Is your child’s first birthday round the corner? Are you looking for a healthy first birthday cake recipe? I’ve got you covered. This decadent chocolate flavored millet-based cake recipe is my daughter’s favorite. Whenever we are celebrating a milestone or family function, I quickly whip up this chocolate ragi cake and we all enjoy it together.
I used to make this recipe with about 1/2 cup of jaggery but recently I tweaked the recipe when we were celebrating my toddler’s ‘1000 days on Earth’ birthday milestone. The sugar free version of this cake turned out so tasty, I decided this is how I will be making it from here on out.
Documenting this recipe, so future me can also refer back and hope you try this healthy ragi cake and write back to me how you like it.
HEALTHY FIRST BIRTHADY CAKE | NO ADDED SUGAR | NO EGGS
This recipe is perfect as a smash cake or a healthy no added sugar cake for babies and toddlers. Plus, it’s made without eggs which is perfect for those with allergies.
Healthy first birthday cake | No Sugar | No Eggs
Ophira
A baby friendly cake recipe made using millet flour, dates and unsweetened chocolate powder, is perfect as a smash cake or as a celebration cake for under 2 year olds.
15Medjool dates(if smaller size dates use about 20)
1.5cupMilk
1cupRagi flour
1/4cupUnsweetened cocoa powder
1tspPure vanilla extract
1/2cupSunflower oil
1tspBaking powder
1/2tspBaking soda
Instructions
Soak the pitted dates in warm milk for 20 minutes.
Preheat oven, 180 degree C for 15 minutes.
Once the dates are softened blend to make a paste.
In a bowl sift the ragi flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and baking powder
Once the dry ingredients are mixed and ready pour the date paste, oil, vanilla extract and combine to make the cake batter, make sure to not over mix.
Add some chocolate chips or chopped cashews and mix (optional)
Transfer to greased baking tin and bake in the oven at 180 degree C for 30 minutes. Or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Notes
Notes : Variation for date-free cakeIf you want to make a date-free cake, use 1/2 cup jaggery powder instead of dates along with 1/4 cup yogurt.Recipe for the chocolate ganachePour ganache once the cake is completely cooled. The chocolate coating on top is made using half a cup milk chocolate chips and a tsp of coconut oil. Heated in microwave for 30 seconds and mixed to make the chocolate ganache.Pour over the cooled cake and add sprinkles for fun!
Keyword baby friendly cake, first birthday cake, homemade birthday cake, no egg cake recipe, no sugar cake for baby, smash cake, smash cake recipe
Some more no-added sugar based baby-friendly cake frosting recipes I liked,
Ask any parent what their current challenge is with their toddler and the most common answer will be getting the toddler to eat balanced meals. Snacks are a task because toddlers have varying preferences and temperaments from extremely picky eaters to tiny foodie monsters.
In today’s post, I will share a master list of healthy toddler snacks so that hopefully you can find in here some balanced snack options no matter how little or more your child eats.
But first here are my,
TIPS FOR BUILDING HEALTHY SNACKS FOR TODDLERS
Get the snack formula right – The best formula to keep in mind every time you build a snack plate is protein + healthy fats + fiber. If you include snacks that cover these three components on a plate you are guaranteed longer satiety and fewer chances of a toddler wanting more snacks an hour later.
Add something crunchy – Toddlers love crunch! We can all attest to a toddler’s love for crunchy foods. Get them excited about snack time with some healthy whole grain crackers, corn chips, or their favorite crunchy snack paired with some cheese and fruits.
Colors of the rainbow – Add some colorful vegetables for a well-rounded snack plate. Many of us don’t think to add vegetables to our toddler’s plates but snack time is a great time to add some colorful veggies in a fun form. Vegetable puffs, vegetable sticks with hummus, vegetable pies or patties, vegetable chips. More ideas listed below.
