What better time to fill up on vitamin C ?
This essential vitamin helps not only to boost the immune system , but also to strengthen bones, teeth and cartilage as it is one of the essential nutrients for collagen production.
At the table it is important to never lack this precious vitamin; it is present in various foods, especially citrus fruits, blueberries and some green leafy vegetables.
Oranges , a versatile fruit with exotic origins, are an excellent source of vitamins (they contain vitamin A , vitamin E and various B vitamins ) and antioxidants , including vitamin C , the enemy of free radicals par excellence.
They also contain pectin , a substance with mild laxative properties that can be used as a non-aggressive remedy for children suffering from constipation. They are also useful for the prevention of various colds.
Oranges in the children's diet
At this point it is good to make some clarifications first.
Pediatricians recommend avoiding the administration of citrus fruits before the age of 12 months : being very acidic foods they can cause intestinal disorders and diarrhea to infants.
Therefore this fruit must be inserted into the diet of children gradually after the first year of age, as the infant intestine has already developed its own microflora and the balance of the latter is no longer so precarious.
Also pay attention to the purchase of orange juices : it is good to make sure that it is really juice containing a percentage of 100% fruit , since many fruit-based drinks are very diluted and contain only a small amount. Furthermore, since many fruit juices on the market are added with sugars to make the product sweeter, it is important in the case of children to pour the juice in a glass and not in the bottle, as the juice would remain too long around the teeth and this it could favor the onset of caries.
How to propose oranges to the little ones?
Oranges can be offered in the form of extracts , centrifuged , squeezed or homemade juices .
To enrich the juice, you can add ice cubes for children who love cold drinks (there are so many!) Or fun colored straws.
It is also possible to use them to enrich a salad or meat and fish dishes, to give a touch of color to the dishes and soften the sour taste that not all children might appreciate.
Soft orange cake
Orange fluffy cake is a delicious dessert that all children are sure to love!
Sprinkled with powdered sugar, with a light and irresistible orange scent, it is the ideal way to include this fruit in the diet of children, allowing them to begin to become familiar with its particular taste.
Ingredients:
- 160 g of flour and 80 g of potato starch
- 150 ml of orange juice (about 2 oranges) and orange zest
- 120 g of sugar
- 60 g of seed oil
- 3 eggs
- 1 sachet of baking powder
- 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract (or a sachet of vanillin)
- To garnish: powdered sugar
Procedure :
- Choose organic and unwaxed oranges, as it is necessary to grate the rind.
- Squeeze the oranges and strain the juice to remove the seeds.
- Turn on the oven at 180 °, in static mode, and in the meantime whip the eggs with the sugar, until the mixture is light and fluffy. Then add the melted butter, zest and orange juice.
- Then add the sifted flour and yeast to the mixture, mixing until you get a homogeneous mixture without lumps.
- Flavor to taste with orange zest and vanilla extract.
- Grease and flour a hinged pan with a diameter of 24-26 cm and pour the mixture into the pan.
- Bake in a preheated oven for about 35 minutes.
- Sprinkle the surface with icing sugar and garnish with orange slices.
Good snack everyone!