Breakfast: Rava Upma
Start your toddler's day with a comforting bowl of Rava Upma. This semolina-based dish is a South Indian classic and is incredibly easy to customize. To
prepare, begin by dry roasting one cup of rava (semolina) until lightly golden. In a separate pan, temper mustard seeds, urad dal, and curry leaves in hot oil. Add chopped vegetables like carrots and peas, sautéing until tender. Next, pour in water and let it boil. Slowly add the roasted rava, stirring constantly to prevent lumps, and cook until the upma thickens. Season with salt and garnish with coriander leaves. Rava Upma is a powerhouse of energy and fiber, making it an ideal breakfast choice for toddlers. The vegetables hidden within make it a balanced and appealing meal, even for picky eaters. You can also vary the vegetables to suit your child's taste and preference, ensuring they get a good variety of nutrients.
Idli with Sambar
Introduce your child to the soft, steamed goodness of Idli, served with a mild and flavorful Sambar. This combination is a staple in South Indian homes, known for its lightness and nutritional value. For the idli, you need a batter made from fermented rice and urad dal. The fermentation process makes the idlis easily digestible. Steam the batter in idli molds until they're fluffy and soft. Sambar, a lentil-based vegetable stew, is prepared with a blend of lentils, vegetables like drumsticks and pumpkin, and a special sambar powder. Cook the lentils and vegetables until they are tender. Then, add the sambar powder and tamarind pulp for a tangy taste. Serve the idlis with a small amount of sambar, making sure it’s not too spicy for your toddler. Idli is a good source of carbohydrates, and the sambar adds protein and essential vitamins and minerals, providing a complete meal.
Poha for Lunch
Poha is a quick, easy, and nutritious dish, perfect for a light lunch. This dish made from flattened rice, is popular throughout India, and can be customized to suit your toddler's preferences. First, rinse the poha in water and drain it immediately to soften it. Then, temper mustard seeds, onions, and curry leaves in hot oil. Add vegetables such as peas, potatoes, or carrots, and sauté until tender. Add the softened poha and turmeric powder, then stir well. Cook for a few minutes until the poha is heated through and the flavors blend together. Garnish with coriander leaves and a squeeze of lemon juice, if desired. Poha is a good source of carbohydrates and is light on the stomach, making it a great option for toddlers who might not want a heavy meal. The vegetables add essential vitamins and fiber, and the lemon juice can add a touch of flavor.
Dal Khichdi Delight
Dal Khichdi is a one-pot meal that's both easy to digest and packed with nutrients, making it ideal for toddlers. This dish combines rice and lentils, cooked with spices until soft and mushy. You can begin by washing one-fourth cup of rice and one-fourth cup of moong dal. Pressure cook them together with water, turmeric powder, and a pinch of asafoetida until soft. Temper some ghee with cumin seeds and a little turmeric, then pour this over the khichdi. You can add vegetables like carrots and peas as well. The khichdi can also be blended to the right consistency for younger children. Dal provides protein, and rice offers carbohydrates, making khichdi a balanced meal. The addition of ghee adds healthy fats and enhances flavor, making it appealing to young children. Khichdi is a very versatile dish and can be altered to make it more appealing to the child.
Vegetable Korma
Introduce your toddler to the creamy, flavorful Vegetable Korma, a mild and nourishing dish. Korma is made with a combination of vegetables like carrots, beans, peas, and potatoes, cooked in a creamy sauce. Prepare a paste from cashews, poppy seeds, and green chilies (adjust the chilies to your child's tolerance level). Sauté the vegetables until they are slightly tender. Add the paste and cook it for a few minutes. Then, add a little water and a pinch of turmeric powder, cooking until the vegetables are cooked through. The dish should be served with a small amount of rice or roti. Korma is a great way to introduce a variety of vegetables to your child’s diet. The creamy sauce, usually made with coconut milk or yogurt, adds a pleasing texture and flavor, making it a hit with toddlers. Korma is very versatile, and you can change the vegetables you add to it every time.
Palak Paneer
Introduce your toddler to Palak Paneer, a favorite dish with spinach and paneer. This creamy, green dish is a powerhouse of nutrients. To begin, blanch spinach and puree it until smooth. Sauté onions, ginger, and garlic, then add the spinach puree and cook. Add paneer cubes and a touch of cream for a richer flavor. Season with salt and mild spices. Serve with small pieces of roti or plain rice. Palak Paneer is an excellent source of iron and calcium from the spinach and paneer, respectively. It’s also a great way to introduce green vegetables to your toddler. The creaminess of the dish often makes it a hit, even with children who are fussy eaters. Always make sure to ensure the dish is not too spicy for the toddler. You may have to remove green chilies from the mix.
Chicken Soup Recipe
Chicken soup offers a comforting and nutritious meal, perfect for toddlers. This simple recipe provides essential protein and is easy to digest. Start by boiling chicken pieces in water with vegetables like carrots and celery. Add a bay leaf and some peppercorns for flavour. Once the chicken is cooked through, shred it into small pieces. Strain the soup to remove any solids, and then add the shredded chicken back to the broth. Chicken soup is very soothing and can be adapted to your toddler's taste. You can easily adjust the spices to make it mild. It’s a great option when your child is feeling under the weather or just needs a nourishing, easily digestible meal. Avoid adding a lot of salt to the recipe.
Tomato Rice Recipe
Tomato rice is a simple, flavorful, and easy-to-make dish that toddlers often enjoy. This recipe combines the goodness of tomatoes with the ease of cooking rice, creating a colorful and tasty meal. Begin by sautéing onions, tomatoes, and spices in a pan. Add the rice and water, and cook until the rice is fluffy. Make sure to cook this on a low to medium heat to help the rice cook fully. Tomato rice is a good source of carbohydrates and vitamins. The tomatoes add a natural sweetness and color, making the dish appealing to toddlers. You can add a variety of vegetables to add more nutrients.
Moong Dal Cheela
Moong Dal Cheela is a protein-rich, easy-to-make pancake perfect for toddlers. These savory pancakes offer a healthy and tasty alternative to the regular pancakes, and are very easy to customize. To prepare, soak moong dal overnight. Grind the soaked dal into a smooth batter, adding water as needed. Add finely chopped vegetables like onions and carrots. Cook small portions of the batter on a hot pan like a pancake, until lightly golden on both sides. Serve with a little bit of chutney or plain yogurt. Moong dal is a great source of protein and fiber. Cheelas are a great finger food, easy for little ones to grasp and eat. You can vary the vegetables in the cheela for extra nutritional value. These cheelas are light and easily digestible.
Banana Porridge
Banana porridge is a quick and easy breakfast or snack that’s perfect for toddlers. This simple recipe provides essential nutrients and is naturally sweet, making it appealing to young children. Mash a ripe banana until it has a smooth consistency. In a saucepan, combine the mashed banana with milk (breast milk, formula, or cow's milk) and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the porridge thickens. You can add a pinch of cinnamon or a small amount of fruit. Banana porridge is a great source of potassium and fiber, which helps with digestion. The natural sweetness of the banana often makes it a favorite among toddlers. The porridge is very easy to make, and you can easily alter it by adding different fruits or cereals to change the texture and flavor.
