Freshen up this Spring with Kiwi Fruit! Plus Kiwi & Pineapple Pina Coladas

 

Kiwi fruit are so gorgeous, and yet can be sometimes an overlooked fruit.
They are so versatile, affordable and easy for kids to eat, my youngest has eaten so many lately, they would have to be up there as one of her all time favourite fruits! Recently I was contacted to try out the New Zealand Zespri GOLD kiwifruit (insert happy 3 year old) - and they are stunning!

 

Of course coming from pristine New Zealand I was expecting a fresh, crisp flavour anyway and I wasn't disappointed, they are beautiful and such high quality and keep well in the fruit bowl as well, which is so great for planning out those fruit breaks at school. The kids love the pretty gold colour and they are perfect for kids fruit breaks for school, kindy or after sports.

They also go beautifully in a fruit salad or platter for the whole family - or maybe just for mum! ;)
 

According to Zespri, these gold kiwifruit are fantastic for digestive health and I don't know about you but anything that makes my digestion, gut and bowels happy makes me happy!
(Especially after 2 babies if you know what I mean ; )

These gold kiwifruit are SO good for you!
Quoted from Zespri Website:
"Fibre in kiwifruit is made up of pectins, hemicelluloses and celluloses, which give it certain properties, such as the ability to retain water and form gels. It can have a significant effect on digestion:

• Reducing the glucose absorption rate, so that the GI is lowered and blood sugar levels remain stable
• Increasing the sense of fullness, since the fibre acts to increase viscosity and slow gastric emptying
• Increasing the frequency of bowel movements
• Reducing the sensation of bloatedness
• Reducing the time of intestinal transit

Actinidin is a protease found in kiwifruit, which breaks down proteins and facilitates gastric digestion. This natural enzyme has the ability to break-down a wide range of food proteins more completely and faster than the digestive enzymes can do on their own. Actinidin was most effective on proteins found in beef and chicken, fish, pulses and cereals (gluten and soya protein isolate), and dairy products such as milk, cottage cheese and yogurt.
The digestive benefits of actinidin:

• Improves the digestion of proteins by reducing the sensation of heaviness associated with protein-rich foods
• Improves the absorption of proteins
• Improves digestive comfort"

Raw kiwifruit is also a great source of folic acid, potassium, vitamin c, e and antioxidents.
For more information on the health benefits of the kiwi head to the Zespri Website.

With their lovely zing, we are enjoying ours mainly fresh, as is, cut in half with a spoon, sliced into fruit salads and platters, baked into a delicious kiwi banana bread (get this recipe next week on the blog too) and my FAVOURITE way

Fresh and Fabulous Mocktail
Kiwi and Pineapple Pina Colada

Ingredients

4 Zespri Gold Kiwifruit

1/2 a large or 1 small fresh pineapple

1/2 cup organic coconut cream

1 can coconut water (I use Jt's Coconut Essence as it is my favourite)

Method

Chop the fresh pineapple into chunks.

Take the skin off the kiwifruit and chop into pieces.

Add all ingredients into a blender and blitz until you have a lovely, runny texture.

Serve over crushed ice.

Enjoy!

 

Notes

My kids absolutely love this and it is a perfect pick me up if you are running from school pick up to an after school activity like sports or dance! ( Can you tell I am a dance mum??) I make some ahead and store in glass bottles with lids in the fridge so I can have them ready to be enjoyed when I pick them up and we are zipping around.

Turn them into icypoles! Simply pour into icy pole moulds and freeze - note do it right away before any separating might occur.

I am in kiwifruit heaven right now and am just SO delighted to have a GIVEAWAY for you!!

Zespri Gold kiwifruit have for 1 lucky reader the chance to win a $30 Woolworths gift card so you can go out and buy some of these gorgeous gold kiwifruit and try the pina coladas yourself and also a beautiful kiwifruit bowl!
How fun is that!
Enter below!

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NOTE:
This is in no way endorsed by or run in conjunction with facebook.
This is an independent giveaway.
Winner will be notified by email and has 2 weeks to claim prize or there may be a redraw.
Competition open to Australian residents only.
Winner must have left a blog post comment to be eligible.
This giveaway is brought to you by Zespri Kiwifruit.
All information in this post is intended for interest only, please always seek advice from a health care professional in regards to your health and diet.

