5 healthy ways to include Rooibos into your child’s diet

Trying to get children to eat healthily can be a tough task for parents and caregivers, but it doesn’t have to be such an uphill challenge! The key is to find foods and beverages that children enjoy which are as natural as possible with underlying health benefits. The addition of Rooibos tea to drinks, meals and desserts prepared for children will help ensure that they are benefitting from the complex antioxidants and nutrients found within this uniquely South African herbal beverage.

“Rooibos tea is an incredibly healthy addition to any child’s diet,” explained 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.”

Laager Tea4Kidz marketing manager, Candice Sessions, added: “Not all children like warm beverages but Rooibos can be enjoyed in a number of different formats. Just like adding veggies to a meal to bulk up the nutritional value, Rooibos can be added to a variety of foods and beverages to up the nutritional content.”

Mapholi noted that alongside the many health benefits Rooibos offers, the Laager Tea4kidz Rooibos tea range has a variety of delicious flavours that can enhance a number of child-friendly recipes: “I’ve outlined five tips for including it in meals, and selected my favourite Rooibos-infused recipes that will keep children healthy, and parents happy.”

Tip#1: Add in cooking

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.

Tea4Kidz Apple & Berry Golden Oats: https://www.joekels.co.za/blogs/tea4kidz/tea4kidz-apple-berry-golden-oats

Tip#2: Homemade ice-tea to replace sugary drinks

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 and they can be sweetened with natural ingredients like fruit and honey. 

Tea4Kidz Peach & Apricot Iced Tea: https://www.joekels.co.za/blogs/tea4kidz/tea4kidz-peach-apricot-iced-tea

Tip#3: Ice lollies for hot days

Ice lollies are popular but they are often packed with added sugar. With homemade Rooibos tea ice lollies, you can cut out the excess sugar, and your children can have fun helping you prepare them!

Tea4Kidz Apple & Berry Ice Lollies: https://www.joekels.co.za/blogs/tea4kidz/tea4kidz-apple-berry-ice-lollies

Tip#4: Add to desserts

Children love desserts but parents and caregivers often worry about them being unhealthy. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Here’s a delectable dessert recipe that children will love.

Tea4Kidz+ Peach & Apricot infused fruit jellies: https://www.joekels.co.za/blogs/tea4kidz/tea4kids-peach-apricot-infused-fruit-jellies

Strawberry slushie: https://www.joekels.co.za/blogs/tea4kidz/traffic-light-slushies

This is the ultimate strawberry sorbet which is easy to make, healthy and can be enjoyed as a dessert or healthy treat.

Tip#5: Healthy smoothies: https://www.joekels.co.za/blogs/tea4kidz/laager-tea4kidz-and-specialist-dietitian-mbali-mapholi-share-7-tips-for-supporting-children-s-immunity

Whether they’re enjoyed in the morning or as a snack, smoothies are a perfect nutrient-dense addition to your child’s diet. It helps to have Rooibos tea ice cubes in the freezer at all times, especially in the warmer months. 

 “Our Laager Tea4Kidz range was designed specifically for children, as a way to introduce the many health benefits of Rooibos into their diet,” explained Candice Sessions, Laager Marketing Manager. “Through our More4Momz website (www.more4momz.com), Tea4Kidz Facebook page and with the help of our wonderful specialist partner, Mbali Mapholi, we want to empower parents and caregivers to make healthy diets the norm for South African children.” 

/ENDS