A sweet treat doesn’t always have to be junk – I know snack time is when that little cookie monster comes out. Instead of restricting cookies or other favorite sweet treats why not pair them with a glass of whole milk, or bake your homemade version so you can include more wholesome ingredients? Here are some healthy sweet treat ideas for you.
Favorite foods – Healthy is not boring! Add a few of your picky eater’s safe foods to the snack plate alongside new snack exposures. To make food more fun and better accepted why not add a little extra chocolate chips or sprinkles over snacks like chocolate chip cookies, homemade muffins, or banana boats?
6. Think mini meals – Snacks don’t always have to be snacky foods, you can even go the mini meal route. Leftovers from lunch or last night’s dinner can be paired with other healthy accompaniments to make a little snack plate.
MASTER LIST OF HEALTHY SNACKS FOR TODDLERS
Here are some snack ideas for toddlers to help you plan family meals.
Mini Meal Snacks
The first type of snack idea for toddlers is not necessarily a snack food. Toddlers are still at the age where there is no real need to make a big distinction between snack types of foods and meals in itself. They eat tiny amounts of food at a time and sometimes a snack is at best a continuation of meal time.
I like to offer any leftovers from the previous meal with some more healthy add-ins to give my toddler a balanced mini-meal type of snack plate.
Examples of a mini meal can look like:
Leftover scrambled eggs or omelet from breakfast along with a fruit and crackers for a snack.
Or last night’s roast chicken, shredded and offered with some cheese and fruit or built into a chicken sandwich with mayonnaise.
Sometimes when we have leftover vegetables from lunch, I add them to a whole wheat wrap with some low-sodium sauces, chutney, or mayonnaise for a vegetable wrap.
Fruit-Based Snacks For Toddlers
Chopped fruit served with yogurt.
Banana boats – sliced bananas topped with nut butter of choice, desiccated coconut, or chocolate chips for more flavor.
Dairy-based snacks like cheese and cheesy recipes are favored even by the pickiest toddler. Therefore these are an easy option to serve most toddlers. Here are some protein-rich snack ideas for toddlers who love milk and cheese.
Yogurt bowls – Yogurt bowls are easy to assemble. Add your toddler’s favorite fruit and some nuts for crunch and you have a delicious snack ready. Some yummy combinations are apple-cinnamon-yogurt, berries-nut butter-yogurt and pureed mango-chopped almonds-yogurt.
Chocolate milk with a cookie – A balanced approach to eating doesn’t mean every meal has to include veggies and fruit, sometimes a cup of chocolate milk and a favorite cookie bring the child a lot of joy. Instilling this sense of feeling happy and satisfied with our food is important so the child can grow up to view meals in a balanced way, knowing when to respect hunger cues and when to take a moment to enjoy some yummy indulgent foods too.
Cheese toasties
Meat-Based Snacks For Toddlers
Ham sandwiches
Roasted chicken sandwiches
Sauteed chicken skewers
Deconstructed chicken salad snack – If your toddler doesn’t like certain foods touching each other or mixed together try a deconstructed salad snack. Add some torn-up lettuce, rotisserie chicken- black olives-cucumbers-bell peppers in separate sections on a snack plate for the toddler to try.
These days many brands are making healthy packaged snacks for kids, these can come in handy when you are in a rush and want to provide something quick and easy.
Also, food should be all about enjoyment and balance. Restricting yourself and your children is not a sustainable way to achieve healthy eating habits long term.
Instead, focus on packaged snacks made from ingredients you know of, that are low on added sugars (under 10g /100g) and most importantly pair packaged snacks alongside other Whole Foods options. That way in the long run you can maintain healthy eating habits, not feel deprived, and enjoy the food you eat.
One way I will do this is, if I serve my child’s favorite chips I also add a fruit and some cheese on the side for a more filling meal.
Or pair my child’s favorite chocolate/cake with some fresh fruit or a cup of chilled milk.
FAQ’S ABOUT TODDLER SNACKING
What if my toddler only wants to snack all day?
