Did you know proteins can keep you fuller for longer? Protein ensure that your body works hard in digesting it and produces heat in return. Toddlers burn food with their active way of life and hence we should ensure that their food is protein-rich, at least breakfast and mid-afternoon, to let them enjoy the day without troubling you much. These protein rich recipes for toddlers will surely be a hit with your toddler.
Here is a compilation of 5 recipes I always make throughout the week to ensure that the protein part of the diet chart is taken care of in my daughter’s food.
Egg Omelets
Make this fresh omelet with goodness of veggies to satiate the taste buds.
Ingredients:
1 Egg, 1 tbsp. chopped onion, ½ tbsp. chopped tomatoes, 1 tsp. grated paneer, 2 pinches black pepper, 1 tsp. chopped coriander, salt to taste, ghee to fry
Procedure:
Whisk all ingredients together, except the ghee. Heat a pan and add the ghee to it. After the pan is hot, pour the whisked egg mixture. Cook on both sides and serve with some grated cheese.
This is a good time to introduce the fork to your toddler. I bought some tiny steel forks and my daughter loves to use them.
Paneer/Cheese paratha/stuffed roti
Kids love the gooey cheese in between the paratha.
Ingredients:
2 tbsp. grated paneer, 1tbsp grated cheese, 1 pinch carom seeds, 1 pinch red chili powder, 1 tsp. chopped coriander, salt to taste, ghee to fry, some kneaded roti dough for making paratha
Procedure:
Mix paneer, cheese, carom seeds, salt, and red chili and create the stuffing. Using the rolling pin, roll a small roti. Baste it with ghee and place the stuffing in the center of the roti. Make a ball and roll out a paratha using the rolling pin. Heat a tawa/griddle and fry the paratha on both side with little ghee. Serve with a dollop of white butter and grated cheese.
Make sure that the paratha is served as soon as done. Otherwise, you will end up with really hard parathas.
Honey glazed chicken
My daughter loves this sweet and mildly spicy dish.
Ingredients:
½ cup diced chicken boneless pieces, 2 tbsp. honey, and salt to taste, 2 pinches black pepper, ½ tsp. lemon juice, and 1 tsp. chopped coriander.
Procedure:
Make the sauce by mixing honey, salt, sugar, black pepper, lemon juice and coriander. Heat a pan and pour the sauce mixture and ½ cup of water. Tip in the chicken pieces and cover to let them cook. Cook just until the chicken is done and then reduce the sauce such that it sticks to the chicken pieces. Serve hot.
Make sure that you cook the boneless pieces to stay on the tender side. If you overcook them, kids will lose interest in eating them.
Chickpea nuts
These are so tasty when they come out that even I can’t resist them.
Ingredients:
1 cup chickpeas soaked overnight and cooked (not too mushy), 2 tbsp. oil, salt to taste, 3 pinches red chili powder, 1 tsp. honey
Procedure:
Mix the marinade and toss in the chickpeas. Shake them to ensure they are well coated. Spread them on the baking dish and bake till chickpeas are crispy. Oven temperature can stay the highest your oven supports and keep the tray in middle section. Place a foil before spreading the beans.
These are just some suggestions and I will keep adding more. These are real quick to prepare and are really great when your toddler is really hungry and you have less time to make a complete meal.
What are your protein enriched recipes that you feed your toddler?
