Healthy and Fun Food Recipe Options for Your Toddler

By the start of the second year, your baby has turned into a toddler. The appearance has also changed as now he/she has trimmed down because of the increase in the physical activity and looks more muscular. Slowly your baby is moving towards being a preschooler and can be called a toddler at this stage.

Introduction of various foods will lead to development of food preferences for life and this is the reason that we must introduce the child to a variety of foods with different textures. Make sure that the foods are presented in a fun and appealing manner. At this stage one must encourage the toddler to feed his own self. This will help in the development of hand eye coordination skill but parental supervision is a must so that the child does not feel frustrated. Read: Do’s & Don’t Do’s while feeding toddlers

Always keep in Mind while Feeding Your Child

Important points you must be aware of while feeding your toddlers are as given below :
 

1. Avoid foods that can become a choking hazard for your toddler.
2. Discourage the toddler walking around with finger foods in their hands.
3. Adult supervision is required with foods like popcorn, whole grapes, Nuts, raw vegetables, raisins and any hard food big chunks.

Food Products You Can Offer to Your Toddler

Benefits of some of the food products that your child will transition to are as follows:

Citrus and Berry Fruits

These are rich in Vitamin C and help in the absorption of Iron from the other foods.

Lychee (lichi)

Lychee is a good source of Vitamins and Fiber and can aid in getting rid of Constipation in the toddlers.

Black Berries (Jamun)

These berries have more Vitamin-E compared to any other fruit; these berries are good for the heart and arteries.

Goose Berry (Aamla)

Goose Berry is high in Vitamin –C and a significant source of fiber in the diet. They also have an impressive source of potassium, which helps the entire nervous system and muscular system to work properly.

Tomatoes

Though it is considered a vegetable, it actually is a fruit. It is high on vitamin- C and antioxidants like lycopene, which fight against Cancer. Health benefits of tomato include eyesight, good stomach health, low hypertension, skin problems and urinary tract infections.

Carrots

Carrots are a good source of fiber. They contain beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin-A in the body. Deficiency of Vitamin-A leads to night blindness.

Lemons

Health benefits of lemons include treatment for throat infections, Indigestion, Constipation, Dental Problems, fever, hair care, skin care and respiratory problems. It not only strengthens the immune system but also cleanses the stomach.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are a rich source of Vitamin A /C and Phytochemicals which help in boosting the immune system and protecting against diseases.

Cheese

Cheese is a great energy food for children. It is a great source of Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), which is essential in converting proteins, fats and carbohydrates into energy.

Yoghurt

Yoghurt is a rich source of Calcium / Protein and Phosphorus: these are the main contributing factors of healthy bones and teeth. In comparison to milk it is easily digested.

Fish

Fish is an extremely good source of fats that support the development of brain function and immune system.

Chicken

Chicken falls in the category of white meat; it is a great source of protein and helps in the development of the muscles.

Red Meats

Children from the age group of 6months – 2 years need iron for the bone development, Red meats are a ready source of absorbed iron, which is very good for the development of bones. Iron deficiency from an early age can effect physical, mental and behavioral development and will lead to anemia. 

Must Read: Herbs that Heals in Vomiting, Wheezing, Heatstroke and in Dental problems 

Nutritious Food Recipes for Your Child

Here is a list of Nutritious Foods along with their recipes for your Toddler:  

Recipe 1: Sandwiches

Tuna and Cheese Sandwich

Take a piece of fish; it can be any kind provided it is carefully deboned (no bones at all). Steam the fish and mash it by hand, this will help you to check if any bones have been left there by mistake. Add a bit of salt and some ketchup to taste. You can also add half a cheese slice to the mixture for an added cheesy taste that mostly all kids love. Now put this fish mash in between two slices and gently toast it in a shallow pan. You can toast it with the lid on the pan as it will allow the heat to be trapped and that will in turn melt the cheese. Make sure you keep the heat low so the bread is not too crispy or has a burnt taste. Make sure to cool down the sandwich before you give it to your child.