Toddlers first and foremost have a reduced appetite due to rapid growth and development. In this situation offering mini meals is more suited over a hard and fast mealtime routine. Try offering snacks that are mini meals in themselves. Read this previous post on strategies many moms use when their toddler only wants snacks all day.
2. How many snacks to offer my toddler in a day?
A toddler should be offered 3 meals and 2 snacks. One mid-morning snack and one evening snack should be enough. But then, these are simply guidelines, and as a parent, you may face low-eating days or a day when your toddler wants multiple snacks at a time. It takes time for a toddler to establish a meal routine, disruptions are usually seen when the child is teething, going through a growth spurt, or routine transitions in life. Give them some grace and keep their hunger cues in mind when planning the daily meal routine.
3. What are some easy-to-go snacks for traveling with toddlers?
Easy-to-pack snacks like string cheese, fruit, energy bars, and energy balls are good for a snack outside the house. For more to-go snack ideas for toddlers check this older post of mine.
What are some of the healthy snacks that your toddler enjoys? Do leave me ideas in the comments below, I am sure these will come in handy to other moms reading this article.
Blueberries are a popular favorite among babies and toddlers alike. They are sweet, easy to serve and so healthy for babies. One of the ways you can offer blueberries to a baby can be in this blueberry ice cream form.
I served this to my son as a teething food or at times as a quick low-prep snack. He absolutely loves this homemade blueberry ice cream and asks for it often when he is in the mood for something cold.
The recipe for this blueberry ice cream for babies is specially designed to be easy, dairy-free, and hassle-free. You won’t believe how good it tastes even with no milk or cream in it.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF BLUEBERRY ICE CREAM
Blueberries are antioxidant-rich foods that protect the body from free radical damage.
They are good for brain functioning and memory.
Eating blueberries regularly can reduce oxidative stress and damage to brain cells helping preserve brain function.
Blueberries also contain certain B vitamins, manganese, and copper, all of which are important for growing children.
Let us look at this quick and easy blueberry ice cream recipe for kids
HOMEMADE BLUEBERRY ICE CREAM FOR BABIES, TODDLERS AND OLDER KIDS
This is a quick and healthy blueberry ice cream for babies, toddlers, and older kids. Contains no dairy, and no added sugars and is packed with all the goodness of blueberries.
The rich color and creamy texture make it a decadent dessert or snack option that kids of all ages can enjoy.
Peel bananas, cut them into 1-inch pieces, and freeze them in ziplock bags.
Once the bananas are frozen add the bananas, blueberries, and a splash of soy milk in the blender and blitz.
Depending on the strength of your blender, you may need to stop intermittantly between blending, open the blender, mix the ice cream to allow for even consistency to form.
Keep blending until ice cream consistency is achieved.
Notes
Note :
For older kids, you can add a teaspoon of maple syrup or honey for sweetness.
2. You can also add toppings of your choice for children over 1, some ideas are almond flakes, sprinkles, chocolate chips, or desiccated coconut.3. You can use both fresh or frozen blueberries in this recipe.
Keyword baby food, baby led weaning foods, baby led weaning snacks, blueberry ice cream, healthy blueberry ice cream, snacks for toddlers, teething foods
Try this homemade blueberry ice cream for babies and toddlers and tell me how your child likes it. Don’t forget to leave a rating on the recipe, your experience trying the recipe can help other parents too.
Bento boxes have become popular on the internet these days. Food presented in a bento box looks aesthetically pleasing and the compartments in the box make it easier to carry a complete meal in one box without hassle.
I tried our first bento box (The Yumbox) back in 2019 when my son was starting school. The ease of opening and closing the box, the different compartments resembling a toddler section plate, and the ease of adding a variety of foods to the box with fewer chances of it mixing are what converted me to the idea of using bento lunch boxes.
For beginners, if you are wondering.
WHAT IS A BENTO BOX?
