10 Healthy Banana Recipes for Kids

Bananas are a favourite among kids for their naturally sweet taste, creamy texture, and versatility. Packed with essential nutrients like potassium, vitamin C, and dietary fibre, bananas offer a healthy boost to growing bodies. For parents, finding creative ways to incorporate this nutritious fruit into meals can be fun and beneficial. Bananas are a kid-friendly fruit that can be incorporated in ice creams, desserts, muffins, and cakes to make them tastier and nutritionally better (1). Children love to eat and try new dishes for the experience, so you can give your kid a variety of flavours, tastes and textures to allure him to enjoy any innovative new food. Here is a collection of easy banana recipes for kids that balance flavour and health.

Easy and Delicious Banana Recipes for Children

There is no dearth of recipes which are kid-friendly and can make meal time fun. Such recipes can be prepared for infants, and an adult-friendly spin can make them more appropriate for the older children. With banana added to any recipe, it automatically becomes an arsenal of health benefits like better concentration and healthy weight gain. Some kid-friendly banana recipes are given below.

1. Choc Mint Pops for Summer

These healthy ice creams can be prepared at home when the weather is warm. Ripe bananas will be better in the recipe, and food colour is optional for you to use.

Ingredients

• Unsweetened almond milk – 1 cup
• Medium sized banana – 1
• Honey – 1 tbsp
• Vanilla extract – 1 tsp
• Peppermint extract – ¼ tsp
• Green food colouring (optional) – 2 drops
• Dark chocolate – 40 g

Method

1. Take some ice block moulds and pour all the ingredients blended together except the dark chocolate.
2. Pop in the freezer overnight to set.
3. Once the blended stuff is frozen, melt chocolate the way you prefer and drizzle it over the pops.
4. Place the whole thing in the freezer again for it to set absolutely hard.

2. Banana Yoghurt Muffins

These muffins are perfect for the little ones to carry to school.

Ingredients

• Wholemeal Flour – 2 cups
• Rolled oats – 1 cup
• Honey – ¼ cup
• Eggs – 2
• Natural/Greek low-fat yoghurt – ¾ cup
• Ripe bananas (mashed) – 2
• Olive oil – ¼ cup
• Cinnamon (ground) – 1 tsp
• Soda bicarb – ½ tsp
• Chia seeds (optional) – 2 tbsp
• Vanilla essence – ½ tsp
• Muffin tins to be greased with butter/olive oil

Method

1. All the dry ingredients are to be combined in a big bowl and stirred well.
2. Mix vanilla, yoghurt, olive oil, honey and eggs in a smaller bowl. Mix it with the dry ingredients and stir well.
3. Now add the mashed bananas to it and mix thoroughly.
4. Grease the muffin tray using olive oil or butter.
5. Put spoonful of the mixture in the greased tray.
6. Allow it to cook in a preheated oven for 20 – 30 minutes.
7. Gently insert a skewer to test if they are fully cooked. Allow it to cool before serving.

3. Peanut Butter and Banana Ice cream

Ingredients

• Ripe bananas – 4-5
• Peanut butter
• Milk or yoghurt
• Grated dark chocolate
• Nuts (optional)

Method

1. The bananas need to be sliced into 3 cm chunks.
2. Line a baking tray with baking paper and place the bananas on it.
3. Place in the freezer for at least 4 hours.
4. Put the frozen bananas and peanut butter in a blender which can crush ice too.
5. Add a little milk or yoghurt and blend on high speed.
6. Place the blended stuff in the freezer and add some grated dark chocolate to make it taste better. Nuts can also be added to enhance the taste.

4. Banana Bread (Freezable)

Ingredients

• Whole oats – 1.5 cups
• Desiccated coconut – ½ cup
• Eggs – 2
• Bananas (peeled and ripe) – 3
• Maple syrup – ½ cup
• Baking soda – 1 tsp
• Sunflower seeds and chocolate chips (optional) – 2 tbsp

Method

1. Take a slice tray and line it with baking paper.
2. Take a food processor and blend baking powder, maple syrup, banana and eggs until smooth.
3. The mixture is to be poured on the prepared tray and topped with sunflower seeds and choc chips.
4. Bake the mixture in a preheated oven for 20 -25 minutes.
5. Allow it to cool for 10 minutes and then slice them.

5. Banana Nuts and Chocolate Quick Bread

Ingredients

• Whole – wheat flour – 1 ½ cups
• All-purpose flour 1 cup
• Salt – ¼ tsp
• Cinnamon(ground) – 1 tsp
• Baking powder – 1 ½ tsp
• Nutmeg (ground) – ¼ tsp
• Eggs – 2
• Sugar(brown) – two third cup
• Buttermilk – 1 cup
• Butter (Melted) – 2 tbsp
• Vanilla extract – 1 tsp
• Canola oil – 2 tbsp
• Bananas (diced) – 2 cups
• Chocolate chips – ½ cup
• Walnuts Chopped roasted – ½ cup

Method

1. Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, nutmeg, salt, baking soda and cinnamon in a large bowl.
2. Whisk brown sugar, buttermilk, vanilla essence, butter, oil and eggs in another bowl.
3. Add the buttermilk mixture to the dry ingredients until well combined.
4. Add walnuts, choc chips and bananas and combine.
5. Pour the batter on the loaf tin and sprinkle walnut on top.
6. Bake the bread in a preheated oven at 400 degrees. Use a toothpick to ensure it is properly baked.
7. Allow the bread to cool for 30 minutes.
8. A delicious chocolate banana bread for kids is ready.

