[146 Lucina]

Hi all,

After waiting 5 days, my 17month old DS is on his 2nd course of antibiotics in 5 weeks, for 2 separate ear infections. He has been on a probiotic (which i mix into his yogurt) since the first course, but I don't feel it's enough. So I started to look up fermented foods and came across kefir.

My questions are; Does anyone drink it and give it to their kids? How dose it taste? Is it easy to make especially if you live in a warm climate? And have you felt any health benefits from it?

Thanks you.

P.s, I'm also going to try making sauerkraut, but it takes time. I figure these foods will be good for all of us.

[kiwimum2b]

I have kefir. It's very easy to make...once drained I just add grains (in a glass jar) and top with milk...I keep mine in the pantry to ferment.
It tastes like sour natural yogurt but isnt as thick..it's not the nicest to drink by itself..I make smoothies with fruit and a little honey but my son is still not a great fan. You''ll have plenty of kefir to try different things ti get your son drinking it - my neighbours 2&1/2 year old has it daily with blended veges! She swears by it and her little boys health has dramatically improved apparently..I'm new to it and haven't been having it for too long do cant really say yet.
We are in Perth

[amabanana]

Kimchi is very yummy too. If you don't like spicy food you can make 'white' kimchi which is basically garlic and onion sauerkraut with pear (for example). It's fantastic with things like steak or stirfry.
In Sweden we used to have Kefir milk at breakfast with cereal or berries. You can buy it in the shops there. TBH I'm not a huge fan but I'm not in love with yoghurt either. I eat it because it's good for me.

[146 Lucina]

Thanks for your replies ladies,

Kiwimum, Thanks, it does sound easy, however I just spoke to the lady that was bringing Kefir up here (Cairns) and she said that it was too warm this time of year for it to ferment properly, so I I'll try getting it in the dry season. For the moment I'll try Kimchi, thanks for the idea amabanana, it sounds like a tastier version of sauerkraut.

Cheers, Luci...

This post has been edited by 146 Lucina: 21/12/2012, 12:58 PM