A bento is the Japanese version of a single portion home-packed meal or take-out meal. A traditional bento usually contains rice, eggs, fish or meat, and some pickled and cooked vegetables.
WHAT TO PUT IN A BENTO BOX?
Other than the traditional bento versions, bento boxes these days are also used to carry a variety of snacks and meals adapted to the lifestyle of the user.
I usually like to add one main dish either some type of wrap, rice dish, patty, or sandwich along with fruits/vegetables and dried fruit and nuts.
This type of lunch box makes it easy to build a balanced meal that is rich in protein, fats, and fiber.
Let’s look at some easy bento box lunch ideas for school and daycare.
BENTO BOX LUNCH IDEAS FOR KID’S SCHOOL
These are bento lunch box ideas for 4-year-olds just starting school, but anyone of any age can enjoy these recipes by adjusting for spice and increasing portion sizes.
You can also try modifications of these recipes for daycare to suit a baby led weaning approach.
Note : Do not offer whole nuts to younger children. Pictures showcase the school lunch box of a 6-year-old.
Modify recipes, swap ingredients, and cut into baby-friendly portions to avoid choking risk when making for younger toddlers and babies. To learn more about baby-led weaning and the preparation of baby-friendly foods read this post of mine.
Ready? Let’s go.
Feta Cheese Wrap for Kids School Lunch
Feta cheese wrap, grapes, cashews, and bananas.
Feta cheese contains fats and protein making it a healthy option to try in moderation. It is a high-sodium cheese so offer in smaller amounts to children over the age of one.
Use a whole wheat chapati or tortilla wrap. For the filling crumble feta cheese evenly over the chapati followed by chopped spinach leaves, tomatoes, a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper. Cut a slit with a knife in one-quarter section of the chapati and then wrap it over to make a triangle.
Toast the wrap on both sides in a hot pan for 2-3 minutes until golden.
Bagel Sandwich
Bagel sandwich, macaron, sunflower seeds, banana.
This sandwich bento box is suited for children over age 2.
To make the bagel sandwich spread out cream cheese, add lettuce leaves, tomato slices, black olives, salt, and pepper. That is it. As easy as that.
Potato Pea Wrap
Potato pea wrap, watermelon, sunflower seeds, orange.
Use wholewheat chapati or tortilla for the wrap. For the filling in the wrap, in a mixing bowl mash 2 boiled potatoes, 1/4 th cup boiled green peas, and add salt, black pepper, pizza seasoning, and oregano. Mix well.
When adding the filling first spread mayonnaise on the chapati and then add the filling, roll, and cut into easy-to-hold pieces.
Ragi Wheat Pancakes
Ragi pancakes, maple syrup, peanut butter, black grapes, and oranges.
Hummus Wrap
Hummus wrap, strawberries, pan-fried french beans, sunflower seeds.
The whole wheat wrap contains hummus, tomatoes, basil leaves, black olives, salt, and pepper.
To prepare the French beans, cut them lengthwise, heat oil in a pan, and add chopped garlic. Once the oil is flavored with the garlic add the chopped french beans and salt. Stir fry until crisp.
Egg Wrap
Egg wrap, chikoo slices, and jackfruit chips.
The whole wheat chapati wrap contains an egg filling made by mixing boiled egg pieces in a dressing of mustard 1/4 tsp, mayonnaise 1-2 tsp, salt, and pepper. Roll and cut into easy-to-hold pieces.
Bean Wrap
Kidney bean wrap, roasted broccoli, grapes, and carrot slices.
The whole wheat bean wrap contains lettuce leaves as a base, boiled and seasoned red kidney beans that are mashed with a fork to make a paste like filling, topped with cheddar cheese and mayonnaise. Wrap and toast on a hot pan for 2-3 minutes on each side until the cheese melts.
Easy Bento Box Lunch Ideas For Kids
Easy school lunch ideas for kindergartners that are also picky eater-approved.
