Friday, April 13, 2012

Toddler Food Ideas



Toddlers are notoriously finicky eaters — their tastes (and moods) can change like the weather. At the same time, kids this age love routine, so don't be surprised if yours exists — and insists — on the same food (prepared the exact same way) for every meal. 


toddler's eating pattern can be as erratic as his taste buds, causing him to devour everything in sight one day and barely take a bite the next. But children this age need a steady flow of food to keep up their energy, so rather than try to get yours to conform to a strict three-meal-a-day timetable, set a loose schedule and follow his hunger cues. In the long run, it's more realistic to supplement his typical mini-meals with well-timed (healthy) snacks. More smart strategies: 

Start the day right. Mom always said that breakfast was the most important meal of the day. Turns out she was right! Breakfast-skippers tend to be irritable and restless, and (surprise!) are more likely to become overweight. So make it a habit to begin your toddler's day with a good breakfast.... (so for you)

Timing is everything. After breakfast, try to figure out when your tot is most hungry and set mealtimes for just before his tummy typically starts to growl. This way you can ward off crankiness before it rears its ugly head. On days when your child can't seem to last until dinnertime, try giving him part of his meal to stave off the hungries, then he can finish eating later with the rest of the family. 

Don't skip. It's a rare toddler who always eats what you want, when you want him to. But skipping an entire meal is definitely not a smart idea. Not only will it throw off his energy supply, it can wreck his eating schedule for the entire day (and maybe tomorrow!)... So do try to get him to eat something — even a couple of bites is better than nothing. 

Evaluate the snack schedule. A typical toddler routine — breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner — should keep him fueled throughout the day. But what (and how much) he eats at each of those times can affect the big picture. For example, if he's not eating much at dinner, maybe his afternoon snack is too close to mealtime, or it's simply too big. If he's cranky at ten a.m., consider a snack sooner after breakfast. 

Do what works for (both of) you . The goal is to get your toddler to eat well and enjoy mealtime. 


Recipe 1:

So I start with basic recipe for toddler...




Take Yellow Lentil (mong daal) 1 tbsp and Rice 1 tbsp .. wash and soak them for minimum 20-30 minutes... and then drain that water and wash them again 


put them in a pot add some water and make them cook add few chicken pieces preferably with bone (it will it more tasty)... now add some veggies... (carrot, zucchini, peas, corns, spinach, broccoli But NO potatoes all the time..)  and season it with salt and pepper



when chicken get tender...bring it out de-bone and then add the mashed chicken pieces back in your pot


cook till you get tenderize and mushy tasty food...


This has protein, carbs and veggies... it will fulfill all her nutrient value at the same time satisfy her taste buds

You can add
Cheese or
Butter or
bread slice
eggs

Recipe 2:


Egg delight:


heat 1 tsp oil, add 1/2 onion chopped saute, add chopped tomatoes fry... add 2 beaten eggs.. season with salt, black pepper or red chili pd... cook till eggs are done... in the end add cheese.. stir .. n Done


Recipe 3: 




Creamy potato:


Heat 1 tsp butter/oi/olive oil... add 1 tsp all purpose flour make a paste with 1//2 cup of milk... cook till u get a thick paste add mash potatoes, boiled chicken, add salt and pepper... cheese and bread crumbs and done




These are the basic meal ideas... which you can serve them for dinner and lunch... but most important for them is their snacks or middle meal... Despite what your mother used to tell you when you were a kid, snacks don’t have to spoil your appetite. ...In fact, when it comes to toddlers, healthy snacks should be a staple of their diet. It’s practically impossible for toddlers, with their tiny tummies, to eat as much as they need at mealtimes. 


Try these the next time your toddler is hankering for a bite to eat:

