If you asked Cole what his favorite fruit in the world was, he would definitely say “Mango!”
And really, how can you blame him? They’re perfectly appealing to a kid. Very sweet, soft, and slippery, a mango is truly a golden treasure.
But mangoes have their difficulties, too. While not so maddeningly frustrating as, say, Cole’s second favorite fruit, the pomegranate, mangoes are not particularly fun to prepare. They’re so incredibly juicy and sticky that they give me literal nightmares. They also have the oddest seed of all plants, a oval-shaped oversized disk thing you have to hunt for with a knife. Finally, they have an almost avocado-short ripe window. Wait a few extra hours and you have mush.
But, to appease our son, we have discovered some alternative methods to deliver on his favorite mango flavor without the complications!
Frozen Mangoes
At our local Trader Joes and Whole Foods, they have bags of frozen organic mangoes for relatively cheap. We’ve found the perfect use for them: smoothies!
These drinks pack quite a punch of flavor, but do not mistake them for a low calorie “diet” food. There’s enough fruit sugar and healthy fats from coconut milk in there to make a meal! If your children seem endlessly hungry, coconut milk smoothies are a great way to satiate their endless appetite!
Ingredients
- 1 13.5 oz can of coconut milk
- 1 C mango, diced and frozen
- 1/2 C strawberries, diced
- 1 banana, chunked and frozen
Instructions
- Pour coconut milk into blender bowl.
- Add fruits and push gently down with a spatula.
- Blend on high until completely smooth.
As you can see, this drink is a big hit! And no, Finn still doesn’t like wearing jammies.
Dried Mangoes
We stumbled upon dried mangoes when we discovered that Steve’s Paleo Goods actually sells them without added sugar!
After eating them plain for several weeks, we realized we could do our Apple Pie Balls, a nut-free Larabar type snack, with the dried mangoes too! We served these at a book signing last month and they got the seal of approval from quite a few kiddos and parents. This would be a great energizing snack for picnics and lunch boxes since it can sit at room temperature!
Ingredients
- 1/2 C dried Mango
- 1 C fresh dates
- 3/4 C banana chips
- 1/2 C sunflower seeds
- 1/2 C coconut flakes
Instructions
- In a food processor, pulse mangoes and dates to form a paste.
- Add remaining ingredients and pulse until fully incorporated and evenly distributed.
- Roll into one inch balls by hand.
We hope you enjoy these alternative ways to eat mango as much as Cole! If you’d like another great recipe and our advice on how to prepare fresh mango, check out our recipe for Mango Sticky (not) Rice!