Potato pea wrap, watermelon, sunflower seeds, orange
Bento Box for Kids With Pancake
Ragi wheat pancakes, maple syrup, peanut butter, black grapes and oranges
Kids Lunch Box Hummus Wrap For
Hummus wrap, strawberries, pan fried French beans, sunflower seeds
Bento Box Lunch With Egg Wrap
Egg wrap, chikoo, and jackfruit chips
Bento Lunch Box With Bean Wrap
Bean wrap, roasted broccoli, grapes and carrot slices
Keyword back to school lunch box ideas, bento box lunch for school, healthy meals for kids, lunch box for kids, lunch ideas for school, school lunch ideas
Having extra produce on hand makes it easier to build more nutritious sides instead of adding packaged snacks.
At the same time as children grow older, they get interested in packaged snacks, instead of completely denying them strive to create regular exposures without overdoing it.
Once or twice a week, add chips, chocolates, and biscuits as sides to the school lunch box to meet the child’s desire for such foods too. Meeting the child’s curiosity and exploration of new foods is a part of the intuitive eating approach.
I believe in a family approach to reducing junk food consumption and building balanced meals instead of preaching or having separate rules for kids.
Hope this post gave you some bento lunch box ideas for school. Drop in your child’s favorite bento box meals in the comment below. We can all pick ideas from each other.
Frozen yogurt bar has been a favorite snack of our child for a while now. Hot summer days are even more fun when there is some frozen yogurt bark in the freezer. I am going to share one of my go-to yogurt bark recipes that will bring a big smile to your children’s faces.
STRAWBERRY FROZEN YOGURT BARK FOR KIDS
It includes two ingredients that most children love, strawberries and Greek yogurt.
Yogurt bark is easy to make and prep as a snack option in your meal plan for the week.
I even make yogurt bark with my son as a mother-son bonding activity. He loves mixing the ingredients in a bowl and spreading the yogurt on baking sheets and adding his favorite toppings.
This yogurt bark recipe is customizable to your needs, you can make it as sweet as you like and make a number of flavor combinations be it strawberry yogurt bark, peanut butter-chocolate yogurt bark, rose and pistachio yogurt bark (we made this for Diwali and it turned out amazing!)
If you have a child who does not like milk, yogurt bark could be another way to build exposures to dairy. Instead of forcing children to drink milk, shift focus on cooking with milk or introducing other dairy products to meet their calcium requirements.
Most children enjoy frozen treats and don’t even notice the ingredients when it tastes so yummy.
Frozen yogurt bark as a Valentine’s treat for children.
How to make frozen yogurt bark for kids? Let’s take a look.
Strawberry Frozen Yogurt Bark For Kids
Make ahead snack idea for babies, toddlers and older kids. This frozen yogurt bark contains strawberry and greek yogurt.
In a mixing bowl mix the greek yogurt, strawberry puree and honey.
Spread on a thin baking sheet.
Add toppings of your choice. I used chocolate chips, roasted pistachio pieces and chopped strawberries.
Freeze for 4-5 hours.
Cut and enjoy.
Notes
Store in Ziploc bags in the freezer as a make ahead snack.For babies under 1, skip honey and use toppings of fresh fruits instead of chocolate chips and chopped nuts.
Keyword baby led weaning foods, baby led weaning snacks, easy toddler snacks, healthy snack ideas, toddler breakfast, toddler recipes
WAYS TO INCORPORATE FROZEN YOGURT BARK IN YOUR FAMILY MEAL PLAN
Frozen Yogurt bark is also the best teething food for babies and toddlers. It’s made of Whole Foods, is soothing to the gums and nutritious at the same time. Make sure to keep the ingredients simple when making yogurt bark for babies with no added honey.
One drink I associate with winters is a thick and creamy almond porridge. This warm beverage has been part of our winter diet for generations now.
The recipe has been passed down from my grandma and I usually don’t make any other additions or swaps. It reminds me of my childhood and I like the flavors to be just the same.
