Saturday, September 8, 2012

Toddler - Kids snack ideas

Almost every mom I know has been there, 'whats for snack today'?. Once a bunch of us were discussing about the healthy snack routine we follow & this is the list of snacks I came up for my four year old. He has been on this snack for the last ~2.5 yrs. Hope the list helps you

1. I cook corn kernels or corn on the cob. Frozen corn kernels is a hit.
I saute mustard, onions & add a bowlful of corn and pepper flakes n lemon juice. I also add some shredded carrot and peas for color. 




2. Fruit smoothie - banana & a berry of choice w/ yogurt or milk. the trick is I serve in a small wine glass, my 4 year old loves that it is something small size but like what dad drinks. 


3. Homemade quessadilla - normally on the days after I make chapati or naan, I wud make quessadilla.

4. Bread toast - with or without cheese. In the without cheese method, I would add butter or ghee to toast the bread

5. Garlic bread - bread toasted with oil and butter infused w/ chilli flakes, herb, garlic

6. String cheese

7. Mac n cheese or pizza left overs. You can freeze a portion of meals when you cook the items & just warm when needed.

8. Yogurt  - plain or with fruits. I make yogurt at home, I would cut and add fresh fruits right when I am serving.

9. Panner scrambles (panner scrambled in onion, tomato, green bell pepper)

10. Egg scrambles

11. Egg roll - omelet rolled in chapati (tortilla) w/ tomatoes and lettuce

12. Popsicles (home made) - evaporated or condensed milk run in the blender with berries and poured in molds

13. Whole Wheat pancakes - I make batch of flour mix with flax seeds, oatmeal & w.wheat in the food processor and save it in the fridge, so that I can just mix the liquid ingredients like eggs & milk when I need it. I give a quick grind of oats & flax seeds in the food processor before adding wheat flour

 

 
14. Garbonzo beans (any bean of choice can be used). I saute mustard, onions & add a bowlful of bean, pepper flakes, coconut flakes n lemon juice. (Lemon Juice optional). You can also change the recipe to bit butter & herbs. Herbs are a wonderful way of including antioxidants in regular diet. My 10 month old likes garbonzo beans too. I just make sure that I take off the husk & mash the bean by hand before feeding her.

15. Popcorn

16. Chicken patties/ nuggets. There are so many simple homemade chicken nugget recipes online. I mix veges and spices to the ground meat & cook them on stove top as needed. you can also freeze in the shape needed & use certain number when needed.

- I also make scones or cupcakes or cookies on normal basis atleast once a week. Almost all the times I substitute whole wheat for all purpose and never use frosting.

(strawberry, white chocolate scone)

- I do get fried items for the kids - mozarella sticks are made with lentil flour instead of the bread crumb  available outside.
- I also carry a banana and water bottle in the bag when we go out. I dont buy juice and banana in the hunger time is filling enough to control little one's wandering mind