Tiffin Recipes for Indian Kids: Easy and Wholesome Meals for School

Introduction

School lunch time is that duration for the children to rejuvenate and get some energy by eating the nutritious food that has been prepared. These lunch boxes are very mindfully packed by mothers to ensure that the child remains energized throughout the day. However, kids can sometimes be a little fussy about what they want to eat and what they don't want to eat. Hence, to ensure that the child completes their lunchbox every day, it is important to select yummy recipes.

However, early mornings require parents to choose recipes that are easy to make and require minimal ingredients to do everything timely. this scenario, making a weekly meal calendar comes in handy. Parents can select some easy yet delicious recipes in advance to systematically proceed with the week and pack lunch boxes timely. It may also ensure that the child eats their food and doesn't eat anything unhealthy from the canteen.

Easy to Make and Wholesome Recipes for Kids

Here is a list of some easy-to-make lunchbox recipes that are also wholesome and highly nutritious.

• Vegetable Sandwich

A vegetable sandwich is a quick lunch box option that gets prepared in under 20 minutes. It's a versatile meal as parents may add different types of vegetables, and sources of protein, such as paneer, soya, or chicken as per their choice. Instead of choosing regular bread slices, parents may go for multigrain bread that's a good source of carbohydrates and healthy fats. The crunchiness of vegetables along with the softness of bread gives an amazing taste. You may also add some healthy homemade tomato salsa or green coriander chutney to add extra flavor to these dishes.

• Soya Pulao

Soya pulao as the name suggests is a mixture of multiple vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, and carrots, along with rice and soya chunks. Rice provides carbohydrates to the body along with soya chunks that are a great source of protein. Vegetables add fiber and vitamins to the dish. This one-pot meal is prepared in under 20 minutes and can be packed fresh into the tiffin box of the child. To complete the meal, you may add some apple slices on the side for extra crunch and freshness.

• Kathi Roll

Kathi roll is an innovative way of transforming the regular roti into an absolute treat. One has to take a roti and spread some butter on the top. Now you may add coriander and mint Chutney along with some mashed potatoes. Add some chaat masala and salt for that light flavor. To make it a bit creamier, you can add some ketchup and hung curd. Secure the roll with the help of a toothpick and pack it in your child's lunchbox. These rolls are going to take less than 20 minutes to get prepared. Parents may get creative with the recipe and add different types of stuffing made from paneer, chickpeas, vegetables, soya, and much more.

• Mixed Vegetable Paratha

On days when you cannot decide what to make and have very limited time, a vegetable paratha can be a good source of nutrition and a yummy lunchbox option. While rolling a paratha, add a mix of different vegetables, like cabbage, capsicum, carrots, and different types of vegetables that you would like to add. Sprinkle some salt and red chili powder on the top. Make a wholesome paratha from this dough. The paratha is going to take less than 10 minutes for you to make at home. It's also very crunchy and savory and can be packed with aachar or a flavorful dip.

• Oats Idli

Idli is a tempting South Indian delicacy that is conventionally made from either rava or rice. However, oats idli is a recipe inspired by the original idli recipe with a subtle twist. The addition of oats makes the dish rich and full of fiber. These fluffy and savory cakes can be packed for lunch along with some coconut chutneys or tomato sauce. To make these idlis, prepare a batter by blending oats with water into a mixer. Now you may add rava, salt, spices, and curd. The thick batter is then transferred into idli stands and steamed until it becomes soft and spongy.

• Sabudana Khichdi

A delicious sabudana khichdi is a mixture of some mushy sabudana cooked with crunchy vegetables and flavored with Indian spices like turmeric. red chili powder, cumin seed powder, and much more. Sabudana is soft and chewy that makes it perfect for kid's tiffin box as it doesn't get soggy very easily. Additionally, parents may temper the dish with some curry leaves and mustard seeds to give that extra zesty flavor to the dish.

Conclusion

Deciding what to pack for your child's meal can be hectic, especially on days when there's a shortage of time. Hence, pre-planning in advance and shortlisting healthy and easy-to-make recipes goes a long way. Parents can also experiment with different recipes and include various ingredients so that the child doesn't get bored of eating the same thing every day.