Besides being used as a warm drink during winter months, this porridge is also made in our home for older patients or sick children trying to make a quick recovery from illness.
If you are looking for warm drinks for toddlers with a cold, you have got to try this recipe. Most children who enjoy the flavor of milk will love this thick almond porridge too.
ALMOND PEZ | WINTER DRINK FOR KIDS
Almond Pez | Almond Porridge For Toddlers
A warm winter drink for toddlers and older children made with almonds and milk.
Soak almonds overnight. The next day peel off the skin, chop roughly and make a paste with some water in a mixer grinder. Make sure to get a smooth consistency.
In a bowl of room temperature milk add the almond paste, sugar and cornflour slurry. (To make slurry, mix cornflour in a little milk before adding to the pez preparation.)
Warm this milk mixture on a medium flame, make sure to keep stirring intermittently so that the pez doesn’t stick at the bottom of the vessel. Add a few strands of saffron between cooking.
Stop cooking when it comes to a boil and remove from flame.
Serve warm.
Notes
Note: If you want thick porridge consistency you can add more almonds, about 2/3 cup for thick consistency.I usually adjust thickness depending on the need. If a sick patient is not eating other foods this porridge can become a meal replacement. You can try alterations to the recipe by swapping out white sugar and replacing it with jaggery powder or brown sugar.
Keyword drinks for toddlers, healthy drinks for toddlers, high protein drinks for toddlers, Warm drinks for toddlers with colds, winter drinks for toddlers
It is pumpkin season and one of the ways I enjoy pumpkins is in soups. Pumpkin has a very mild earthy taste that adds a depth of flavor to the soup. Pumpkin soup is a staple in our house during winters and I love trying out new flavor combinations to get maximum taste and nutrition.
Today’s recipe is a combination of pumpkin and carrot that makes this recipe Vit A rich a nutrient that is essential for growing babies and children. The coconut milk adds creaminess to the soup that balances out the earthy flavors from the pumpkin and carrot.
New mothers may wonder,
CAN YOU GIVE PUMPKIN TO A 6-MONTH-OLD BABY?
The answer is, Yes. Pumpkin is a great option as a first food. The flavor profile is mild and most babies enjoy pumpkin in steamed or pureed form. The orange color vegetable has many benefits, it is packed with Vit A, lutein and zeaxanthin that help protect eyesight. Babies need Vit A to support growth and development and to build immune system.
Let’s take a look at this quick and easy pumpkin soup recipe for babies.
Pumpkin Soup For Babies
A creamy and nutritious pumpkin soup for babies, toddlers and kids.
The combination of pumpkin with whole spices, pepper and turmeric alongside healthy fats makes this soup the perfect potion to support immune health in the cold season. I hope this yummy soup adds warmth to your winter table.
Looking for healthy toddler breakfast ideas? You are in the right place.
Breakfast is our favorite meals of the day. Both my husband and I try out new recipes from time to time in order to add more variety to our diet. Now that our son is growing up, we are definitely eating healthier than before and along the way, we have tried new recipes that have become family staples.
In today’s post, I cover a few of our favorite and healthy toddler breakfast ideas.
Healthy Toddler Breakfast Ideas
1. Oats porridge
A bowl of oats porridge in the morning has been a family staple for a long while now. We have oats porridge 2-3 times a week. To make the perfect porridge I recommend using instant oats.
Recipe for Oats Porridge
Ingredients
¼ cup oats
150 ml soymilk/almond milk/coconut milk/cow milk
Chopped fruit of your choice (we generally use bananas, berries, chikoo, and apples)
Instructions
In a pot add the oats, fruit, and milk. Let it cook on a medium flame, occasionally stirring the mixture so that the porridge doesn’t stick to the sides and burn.
Serve with toasted nuts and seeds or nut butter and fruit.
Soaking oats overnight breaks some of the phytic acid present in the oats and makes them easier to digest.
