeds are a great topper for smoothie bowls, because they add color and crunch. What’s not to love?!
Gerb’s gluten-free Original Honey & Seed Granola is one of my favorite products. Granola tends to get a bad rap – and usually for a good reason. Most granolas on the market today are packed with sugar and calories. The Gerbs granola, on the other hand, has a clean ingredient list of real food. And it’s the perfect texture – no hard-to-chew clumps! At only 125 calories per serving and containing only natural sources of sugar, this product is a pantry staple.
Let us know if you blend this up! Share it on social media and use the hashtag #GerbsNutritionMoms. And if you like this recipe, remember there’s more where that came from! Be sure to sign up to receive notification when a new blog is posted. And, don’t forget to follow Gerbs on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Lastly, if you have a nutrition question or blog topic idea for us, please send us an email: NutritionMoms@MyGerbs.com.
| Prep Time | 7 minutes |
| Cook Time | 3 minutes |
| Servings |
person |
- 1 1/2 cups frozen mixed berries
- 1/4 cup pomegranate juice
- 1/4 cup plain coconut yogurt (or yogurt of your choice)
- 1/4 cup frozen spinach
- 1/4 cup fresh blueberries
- 1/2 medium banana
- 2 tbspn Gerbs Original Honey & Seed Granola
- 2 tbspn Gerbs Raw Pumpkin Seed Kernals
Ingredients
| |
- Blend the frozen berries, pomegranate juice, yogurt, and spinach until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and top with the blueberries, sliced banana, pumpkin seeds, and granola. Dig in!