Chicken and Cheese Sandwich

Take a boneless piece of chicken and boil it till it is cooked. Blend the chicken with a piece of cheese and some salt and ketchup to taste in the food processor, make sure the chicken is still a little warm when you are blending it as the heat from the chicken will melt the cheese. Lightly toast the bread (make sure it is not hard and easy to bite and chew) and put a layer of the blended chicken and cheese between the two slices. Make sure you taste it before giving it your child to check for the salt and taste.

Zucchini and Cheese Sandwich

A zucchini and cheese sandwich is very tasty and healthy and is a great vegetarian option. Take a small piece of Zucchini and chop it into very small pieces then take a pan and add 1 tsp of butter to it, sauté the zucchini pieces in it till they are nice and soft. In a separate bowl mix the zucchini and a piece of cheese nicely and put it between two layers of bread slices. You could also flavor it with some oregano flakes to give it an Italian flavor. Make sure you taste it before giving it your child to check for the salt and taste.

Recipe 2: Cutlets

Mashed Potato and Corn Mini Cutlets

This is an easy recipe, which your child will enjoy thoroughly. Take some corn kernels and pressure-cook them for about 15 minutes on medium heat. Once cooled blend them to make a coarse paste. In a separate bowl mask a boiled potato and add the corn paste to it. Add a bit of butter and salt for taste and mix it well. Make bite sized small flat pellets of the mixture and shallow fry it in a pan to give it a golden outer look. (You could keep the size of the cutlets as you wish). Make sure the mini cutlets are cooled before you give them to your child.

Boiled Potato and Grated Vegetable Mini Cutlets

Take a boiled potato and mash it evenly. To this add grated/ steamed vegetables like carrots, peas, beetroot, spinach, and any other that you think will taste nice once it is steamed.
Make sure the carrots are grated first and then lightly steamed as otherwise they will be coarse for your child and will not blend well with the potato mash. Now add a bit of seasoning like salt, cheese, butter oregano flakes for salt and make small bite sized (bite size needs to be your child’s; it cannot big or else it can be a choking hazard) balls and lightly shallow fry it till it is golden on the outside. Make sure the mini cutlets are cooled before you give them to your child.

Grated Chicken Cheese and Potato Mini Cutlet:

Take a boiled potato and mash it evenly. To this add finely shredded boiled chicken (the chicken that you boil needs to be boneless) and a small slice of cheese to it. Now add a bit of seasoning like salt, cheese, butter oregano flakes for salt and make small bite sized (bite size needs to be your child’s; it cannot big or else it can be a choking hazard) balls and lightly shallow fry it till it is golden on the outside. Make sure the mini cutlets are cooled before you give them to your child.

Recipe 3: Finger Foods

Boiled Butter Flavored Carrot Sticks

Take some tender and sweet carrots and prepare them by pealing the outer skin and washing them thoroughly. Now par boil or steam these (make sure that the carrots are boiled enough to be soft for the little one but still have some body so the little ones can hold it in little hands and enjoy chewing it). If in case the carrots are very thick in size then, cut the carrot length wise and correct the thickness according to what your baby can bite. (Ideally the thickness of the carrot needs to be same as a French fry). Now take a flat nonstick skillet and sauté the carrot sticks in 1 tsp of Butter. Children at this age like the slight saltiness that the butter gives to the carrot. Make sure the carrot sticks are cooled before you give them to your child because the carrot can be cool from outside but may be hot in the core.

French Fries

Who does not know French fries and the love that our children have for them. Potato is a complete food for toddlers and can be great filler in between the meal times or as snacks. To make a French fries, chop the potatoes lengthwise and par boil (semi boiled so they are half cooked and not very tender) them in a pot full of water with some salt and a tablespoon of vinegar. In a wok or deep pan take some oil and when it is hot put the semi boiled potatoes to deep fry. As soon as they change color to golden brown, they are done.
Rest them on some tissue paper to take the excess oil out and sprinkle them with some salt to taste. Make sure the French fries are cooled before you give them to your child because they can be really hot from inside even after they have cooled down from the outside.

