By: When you have toddlers, feeding them or even thinking about what to feed them can take up a lot of your time. While nutrition is on your mind, you also have to make sure that they enjoy the food and finish their recommended meals. For toddlers, it’s a good idea to give them a mixed plate with plenty of colors, so they get excited to eat. Moreover, when you focus on colors, you end up creating a well balanced meal with proteins, vitamins, minerals and other important nutrients. Apart from home cooked food, it’s a good practice to include some fresh fruits, blanched vegetables and some form of carbs like rice, dosa or roti in their meals. As we are looking at younger toddlers, some may not be very adept at eating fully solid meals, so we have included some simpler meals which can be enjoyed by all. Here are some of our recipes for toddlers to help you keep your little one nourished, full and happy!
- Dal with mixed vegetables
Dal or legumes are a good source of protein and other nutrients. This recipe also calls for mixing in seasonal vegetables, which can be great for picky eaters. This recipe can also be customized for younger toddlers, by simply overcooking the dal and vegetables and then using a blender to make a semi-solid puree.
Ingredients:
½ cup of masoor or moong dal
½ cup chopped seasonal vegetables – carrots, beans, turnips, potatoes, cauliflowers, peas – you can choose as many as you like
Salt to taste
½ tsp sugar
1 tsp turmeric
1 tbsp ghee
Process:
- Wash the dal and vegetables thoroughly
- Put everything in a pressure cooker except the ghee with 2 cups of water
- Cook till 3-4 whistles or till the vegetables are well cooked
- Add the ghee before serving
- Serve as a dal soup or with cooked rice
- Palak paratha
This palak paratha is not just tasty but also super nutritious – a super food for your little one. It is also a versatile recipe and you can customize it by adding in other vegetables of your choice.
Ingredients:
1 cup maida or atta
1 bunch palak without stems
Salt as per taste
2 cloves garlic
1 tsp Kalonji
2-3 tsp oil or ghee
Process:
- Blanch the palak leaves by immersing them in boiling water for 2-3 minutes. When done, immerse in cold water or an ice bath
- Squeeze out the excess water and blend the palak leaves with little added water if needed
- Add this puree to the flour along with the kalonji seeds and chopped garlic
- Now form a dough with this – add flour or water as needed
- Make small balls and roll them out into paratha shape of your choice
- Heat up a tawa and add the paratha, cooking on both sides
- When slightly darker in color or when brown spots appear, apply the oil or ghee and cook for 1-2 minutes
- Serve with yogurt
- Hara bhara kabab
Who can resist a delicious kebab? When it comes to picky eaters, this one is a super hit. Apart from being tasty, this packs in plenty of good nutrients and vitamins with all the vegetables mixed in – so give it a try!
Ingredients:
1 boiled potato
1 cup palak leaves without stem
½ cup green peas
½ cup mixed vegetables of your choice – beans, carrots etc.
Handful of chopped coriander leaves
1-2 tbsp breadcrumbs (optional)
Salt to taste
½ tsp turmeric
½ tsp cumin powder
½ tsp coriander powder
3-4 tbsp oil
Process:
- Blanch and cool the palak leaves and then blend into a puree
- Wash the other vegetables and steam them or boil them in water till cooked
- Mix the palak puree with the boiled potato, coriander leaves, cooked vegetables, salt and spices
- Mix well and add breadcrumbs if mixture is too wet
- Form the mixture into small patties and shallow fry on a tava
- Serve hot with pudina chutney or ketchup
- Paneer roll-up
Kids and especially toddlers are more excited by new and different foods – and this paneer roll up is the perfect way to sneak in some vegetables in their meal times. It’s so tasty, they won’t even complain about the veggies in there! Moreover, paneer is a good source of dairy and protein and is absolutely delicious.
Ingredients:
1 homemade paratha
3-4 cubes of paneer
¼th cup mixed vegetables of your choice – chopped and cooked
Salt to taste
½ tsp turmeric powder
½ tsp cumin powder
½ tsp coriander powder
½ tsp kasuri methi
1 tbsp oil
Process:
- Heat up the oil in a shallow pan and add the vegetables
- When the vegetables are slightly wilted or get some color on them, add in the paneer pieces
- Now add all the powdered spices and salt except the kasuri methi
- Fry well till everything is well combined. Add few teaspoons of water is needed
- Add the kasuri methi when everything is cooked and well combined
- Use this filling for the homemade paratha and cut into pinwheel shapes for easy snacking
- Tomato rice with vegetables
Very few toddlers can resist this colorful, veggie packed and yummy fried rice. Easy to cook and delicious to eat, this is a great way to make a full meal in just one pot!
Ingredients:
½ cup cooked rice
½ chopped vegetables like beans, carrots, cauliflower, peas and potatoes
2 tbsp of tomato puree or tomato paste
½ tsp cumin seeds
5-6 curry leaves
½ tsp mustard seeds
½ tsp turmeric powder
½ tsp garam masala
Salt to taste
Few sprigs of coriander – chopped
1 tsp oil
Process:
- Heat up the oil in a pan and when hot, add in the cumin seeds, mustard seeds and curry leaves
- When everything splutters, add in the chopped vegetables and saute till everything is mixed
- Now add salt and a little water if needed. Cover and cook till vegetables are almost cooked
- Add the tomato puree or paste and all the spices and cook till everything is done to your liking
- Add in the cooked rice and combine well. Cover and cook to let the flavors mix in well
- Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve
Note: You can also add in some paneer cubes or a scrambled egg to add protein to this delicious fried rice!
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