The thought of putting effort into a special Christmas morning breakfast might make you want to head back under the doona when you’ve still got lunch to think about.

However, a simple breakfast of healthy pancakes with a few extra festive touches could be an easy and fun tradition to start. Particularly if you tend to do a breakfast visit with some family members first and then a separate lunch with others.

These Santa pancakes are extra special, as they were devised by dietitian Eloise Turner who works with healthy snack company Fodbods – creators of IBS-friendly and allergy-free snacks.

Fodbods recently released their Buddies protein bars, aimed at kids, and Nibbles bite-sized snacks just in time for the party season.

“Roughly one in five Australians suffer unpleasant symptoms of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), including children who are often more difficult to diagnose and treat,” says Eloise. “All Fodbods products are easy to digest as they are made from ingredients such as tigernut flour, buckwheat kernels and organic coconut.

“If you have family members with sensitive stomachs these pancakes are ideal if you use gluten free flour instead of plain flour, and lactose-free yogurt and cream.”

Santa Pancakes

Ingredients (serves 2)

• 1 egg
• ¾ cup lactose-free yogurt
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• ½ cup gluten-free flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 6 strawberries, thinly sliced
• 1 firm banana, thinly sliced
• 4 white chocolate buttons
• 4 blueberries
• 2 raspberries
• Lactose-free whipped cream

Method

In a large bowl, combine the egg, yogurt and syrup.

Add in the flour and baking powder and mix until well combined.

Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat and add the batter, flipping when bubbles form on the surface (remember to make the pancake big enough to fit Santa’s beard and hat).

Place each pancake on individual plates and allow to cool before decorating.

To decorate, arrange the strawberries in the shape of a hat and the banana in the shape of Santa’s beard.

Place the chocolate and blueberries as eyes and raspberry as his nose, topping with whipped cream to finish.