Recipe 4: Pasta

Penne with Olive Oil and Butter

Penne is the cylindrical pasta and it is great children as they can easily hold it in their little hands. Introducing your child to new textures and taste is very important. Take a pot filled with water, add some salt to the water along with a teaspoon of oils so the pasta does not stick to each other. You will the pasta is boiled when it changes color and becomes translucent. It’s always a good idea to pick one pot and bite it to check if the pasta is done. Drain the water and set it aside in a bowl. Make sure you make enough for one serving (in a toddlers case it will be 10-15 pasta pcs). While the pasta is still hot add some butter and half a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil (it is ok even if you do not want to add the olive oil). Mix till the butter has melted and coats the pasta. Cool it and feed your child.

Penne in White Mushroom Sauce

Take a pot filled with water; add some salt to the water along with a teaspoon of oils so the pasta does not stick to each other. You will know the pasta is boiled when it changes color and becomes translucent. It’s always a good idea to pick one pot and bite it to check if the pasta is done. Drain the water and set it aside in a bowl.
Make sure you make enough for one serving (in a toddlers case it will be 10-15 pasta pcs).

For the Mushroom Sauce:
Before introducing your child to a new vegetable or grain; make sure that your child is not allergic to it. 

Take some fresh mushrooms (5-7 pods). Make sure that they have been washed and cleaned thoroughly. Boil the mushrooms till they are soft. Take them out of the boiling water and let them cool down before blending them into a fine paste. In a shallow pan take a teaspoon of oil or butter and add half a teaspoon of plain flour (maida). Mix the butter and maida and then add half a cup of milk (can take a little less depending in the quantity of the sauce that you want to make) to it. The flour will make sure that the consistency of the sauce is not runny; once the sauce comes to a boil add the mushroom paste to it. Bring it to a boil and add salt to taste and a pinch of sugar. You can also add half a cheese slice to the sauce so it is a familiar taste for the child. Mix the sauce and pasta together and after it is cooled down and you can feed it to your child.

Penne in Red Sauce

Take a pot filled with water; add some salt to the water along with a teaspoon of oils so the pasta does not stick to each other. You will the pasta is boiled when it changes color and becomes translucent. It’s always a good idea to pick one pot and bite it to check if the pasta is done. Drain the water and set it aside in a bowl. Make sure you make enough for one serving (in a toddlers case it will be 10-15 pasta pcs).

For the Red Sauce:

Red sauce is typically finely chopped or blended onions, tomatoes and garlic. In a shallow pan take a tablespoon of oil. Add the onions to it and roast the onions till they are translucent in color. Add the blended tomato puree (fresh tomato) to the onions and once they have cooked add one small grated garlic clove( if you add the garlic with the onions it might burn so it is best to add it after putting tomatoes. Add to this salt to taste and a pinch of sugar and cook till it is a fine sauce. Mix the sauce and pasta together and after it is cooled down and you can feed it to your child.

Penne in Spinach and Cheese Sauce

Take a pot filled with water; add some salt to the water along with a teaspoon of oils so the pasta does not stick to each other. You will the pasta is boiled when it changes color and becomes translucent. It’s always a good idea to pick one pot and bite it to check if the pasta is done. Drain the water and set it aside in a bowl. Make sure you make enough for one serving (in a toddlers case it will be 10-15 pasta pcs).

For the Spinach and Cheese Sauce:

Before introducing your child to a new vegetable or grain; make sure that your child is not allergic to it.