6. Banana Bites

Ingredients

• Banana – 1
• Natural peanut butter – one third cup
• Apple juice – one third cup
• Egg – 1
• Vanilla extract – ½ tsp
• Whole wheat flour – two third cup
• Oats (dry) – 1 ½ cup
• Baking soda 1 tsp

Method

1. Mix banana, peanut butter, apple juice, egg and vanilla extract and add baking soda, oats and whole wheat flour.
2. Blend all these ingredients with dry ingredients.
3. On a cookie sheet drop a spoonful of the mixture.
4. Use the back of a spoon to flatten it and give it a shape.
5. Insert into an oven and bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

7. Eggless Banana Cake

Ingredients

• Bananas (large, ripe) – 4
• Whole wheat flour – 1.5 cups
• Baking powder – 1 tsp
• Baking soda – ½ tsp
• Salt – a pinch
• Sugar – ½ cup
• Neutral flavoured oil – two third cup
• Vanilla extract – 1 tsp
• Dry fruits (chopped) – 10

Method

1. Use a blender to mash the bananas. To it, you must add vanilla extract, sugar and oil. The oil should mix with the banana puree, and the sugar should also dissolve.
2. Add whole wheat flour, baking powder and soda and salt to the wet ingredients.
3. Add dry fruits like raisins, pistachios and chopped walnuts.
4. Pour the batter gently in a greased pan or cake pan and bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees.
5. Serve when cooled with tea or coffee.

8. Breakfast Banana Split

Ingredients

• Bananas – 2
• Yoghurt – ½ cup
• Berries (mixed) – ¼ cup
• LSA (linseed, sunflower and almond meal) – 2 tbsp
• Walnuts (chopped) – 2 tbsp
• Oats (rolled) – 2 tbsp

Method

1. Slice the bananas into half lengthwise.
2. Take the mixed berries and mix them well.
3. In the serving dish, place the LSA and oats. On top of this place two banana halves and cover it with walnuts and yoghurt.
4. The berry puree is to be drizzled over it.

9. Banana Pancakes

This banana pancake recipe is a quick, nutritious way to start the day. Perfectly soft and fluffy, they’re naturally sweetened with banana, making them a kid-friendly breakfast treat!

Ingredients

• Ripe banana – 1 (medium, mashed)
• Rolled oats – ½ cup
• Eggs – 2
• Baking powder – ¼ tsp
• Cinnamon (optional) – a pinch
• Vanilla extract (optional) – ½ tsp
• Little butter for cooking

Method

1. In a blender, combine the banana, oats, eggs, baking powder, cinnamon, and vanilla until smooth.
2. Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat and lightly grease it with butter.
3. Pour small rounds of batter onto the pan and cook for about 2 minutes on each side, or until golden.
4. Serve warm with fresh fruit, a drizzle of honey, or a sprinkle of nuts for extra flavour.

10. Banana Smoothie

This simple banana smoothie recipe is packed with protein and calcium, making it an ideal energising snack or breakfast for kids.

Ingredients

• Ripe banana – 1 (frozen for extra creaminess)
• Milk (or almond milk) – 1 cup
• Greek yogurt – ½ cup
• Honey – 1 tsp (optional)
• Ice cubes – 2-3 (optional for extra thickness)

Method

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
2. Pour into a glass and serve immediately.

FAQs

1. Do bananas help with digestion for kids?

Yes, bananas are rich in dietary fibre, which supports healthy digestion and can help prevent constipation. They contain pectin, a type of soluble fibre that aids in smooth digestion, making bananas a gentle and effective choice for young digestive systems (2) (3).

2. Can bananas help kids who are underweight gain a healthy weight?

Bananas are a calorie-dense fruit and provide natural sugars, carbs, and fibre that can support healthy weight gain when needed (5). Banana-based recipes like smoothies with added yoghurt or nut butter can be a nutritious option for kids who need to gain weight in a healthy way (4).

Banana recipes for children are plenty and nutrition packed food can be given to children very easily. Such recipes are sure to bring a smile even on the fussy kids’ faces. This fantastic fruit is adored by little children many snacks and desserts can be made out of it.

References/Resources:

1. Fruit of the month: Bananas; Harvard Health Publishing; https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/fruit-of-the-month-bananas#

2. 5 Foods to Improve Your Digestion; The Johns Hopkins Medicine; https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/5-foods-to-improve-your-digestion

3. Foods for Constipation; The Johns Hopkins Medicine; https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/foods-for-constipation

4. How to help your child gain weight; NHS; https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/childrens-weight/how-to-help-your-child-gain-weight/

5. Bananas; Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/food-features/bananas/

Also Read:

Delicious Fruit Salad Recipes for Kids
Yummy Vegetable Recipes for Children
Easy and Healthy Recipes That Kids Can Cook
Quick and Easy Fire-free Recipes for Kids

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