Raising a kid is tough, and raising them right is probably the toughest job on this planet. From their nutrition to their mannerisms, understanding their psychology, parenting is the toughest job on this planet. And the hardest part of this job is preparing the ‘Lunchbox’.
Making something new every morning that can surprise your kid and make their tummy happy, keep them full yet light on the stomach, is a tough nut to crack!
When kids are in a growing stage their body demands a good supply of nutrients but their tongue simply refuses to co-operate. All they want is junk but there is no way you can afford that. Also, schools insist on sending dry items adding on to the challenge! So, the onus is on the parents to feed the child right.
So, brace yourself as we have assembled some of the most amazing ‘lunchbox’ tips that can make your mornings blissful:
The Fruit Platter in a Lunchbox
When it comes to nutrition, nothing can beat the natural profile of a fruit! Make it a point to add at least two different fruits to the tiffin box every day. The easiest and healthiest options are an apple, pomegranate, grapes, banana, pineapple, berries or anything that’s available in the season. You can twist it by adding flavours like amchur powder or anardana powder or design it with shape cutters.
The evergreen parathas in a Lunchbox
It’s nutritious, it’s filling and it’s yummy! And Children absolutely love their fluffy parathas. You can keep changing the flavours just by changing the blends. There is a whole range of nutritious parathas starting from palak, methi, muli, dal, beet to panner paratha. Rather than complementing it with pickle or sauce, you can try adding dry peanut chutney with it.
Vegetable sticks in the tiffin
It’s true that children are not really very fond of vegetables, but a little creativity can trick them into munching the rainbow. Slice the veggies in interesting shapes and roast them with a stick, you can add olive oil and garnish it with all the amazing herbs and spices! Carrots, Peas, Beans, Beet make one amazingly nutritious rainbow stick!
Sprout Chilla as a meal
That’s like a sprout paratha, super nutritious, high protein and amazingly filling! Soak the sprouts the night before. Grind the soaked sprouts in the morning, you can add coriander, chilli, garlic, ajwain or jeera to the blend and fry it in minimum oil. It hardly takes 2 minutes to get prepared! You can also make moong daal chilla in the same way.
Veggie Burger in a healthy lunchbox
The multigrain burger bread decked with all the real veggies like tomato, cucumber, onions, bell pepper topped with a little mayonnaise makes one favourite ‘lunchbox’ item for all kids.
The forever sandwich a lovely lunchbox
Running late in the morning and sandwich comes to you as a saviour. Put it in the toaster, add a little butter, add all the veggies you want, sprinkle some salt and spices and it’s done!
Rolls and Frankie in the dabba
Remember how your little one craved for a roll in the stall. That’s super easy to make. Just chop some onions, cucumber, carrot and beans and fry them in minimum oil. Prepare a roti, add some sauce, a little mayonnaise, add the veggies and wrap it up! The special roll is ready. You may also try making egg rolls which are super easy and yummy!
The humble Idli in the tiffin
Idli is one super amazing Tiffin snack that’s dry and easy! You can add flavours to the idli by preparing the idli blend with boiled veggie stew or soy water or anything that suits your kid’s tastes.
Keep twisting the lunch box and be rest assured that you will get back an empty box and happy tummy every day. Here are some real gems to preparing the meal that will ensure that your kid eats the tiffin.
Involve the kid in the process of preparing the lunch box. Kids love to help and the more you indulge them the more they will be inclined!
Don’t forget to pack their cute little water bottle. They need to keep sipping the elixir throughout the day. Try putting warm water in their bottle.
Keep digging the net to find more awesome ideas for the lunchbox.
Try to educate them about food the what, why and how’s of eating. Once they will know the reasons behind, they will be more inclined to follow the guidelines.
Avoid giving unhealthy food to your kid as treats. It simply increases their affinity towards such foods.
Feel free to share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below!
2 comments
Yes sir, very useful article for Mothers.
Everyday they do all circus to succeed in the morning. Their tensions start from night ‘what shall I prepare for the breakfast tomorrow? Whether the kid likes or not? If it would not good, then husband will scold me! Whether he eats or not? What shall I put it in fruit box then?’ etc, etc, etc…
Sometimes I tell my wife do not bother much about it! Still every night she drills her brain!
Today’s kids are having very peculiar character. Someday they eat chitranna fondly, next time they hate it! Sometime they tell fantastic taste of subji or sambar, very next, they show pale in their face..! They oppose and hate some vegetables like anytging..! So in those very challenging situations, mothers become stressful.
After reading this article mothers become more relaxed, comfortable and happy as well.
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