It's the last week of the month of Ramzan now, and anticipation is high for the upcoming Eid festivities! But while we're still in the fasting month, we might as well focus on Ramzan recipes!!
Iftar is when the day long fast is broken at sunset, and it is traditionally done with dates and milk. Today, we combine the two into a yummilicous recipe that is great for toddlers. This way, even the littlest ones can participate in breaking the fast with the adults!
Nutritional Benefits of Dates for Toddlers
- Provide instant energy
- Protects the liver and stomach
- Is a good laxative and prevents constipation
- Rich in iron
- High in calcium and magnesium making them great for growing bones
- Promotes dental health for developing teeth
When buying dates for your toddler, opt for organic as far as possible, and check for sulfite free versions. Buy dates that are completely ripe and soft.
Ingredients
- 10-12 soft dates, pitted and chopped
- 6-8 almonds, peeled (soak in warm water for a few hours for easy peeling)
- 1/4 cup hot milk
- 1 3/4 cups cold milk
- Honey to taste
Method
1. Soak the peeled almonds and dates in hot milk for 30 minutes.
2. Grind the almonds and dates along with the milk to a smooth puree.
3. In a blender, blend together the cold milk and date-almond puree till completely combined and smooth. If necessary, add some honey to taste.
Do keep in mind that you can't give honey to babies under 1 year of age. This is a really easy and very nutritious drink for toddlers. You can make it a great drink for summer by adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream in the blender. To make it thicker, add a small banana. There are so many ways to make this drink, so if you're out of ideas for Ramzan, now you know what to do!!
Lots of Love,