When I am running short of ingredients, I use readymade mixes like this one by True Elements.
Even if you forget to soak it overnight, you can simply pour in some milk in a bowl of the grain mix and leave it aside for 15 minutes in the morning.
Add in some chopped fruit, berries and nut butter and a delicious breakfast is ready. Toddlers love cold breakfasts like overnight oats, and it’s a great break in the routine.
Here is another variation of overnight oats we tried in the past.
This overnight oats recipe contains oats, almond milk, almond butter, chia seeds, banana, desiccated coconut, and hemp seeds.
3. Egg Muffins
Do you have a picky eater at home? Wondering how to make eggs for toddlers who are picky? Egg Muffins is your answer. This was an instant hit in our home.
This egg preparation looks appealing to little ones because it is shaped like a muffin. For mothers of picky eaters, it’s a sneaky way to add in veggies and make them taste delicious. Here is how to make these easy toddler breakfast muffins;
Recipe of Egg Muffins for toddlers
Ingredients
2 eggs
2-3 broccoli florets
⅓ cup peas
¼ cup cheese
Salt to taste
Pepper
Instructions
Whisk the eggs and add the vegetables, salt, and pepper to taste.
To greased muffin tins add the egg and vegetable mix.
Top with cheese and bake for 20 mins at 350°F/180°C.
We love pancakes in our home. I make them with a variety of whole grains and they turn out amazing each time. These are my favorite whole wheat and ragi (millet flour) pancakes. To get the recipe, check my recipe ebook with 36 easy snack recipes for toddlers. I usually pair the pancakes with fresh fruit and some nut butter either almond nut butter, peanut butter or homemade chocolate hazelnut spread.
5. Barley porridge (Sheera)
Sheera is an Indian porridge usually made during auspicious occasions. Semolina is generally used to make sheera, but you can also use barley to make the dish more nutritious.
How to make barley porridge
Roast the barley (½ cup) in 2 tbsp of ghee until an aromatic fragrance is released. Add a cup of milk to the barley.
For sweetness add 1 tbsp jaggery powder or sugar and keep mixing into the porridge until well combined. You may add cardamom pods for fragrance too. It usually takes 5-7 minutes to cook to a thick porridge-like consistency.
Do give this Indian toddler breakfast recipe a try. It requires prior prep but is quick to make on busy mornings.
To make paniyarams start with regular dosa batter. You will also need a paniyaram pan.
In your regular dosa batter add some salt, peas, and carrots. Cook in paniyaram pan for about 2 minutes on each side. Serve with coconut chutney.
7. Gram flour pancake (Chilla)
Another easy peasy Indian toddler breakfast idea is gram flour pancakes or chilla as we call it in Hindi. Gram flour is very nutritious for babies and toddlers. It is a high iron food and easy flour to work with to make a variety of savory pancakes for toddlers.
To make a gram flour pancakes you need:
Ingredients
½ cup gram flour
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
¼ tsp coriander powder
¼ tsp cumin powder
½ onion finely chopped
½ tomato finely chopped
Salt to taste
1 cup Water
Instructions
Mix all the ingredients together until a smooth batter is made.
Pour out 2-3 spoonful’s of batter on a hot pan and make the pancakes. It takes about 2 minutes to cook on each side.
Serve with homemade pickle and green chutney.
You can make many variations of besan chilla, i.e. by adding more tomatoes you get tomato chilla.
To make an egg chilla, whisk in one egg to the above batter mix and you get egg chilla.
If you are looking for more easy recipes check out my ebook The Easy Toddler Snack Book, which contains many yummy recipes that can be used for breakfast like granola bars, frittata, pancakes, smoothie bowls, smoothies and more.
What are some of your favorite toddler breakfast ideas? Do leave me with your family’s favorite recipes in the comments section below.