WIN a gorgeous Peppa Pig Pyjama Giveaway!

May is Peppa Pig Friendship Month!

Peppa is a lovable, cheeky little piggy who lives with her younger brother George, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig. Peppa loves playing games, dressing up, visiting exciting places and making new friends, but her absolute favourite thing is jumping up and down in muddy puddles. Her adventures always end happily with loud snorts of laughter.

I don't know about your house but in ours nothing gets as much squeals of delight as Peppa Pig! Yep, she has rock star status here and both my girls especially my youngest have developed a great love for anything Peppa Pig and everything muddy puddles!

Even last years birthday cake had a big muddy puddle on top with a tiny Peppa jumping in it!

I have to admit too, even mummy doesn't mind watching a bit of Peppa hehe! She is rather cute and funny after all!

My Peppa Pig loving Miss V!

You too can enjoy your own Peppa Pig adventure this May.

Simply visit any ABC store this May to 'find Peppa and her friends'.

Collect an entry form from the till point and write down the name of the characters that you find.

Once you have completed the hunt hand in your completed entry form to be entered into the competition and receive a Peppa Pig giveaway!

For more info, visit peppapig.com.au | facebook.com/officialpeppapig.au | https://shop.abc.net.au

PLUS.....

WIN your little sweet pea a fantastic Peppa Pig Pyjama Pack set valued at $50rrp right here on this blog!! Note: Styles and sizes vary, giveaway winner may request a size between 3-6. Sizes are not guaranteed, but we will do our best to accommodate.

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She taught me Joy & a Closer to Nature Soother Giveaway

It was a thought that had followed me around when I was pregnant with my second daughter, "will I ever love you as much as I love my first baby, how does this work?." I was plagued with worry and guilt on the thought, after all I had 5 years of cuddles, bedtime stories, tickles and mummy and me moments with my Lily flower. I had watched my tiny baby grow into a tall, curly haired happy little girl, I knew I loved my little peanut as I called my little bump. I rubbed my tummy just as before, I talked to my bump. I bought too cute clothes and all the tiny things that make you awww...
But I worried also, could my heart grow to hold even more love? Was that even possible?

When she decided to come into the world it was in a determined way, 1 &1/2 hours from start to finish, barely making it to hospital and with a midwife yelling we have a baby coming and a few pushes and there you were. Wriggly, beautiful, perfect. My heart melted and then I knew, aaah your heart does truly grow, it really does.

And in one special moment you taught me what life was really all about.

You taught me JOY.Real in the moment, deep within your soul joy.

Such a peaceful little soul, you had the hospital nurses cooing over you and me smiling all day long and life felt good but when my big girl came in to meet you and burst into the biggest smile of love herself for you I felt like the whole world had stopped and I was living in a real life miracle. Holding you in one arm and her in the other, pride, love, contentment.
Oh wow if I could have paused my life right then and recorded that moment...
I remember thinking this is bliss. Right here this is what life is really all about, not money or wealth, fame or status. Not houses and careers, not travel and accomplishments. They were all incredible, wonderful things but right here in my arms, my two beautiful new little souls. You were what life was really about. You made me see the world anew. See myself anew.
You taught me joy.
I knew then in my heart that my life no matter what, regardless of bends and twists, good times and not so good, my life actually, truly is amazingly wonderful and perfect just for me. 

Now everytime life gets a little stressful, a little busy or I get a little tired, or even become that yelling worn out mum we can all become sometimes, frustrated or dismayed I stop and just hold you, my littlest daughter and I know then what I am doing everything for, I know in that hug, where you turn your face up to mine and our eyes meet, I know right then that everything is better than OK, everything is actually wonderful.  

Share your own special mummy moment or something that is special that you do with your baby/kids in a comment on this blog and you could WIN an amazing Closer To Nature prize pack!

One lucky reader will WIN:
4 packs of Closer to nature 0-6 month soothers. Total $44 (1 x ANY TIME, 1 x FUN STYLE, 1 x AIR TIME & 1 x NIGHT TIME. SOOTHERS RRP $11 ea)

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Terms and Conditions

This is a game of skill, winner selected by judges and no correspondences will be entered into.
Winning entrant must be an Australian resident and must have left a comment on this blog.
Winner has 2 weeks to claim prize of their will be a redraw.
Winner notified by email.
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