  • Ants on a log — spread peanut butter on celery sticks and sprinkle them with raisins (Experts used to recommend waiting to serve peanuts until a child was age two or three — to help prevent a peanut allergy. But now, experts believe there may be no benefit to waiting that long. Talk with your pediatrician about when you should offer your tot peanuts and other allergenic foods, especially if food allergies run in your family.)
  • Whole-grain tortilla chips topped with veggies, salsa, and shredded cheese
  • Apple slices with string cheese or peanut butter (if your pediatrician says it’s okay to introduce peanuts to your toddler now)
  • Frozen no-sugar-added fruit bars with a glass of milk
  • Berries topped with a smidge of low-fat frozen yogurt
  • Crinkle-cut carrot “chips” with hummus
  • Whole-wheat pita-bread triangles or baked wheat crackers with melted reduced-fat cheese for dipping
  • Dip a banana in yogurt, roll it in crushed cereal, and freeze it for a tasty frozen snack
  • Whole-wheat tortilla chips with bean dip
  • Low-fat yogurt topped with granola and fresh or dried fruit
  • Cottage cheese with cut-up peaches, nectarines, pineapple, or bananas
  • Whole grain, fiber-rich cereal with (or without) milk - they will love to muchin their breakfast cereal 
  • Graham crackers with applesauce for dipping
  • Yogurt smoothie made with low-fat yogurt, milk, ice, and any fruit (toddler favorites include bananas, strawberries, blueberries, and cantaloupe)
  • Canned salmon mixed with low-fat mayo and spread on baked whole-grain crackers 
  • A graham cracker sandwich filled with a scoop of frozen yogurt and sliced bananas
  • A small baked potato with melted reduced-fat cheese 
  • Graham cracker with low-fat cream cheese, along with four to six ounces of 100 percent juice (you might consider diluting the juice to make it last longer and to cut the sugar quotient)
  • Whole-grain pretzels, soy crisps, baked pita chips, or rice cakes with a slice of cheese
  • Cucumbers, celery, or red peppers with low-fat dressing for dipping
  • All-fruit fruit leather with a glass of milk
  • Mix one cup of whole-grain oat cereal with 1/4 cup chopped walnuts and 1/4 cup dried cranberries for a healthy trail mix








Think of the colors of the rainbow and then think of the vegetables and fruits that match those colors! 
Granted, it will be very hard to feed your Toddler "blues" and "purples" every day however, the general idea of following the rainbow should be helpful.

bullet Red - Apples, Cherries, Strawberries, Watermelon, Red Potatoes, Tomatoes
bullet Orange - Oranges, Peaches, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots
bullet Yellow - Bananas, Summer Squash, Wax Beans, Pears
bullet Green - Avocado, Green Beans, Zucchini, Mango, Papaya
bullet Blue - Blueberries
bullet Purple - Grapes, Eggplant





24 comments:

  1. Hey Mahwish, a million Thanxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx alot :)

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  2. I give banana in breakfast,potato in lunch,fruit shake in tea time n khichri or roti in dinner..is my baby diet ok or it need changes..?

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    1. hey Maliha! i really don't know how old is ur baby... to me its balanced a bit but its bit upside down...

      breakfast should be heavier and dinner would be lighter most... and for more balanced...i will give u an example but that's just tentative... just for an idea...

      Breakfast:

      cereal any kind with any fruit

      middle snack: fruit yogurt/any fresh fruit/ handy veggie

      Lunch:

      khichri or chicken gravy with whole wheat roti

      snack: fruit puree/ fruit salad/shake

      Dinner:

      veggies with roti or khichri or cheese sandwich

      try to add each food group in a single meal

      food groups:

      Milk group (yogurt, cheese)
      meat group (chicken, fish, egg, chick peas)
      fruits and vegetable
      grain group (bread, oatmeal, rice, pasta)

      hope it helps Maliha :)

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  3. Yes is 1 yr old..n do try best for her but she luk thinner however her dr says she is having an average weight..ur post help me a lot..I gave her the khichri the recipe u posted..but in khichri I didn't understand one thing..first I have to boil egg thn add in the khichri ?,,is it so?..

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    1. ohh dont worry for her than at all... if shez fine and healthy from inside... thats fine... now adays ou are getting worried for her slimness after inshAllah few years you will be looking up for diet plans to make her slim :) so its fine that -shez slim... as far as shez healthy...

      khichri if u want to add egg in it.. its totally upto you how u prefer... yes u can add the boiled egg as well... or may be make an omelet type and then add in khichri in the end like we usually do with fried rice... or i would say that this recipe doesnt need eggs because it has protien in chicken form...but if u want u can add it anyways :)

      Hope it hels
      Thanks

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    2. Salam,plz mayri b help kar day mayri 1 sal ki beti hai,but khana nae khati hai,blend kar k dayna parhta hai,dr kehtay hai weight buhat kaim hai 8 kg,ab mai ne us ka diet plan change kiya hai,chabati nae hai,moun se thok dayti hai,break fast mai cereal,then vegetable ko blend kar k,then sleeping phir custard ya shake,phir pasta,rat ko soji,..aap diet plan bata day ,usay egg se nafrat hai

