Kid friendly probiotic rich food suggestions

Feeding your children healthy food can sometimes be a little tough.

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Most parents know that children need a wide variety of vitamins and minerals to maintain optimal nutrition for their growth and brain development.

For those children that suffer neurobehavioral disorders such as hyperactivity, processing disorders, and ADHD – diet and nutrition is often a major area of concern.

Gut health plays a principal role in influencing brain activity and it has been said that the gut is the second brain of the body.

Regular consumption of foods that are rich in probiotics and neurochemical producing microbes can be one of the keys in assisting such behavioural disorders.

There are a huge variety of fermented foods and beverages to choose from but it is also important to identify which are the best foods to serve for our kids, kids can be very picky and hard to feed, a little creativity can go a long way.

Here are a few tips:

Kombucha – This fermented tea has incredible gut health benefits and need not be expensive as you can make it at home for around $1 per litre. Replacing sugar filled soft drinks with Kombucha is the first step we recommend when trying to assist your child to maintain a healthy gut environment.
Water Kefir – Another option for a fizzy drink for children, it is important to note that sugar remains in Water Kefir whereas the sugar in Kombucha is eaten up during the fermentation process, therefore this is a good step towards Kombucha and to readjust the taste spuds if your child is used to a sweeter pallet.
Milk Kefir – This may be a wonderful milk option for children that enjoy dairy, you can grow your own milk kefir at home using milk kefir grains and you will produce around 1 cup of milk daily. Milk kefir may be suitable for those that are lactose intolerant as the lactose is eaten up in the process however there is no guarantee your milk kefir will be lactose free so think of it as low lactose.
Kefir Cheese – The most amazing, delicious array of cheeses that are actually good for your gut and you can flavour them with anything you like. If you are a beginner this one can take a little practice.
Whey – A wonderful by product of milk kefir is whey, it’s a golden liquid that can be added to anything you have in your refrigerator allowing you to ferment already purchased foods such as sauces.
Yoghurt – Making your own fermented yoghurt is easy and it does provide great nourishment to your gut.
Sauerkraut – Sauerkraut might be perceived as being less popular among children, but you can be creative by adding it to sausages or hotdogs. Sauerkraut is loaded with probiotics and you can also add the juice to salads or soups, let your imagination run wild.

To get your children enjoying fermented foods and drinks the first step is to begin enjoying them yourself. Children become inspired by their greatest role model (you) so jump on the fermented food bandwagon.

If you would like to know more about fermented food click here.

Do you and your children eat fermented foods? Please SHARE in the comments below.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

19 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 30 Nov 2021
    12:53 pm
Cant go wrong with yoghurt

- - serotonin said
  - 04 Feb 2016
    5:14 pm
I’ve been wondering what I could give my kids without having to buy supplements, and now I know! Thanks for sharing!

- - Mombat said
  - 28 Jan 2016
    9:28 pm
We like Yakult mini-drinks in our household, but I worry about the added sugar. This is the first I’ve heard of Kombucha and Kefir!

- - Carli85 said
  - 19 Jan 2016
    9:49 am
Is there a way treason make your own yoghurt without a “yoghurt maker” machine??

- - aprilb1 said
  - 13 Jan 2016
    11:20 pm
Lol i haven’t even heard of half of these

- - ella12 said
  - 06 Jan 2016
    3:47 pm
I have only heard of yoghurt and sauerkraut.

- - rachelvk said
  - 30 Dec 2015
    8:21 pm
Some great suggestions. We have yoghurt lovers in our household, might try and introduce some of the items on the list.

- - Nas01 said
  - 25 Dec 2015
    10:50 am
My kids only eat cheese and yogurt from this list.

- - mom101628 said
  - 16 Dec 2015
    3:44 pm
Sauerkraut is a widely overlooked vegetable – there is a reason it is eaten so much in the northern climes – it’s good for you!

- - mum888 said
  - 12 Dec 2015
    6:01 pm
I think the probiotics in food gives it the “sour ” taste so it might be challenge to get anyone to have these foods unless you are like me who enjoy a bit of sourness in a lot of foods especially I enjoy sauerkraut and yoghurts which are found in all supermarkets. Perhaps make yoghurt dips recipes or something to blend with these foods to enjoy it more.

- - rmks said
  - 12 Dec 2015
    1:11 pm
All good advice, most of which we apply at our home. Can thoroughly endorse this.

- - mom134803 said
  - 12 Dec 2015
    7:45 am
We use all on the list, except for kefir cheese ! Even made my own sauerkraut lately, which is yum and fun 🙂 If anyone here is interested in kombucha scoby’s and milk kefir grains, feel welcome to contact me cause I’ve plenty to share ! I live in Sydney, Baulkham Hills.
- mom205355 replied
  
  05 Oct 2016 , 10:05 am
  Hi – I know this is an old post, but I’d definitely like to get my hands on a scoby and some kefir grains if you have any spare? Please let me know if you see this. (I’m also in Baulkham Hills, so could pick up from you.
  Thanks
  - mom205355 replied
    
    05 Oct 2016 , 10:14 am
    
    Hi, I though I posted a reply, but can’t see it – so sorry if I post twice!
    I’d love to get hold of some kefir grains and a kombucha scoby if you still have. I’m dying to try it out.
    I’m also in Baulkham Hills, so could pick up from you.
    Thanks
- - Mummytoabeautifulprincess said
  - 11 Dec 2015
    10:09 pm
I have only heard of yoghurt haha

- - mom94125 said
  - 11 Dec 2015
    9:53 pm
i have been hearing a bit more about the kombucha lately. i think that it is becoming trendy.

- - mom165081 said
  - 10 Dec 2015
    12:32 pm
Of all these options, only yoghurt is familiar to me. I will need to research the rest!!!

- - mom160421 said
  - 10 Dec 2015
    11:45 am
Thank you for your suggestions. It’s been a while since we’ve had sauerkraut, even though we love it – I must put in on my shopping list. 🙂

- - mom74640 said
  - 10 Dec 2015
    11:36 am
Lke nd