Brainy Banana Splits
This is a modern, delicious and nutritious take on the good old fashioned retro banana splits, much loved by so many in the 80’s – remember? it takes minutes to make and is a mere assembly job your kids will love. Prepare to be very popular indeed!
This gorgeous pudding is packed with healthy fats, including omega 3 fatty acids, as well as fibre, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron and oodles of vitamin C and B6, and will keep blood sugar levels nice and steady.
Ingredients
2 tbsp coconut yogurt
1 tsp shelled hemp seeds
1 small date (chopped)
1/2 tsp tahini paste
1/2 tsp raw honey
1/4 tsp strawberry powder (optional)
Instructions
Split the banana lengthways in half and place in a bowl
Place 2 tablespoons of coconut yogurt (I love the one from Rebel Kitchen) in between each half of the banana
Sprinkle with the shelled hemp seeds, the chopped date, and the strawberry powder
Mix the tahini with the honey and drizzle all over
The science bit
BANANAS are a great source of easily digestible fibre. They are loaded with anti-oxidants and are an excellent source of potassium – research has shown that many children with autism can be low in potassium and that by adding potassium into the diet there can be significant improvement in sensory processing. Bananas can also help increase serotonin levels – this is our feel good neurotransmitter. Bananas also contain mega amounts of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) which is required for GABA (an inhibitory neurotransmitter) hormone production within our brain – this can be really helpful for children who tend towards hyperactivity. Besides having more than 20 different vitamins and minerals.
COCONUT MILK has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties and contains medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) that are easily digested and readily cross cell membranes. MCFAs are immediately converted by our liver into energy rather than being stored as fat.
COCONUT YOGHURT is loaded with probiotics, helping support a healthy gut.