Easy Recipes for Healthy Weight Gain in Babies, Toddlers and Kids

As a mother working in a job with frequent transfers all across the country, I learnt about many best foods for weight gain in babies, toddlers and kids. We talked about some of them in my last article. I also learnt about interesting recipes and ways in which the natives of one region of the country made best foods for weight gain in babies, toddlers and kids. In this article, for the benefit of some of the first time parents who are not so confident in cooking, I would also be sharing some of the easy, quick to make but high protein/calorie Easy recipes for healthy weight gain in babies, toddlers and kids. The main ingredients used in them are all easily available in the Indian local markets. Try all the recipes one by one and include them in your own weekly meal plan for your young ones.

Recipe type: Finger food Cuisine: European Prep time:  10 mins  Cooking  time:  10 min  Serves: 2-3 kids

3/4 cup nuts or seeds, toasted   1/2 teaspoon orange zest 1/2 cup dried plums (prunes)   1/4 cup maple syrup 1/2 cup dried apricots    1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 cup dried cranberries   1/4 teaspoon  

 Put all ingredients in a food processor. Mix until smooth. Wearing gloves roll into 1-inch balls. Store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Plums are ready for serving to the kids in lunch boxes/eating at evening snack time. 

Recipe type: Soup Cuisine: American Prep time:  15 mins Cook time: 1 hour, Serves: 05 kids

1 /2 kg chicken, cut into 8 pieces, 1/2 kg  chopped carrots, ½ kg onions, 2 cloves garlic, crushed; salt,

Place the chicken pieces in a large pan, cover with water, and bring it to a full boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and skim off any foam that rises. Add the chopped carrots and onions, and simmer for 1 hour, topping up with water as necessary. Crush the garlic and add then season to taste with salt, pepper, parsley and dill. For a thicker soup, scoop out a ladle or two of the veggies, puree them in a food processor and stir back into the soup.

Recipe type: breakfast meal Cuisine: Spanish Prep Time: 10 min Cooking Time: 01-05 min Serves: 4-6 kids

Ingredients:

01 tablespoon oil, 06 eggs, 200 grams new potatoes, 01 onion thinly sliced, 01 red pepper, deseeded and thinly sliced, 02 tomatoes, peeled, deseeded and chopped, 01 tablespoon milk, 02 tablespoon finely grated cheese, 01 teaspoon salt and pepper powder

Let the potatoes cook in a saucepan of boiling water for 08-12 minutes until tender. Drain and leave to cool and then slice. Heat oil in a frying pan and cook the sliced onion and red pepper until soft. Add the tomatoes and cook for a minute. Add the potatoes to the pan and spread out evenly. Beat the eggs, milk, cheese, salt and pepper powder together in a bowl. Pour it over the potato mixture. Cook for 04-05 minutes until the eggs set underneath the potatoes. Leave it to cool in a plate after that and then cut them into smaller triangular pieces and garnish it with pepper flakes/ powder as your kids like and serve.

Recipe type: Snacks Cuisine: Indian Prep time:  10 mins  Cooking  time:  15-20  mins   Serves: 2-3 kids

1 1/2 cup broken wheat (dalia), 1 medium green chilli, 1/4 cup peas, 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds, 2 1/2 cup water, 1/2 medium chopped onion, 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger, 1/4 cup diced carrot, 1 1/2 teaspoon refined oil

For Garnishing: 1 handful chopped coriander leaves

Clean and wash the broken wheat thoroughly under running water. Drain the excess water and keep the broken wheat aside till further use. Now add refined oil in a pressure cooker and heat it over moderate flame for a minute. Add the mustard seeds and once they start to splutter, add onions, green chilli and ginger. Sauté the ingredients till the onions turn slightly pinkish in hue.

After few seconds, add green peas, carrots, broken wheat and salt. Mix well and sauté all these ingredients for 3- 4 minutes on medium-low flame. Add 2 1/2 cups of water in the mixture and pressure cook for 1 whistle. Once the vegetables and broken wheat is properly cooked, turn off the flame and transfer the Daliya Upma in a serving bowl. Garnish the healthy dish with chopped coriander leaves and serve hot.

Happy cooking! Happy Parenting!