On entering toddler years, children experience a dip in appetite and a slower rate of growth. At the same time, certain nutritional requirements become even more important for proper growth and development. But selective eating behaviors and picky eating make it difficult to meet the growing child’s needs. While it is not recommended to force-feed children or offer distractions at the table, parents do need to be more alert and creative in helping meet the nutritional demands of the growing child.
Here are 5 nutrition hacks every parent must try. These toddler hacks have helped me through the picky eating and teething phase.
Flaxseeds are a rich source of plant-based omega 3’s. Omega 3’s are fatty acids that are essential for heart health and brain development.
The beauty of using flaxseed powder is that in the ground-up form it is more readily absorbed into the body and so easy to use.
Add a tablespoon on porridge, smoothies or add to chapati dough and your child won’t even notice the healthy fats he is eating in his favorite meals. Flaxseeds are perfect for vegetarians and vegans who don’t get their omega 3’s from eggs and fish.
2. Nut butter for life
I rely on nut butter to fill in the nutritional gaps on days of poor eating. Nuts contain an array of nutrients and nut butter is an easy way to get those nutrients on the plate.
Add a little nut butter to toast, smoothies, porridge or on fruit. Most children like the taste of nut butter, popular favorites being almond nut butter and cashew nut butter.
On days with poor or selective eating, one of my favorite go-to’s is eggs. Eggs are so versatile to cook with.
Boil them, scramble them, add to a stir fry or rice dish. A simple and easy way to get more protein in the diet.
4. Energy ball everything
You know me and my love for energy balls. Here are some of the energy ball recipes we make regularly. Energy balls are a power-packed way to get in carbohydrates from dates, protein, and vitamins from nuts.
Plus, children love the natural sweetness. I use energy balls as my number one healthy baby weight gain food. Make sure though that your child doesn’t overindulge. It’s best to take breaks between batches and go back to other loved snacks as well.
5. Smoothie to the rescue!
Picky eating phase or teething phase, smoothies come to the rescue every time.
Here is how I build a nutrient-dense smoothie every time.
Add some milk of your choice, some fruit, some nuts/seeds/nut butter and some natural sweeteners like banana, honey or maple syrup.
This one is a good option to have in your mommy arsenal against picky eating.
If you are looking for a simple immunity-boosting chicken soup for kids, you are in the right place.
Growing up there was one home remedy for colds and flu that was used every time one of us kids caught a cold. It was Chicken Soup.
We include this chicken soup in our meal plans in the winters as a preventative measure to ward off colds and flu too. This is a recipe by my grandma and today I want to share it with you.
BENEFITS OF CHICKEN SOUP FOR BABIES, TODDLERS AND KIDS
This soup contains whole pepper which acts as a natural antibiotic and ginger that has anti-inflammatory properties. Having a steaming hot peppery soup like this one helps clear nasal congestion and relieve some of the cold symptoms.
ADDITIONS AND MODIFICATIONS TO THE CHICKEN SOUP RECIPE
For babies you can modify the recipe to include less whole peppers and spices and no salt.
Sometimes, I also add carrots and potatoes to the soup to make it more nutrient-dense and filling.
The boiled chicken pieces can either be eaten along with the soup or used to make a homemade chicken patty later on.
I have the best chicken patty recipe for kids in my toddler snacks recipe eBook, The Easy Toddler Book. Check it out here.
Saute garlic in hot oil followed by the onions until they are golden brown.
Add the chicken to the pot and seal it from all sides.
Now add the ginger, whole spices and powdered spices and mix in well.
Add 4 cups water, salt and pressure cook for 2-3 whistles. If you are not using a pressure cooker let the soup boil on a slow simmer for at least 30-40 minutes.
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Note:
You can either separate the chicken pieces from the soup and have clear chicken soup, or you can shred the chicken into tiny bite-size pieces and mix into the soup for a fuller meal.
Do try this warm and nourishing chicken soup this winter and let me know how your kids liked it.
Comment below some of your favorite immune-boosting recipes for toddlers and older kids. What types of foods do you make to protect against colds and flu?