Take some fresh spinach (5-7 big leaves). Make sure that they have been washed and cleaned thoroughly. Boil the spinach till it is soft. Take them out of the boiling water and let them cool down before blending them into a fine paste. In a shallow pan take a teaspoon of oil or butter and add half a teaspoon of plain flour ( maida). Mix the butter and maida and then add half a cup of milk (can take a little less depending in the quantity of the sauce that you want to make) to it. The flour will make sure that the consistency of the sauce is not runny; once the sauce comes to a boil add the spinach paste to it. Bring it to a boil and add salt to taste and a pinch of sugar. Now add one small grated garlic clove for flavor. Add a cheese slice to the sauce so it is a familiar taste for the child. Mix the sauce and pasta together and after it is cooled down and you can feed it to your child 

Recipe 5: Types of Eggs

Cheesy Scrambled Eggs

This is the yummiest way you can get the eggs down your child. I have yet to see a child not like the cheesy scrambled eggs. Method: for a 1-2 year old child a single egg is sufficient at a time. Break an egg in a bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of milk to it. Add just a pinch of salt and a pinch of sugar to balance the salt. Add half a cheese slice (chopped into small pcs) to this. In case you want to make the eggs cheesier then one can use a whole cheese slice as well but it just becomes too heavy for a child. Now, whisk the eggs and other ingredients vigorously till it is light and fluffy. Cook the eggs in a non-stick pan over medium heat till they are soft, fluffy and come together. Make sure that the scramble has cooled down before you feed it to your child.

Boiled Eggs: A great on the road snack.

Hard Boiled Eggs

For a perfect hard-boiled egg, take a pot of water and once the water has started to boil add a pinch of salt to it. The salt makes sure that the water boils on a higher temperature ensuring that the egg is cooked through. Drop the egg gently once the water starts to boil and cook it for 15 – 20 minutes. Run the egg under cold water after taking it out of the boiling water. This ensures that the skin of the egg shrinks and it becomes very ease to peal the egg.

Soft Boiled Eggs

These are perfect for young children as the center of the egg is still runny and it is easier to eat. For a soft-boiled egg take a pot of water and once the water has started to boil add a pinch of salt to it. The salt makes sure that the water boils on a higher temperature ensuring that the egg is cooked through. Drop the egg gently once the water starts to boil and cook it for 3- 4 minutes. Run the egg under cold water after taking it out of the boiling water. This ensures that the skin of the egg shrinks and it becomes very ease to peal the egg.

Devilled Eggs

Devilled eggs are just another way of cooking eggs that the children just love. To make a devilled egg, take a hard boiled egg and cut it onto half (length wise). Now gently remove the boiled yolk out of the egg. Once the yolk is out; mash it in a bowl and adds cheese or cottage cheese to it. Season it with some salt and a hint of ketchup and blend it with the back of a spoon so it is a smooth paste. Now fill the flavored yolk back into the boiled egg white shell. You could also mash the yolk with other boiled vegetables like carrots, peas, mushrooms and potatoes for other flavors in Devilled Eggs.

Recipe 6: Custard

Custard with Fruit

Take about half a ltr of milk and bring it to a boil. In a separate bowl mix two tablespoons of custard powder in 4 tablespoons of cold milk. Once the milk in the big pot comes to a boil add the custard powder paste and whisk it. Add sugar to taste and bring it to another boil and it is ready. Cool it and serve it. You could also add some mashed banana pieces to the custard to make it more nutritious and flavorful.

Recipe 7: Chick Peas with Butter

Chickpeas with butter are a great food for your toddler. Take some boiled chick Peas (chana) in a bowl and add a bit of butter and salt to taste. You could also flavor it with some ketchup or pizza seasoning. Mash it thoroughly, if you think it looks a bit dry you could add a few drops of milk to the mixture and you have a healthy snack ready for your toddler

Recipe 8: Stuffed Paranthas

Tip for making the dough: When you are making the dough for your toddlers Parantha , Use milk instead of water to knead the dough. The milk will make sure that the parantha is soft and easy to chew.

Aaloo Parantha

Stuff the dough with boiled potatoes and roll the dough so the potatoes are evenly spread inside the parantha. Cook it on a medium heat on a non-stick pan. Add a dollop of butter and your toddler will love it.

Carrot Parantha

Instead of boiled potatoes, take some finely grated carrots and fill the dough with it. It might be a little tough to roll out the dough since the carrots have a lot of moisture but you can sprinkle some dry dough and continue to roll. Cook it on a medium heat on a non-stick pan. Add a dollop of butter and your toddler will love it.

Palak Parantha

Boil a couple of spinach leaves and blend them in the blender. Now add the spinach paste to the dry dough and kneed the spinach into the flour. Add a pinch of salt to taste.
Roll out a parantha, it will be green in color and your toddler will enjoy the colored parantha. Cook it on a medium heat on a non-stick pan. Add a dollop of butter and your toddler will love it.

Paneer Parantha

Take some finely grated Cottage Cheese and fill the dough with it. It might be a little tough to roll out the dough since the cottage cheese may have some moisture but you can sprinkle some dry dough and continue to roll. Cook it on a medium heat on a non-stick pan. Add a dollop of butter and your toddler will love it.

Daal ka Parantha

The best way to get your child to eat daal without knowing is to knead any pre cooked daal that you have into the dough and make parsanths out of it. Add some ketchup and butter and it is yum yum. 

Recipe 9: Seasoned Rice with Soup

Seasoned Rice

Take some boiled rice and add a tablespoon of butter to it for flavor. You could also add ghee (clarified butter) to the hot boiled rice as ghee is very good for the bones and immunity in toddlers.

Soups made of a combination of Vegetables:

1. Take a combination of vegetables It is very easy to make a healthy and nutritious vegetable Soup. All you need is some chopped vegetables (carrots/potato/tomato/onions/Garlic/a bit of Ginger/ coriander) in two cups of water in a pot or a pressure cooker. Cook the vegetables till they are soft. Add a bit of salt/ butter to taste.
2. To begin with you can separate the vegetables mash from the soup and give a clear soup to the baby then slowly, with time you can start leaving some of the vegetables in the soup so the child gets used to eating vegetables as well.

Combination of Vegetables and Masoor Sal Soup
While you are making the soup add 2-3 tbl spoons of masoor dal / yellow moong dal to the vegetables in the cooker. It will boil with the vegetables and also make the consistency of the soup a little thicker and it tastes a bit different for the regular vegetable soup.

Serve the rice and the soup together or mixed together.

Recipe 10: French toast

To make a yummy French toast, you need to crack and egg in a bowl and add to it 2-3 table spoons of milk. Add equal pinch of salt and sugar to the milk and egg and mix it well. Take a slice of whole wheat bread and soak it in the solution. Make sure that the bread is fully soaked. Now in a hot non-stick pan put a dollop of butter and gently place the bread on the non-stick pan. On medium heat cook the bread on both sides till golden brown.
Cool it and serve.

Recipe 11: Pancake

In a mixing bowl, take one egg; add a medium sized cup of flour (you can even do half plain flour and half oatmeal), Add a pinch of salt and sugar to taste. Now add two tablespoons of melted butter and half a teaspoon of baking soda to the mix. Take one-cup (cup measure is the same as of the flour) butter milk (if you don’t have buttermilk you could also do half cup curd and half cup milk) and pour in the mixture in the bowl. Mix all the ingredients well.

On a medium hot non-stick pan, put a ladle full of the pancake batter and cover it. Cook on medium heat till the batter has cooked and it is firm in the center. Flip it on the other side and cook till it is light golden brown. Now the pancake is ready to eat. You could add a dollop of your toddler’s favorite jam, honey or chocolate syrup on top of the pancake for more flavor and fun. Make sure it has cooled before feeding it to your child.