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    3. walaikum asalam Dear... I am hounored that you have asked... but first i wanna tell you dear I am on nutritionist or a doc... i can give you just a wage idea... or an out line

      if shez under weight... plz go n see nutritionist because ager all her checkup she can suggest u the best

      And as far as ... wo chabati nahi hai.. my little one was the same... i was worried k solid kaise khaie gi... but she will inshAllah start eating slowly... start with little bit puree food... bohat thora chunks hon... and add more chucks slowly...

      n what ur giving her is pretty much balanced... just try to give her every food group in each meal time.... which means a balanced diet... inshAllah she will recover soon :)

      hope it helps

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  4. Thx,ap ne bataya,mai apni beti ko breakfast mai healthy cereal dayti hu,dupair mai lunch mai khicri mix with veg and chicken,or phir woh so jati hai,jub uthi hai ju apple or strawbery shake,phir dinner mai kiya du,koi pure type chiz bataday bc she hate egg ,woh solid moun se thok dayti hai,kindly dinner k liye recipe bata day,woh pasta shok se khati hai,but pait nae bharta or roti hai

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  5. Mehwish ap ka blog buhat acha hai,or sari recipe buhat achi,mehwish mai ne ap ko apni 14 month ki beti ka bataya tha jissay spoon se nafrat hogaye the mai ne cartoon dekha kar hath se khilanay ki koshish ki tu us ne kha liye,but sirf banana,khichri or mashed potato,us ne french toast thok diya,plz us bachi koi achi recipe bata day jis ko woh shok se khayay ,us ka weight buhat kaim hai,plz badu k liye tu buhat recipe hai bachu k liye bataday or ek or request ,buhat si maa aisi hai,jinhay english sahi se samjhe nae ati un k liye urdu mai translate karday,plz jaldi bata day...still waiting

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    1. dear... ager spoon se problem haina... tow sab se pehlay tow app ne bilkul sahi kiya k hath se khilao... or dosra ye hai k koi colorful spoons le lao... ya jo toy set hotaya haina bachoo kay... wo la kr us mai dal kar khail khail kar khila... jaise usi plate ko use kar lo...

      or us k sath sath... recipes k liye agar kamzoor hai to... soji zaroor din...

      sojhi ko acha sa bhoon k butter mai ... kisi storage box mai dal kar fridge mai rakh din... jab us mai se jitni use karni ho itni nikalin... jaise 2 tbsp ik time k liye bohat hogi... tow 2 tbsp bhuni hoi sojhi lin... us mai pani dalin... us mai salt ya phir sugar jo dalna chahin dal k paka lin... gara ho jaie to tanda kar k khilai...

      us k sath ik cheez hoti hai "Sohaga" kisi bhi masalo ki shop pe mil jaie ga... wo tora sa lay k saaf taway pe usay bhon lin...1 say 2 min mai wo powder ban jaie ga... kisi choti bottle mai honey lin... us mai wo powder sohaga dalin... phir din mai 2-3 bar saaf finger se us k mun mai laga din... ye basically teeth mai bhi help karta hai or under se bachon ko bhook lagti hai

      or plzz isay kisi doc ko bhi consult kar k is k saray test karwain... kahin Allah na karay isay koi kami tow nai ho rahi hai...

      hope ap ki kuch help ho jaie is sab say :)

      sorry maine kafi dair mai reply kiya.. :)

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    2. soji, daliya... khichri... anaday ka khageena... cheese k sath pasta hai... mix vegetables ko mash kar k ... is tarhan ki cheezo se taqat ati hai... inshAllah farq paray ga

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  6. Thx ap ne reply kiya,woh buhat taiz bachi hai,phir b mai Inshallah try karo gi,woh kiya karti hai,aram se khath hai spoon se or nikalti rehti hai mai dalti rehti hai,sub kehtay hai soji se sena bharta hai vomit hoti hai,usay breakfast mai daynay ki koshish karo 2 tb mai pani kitna use karo,suhaga use kar k dekhu gi,dr ko dekhaya woh sahi hai,agar aisi bat hoti tu alo b q khati ..sorry mai ne phir se lamba msg kardiya:P

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    1. dont be sorry... app jitna lamba chahin utna lamba message kar sakti hain :) app try karin then let me know inshAllah farq paray ga...

      2 tbsp soji ko ager 1/2 cup water mai paka lin bus... bohat alki anch mai ... jab gara o jaie to thanda kar k khila din

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  7. Is k mamu healthy cereal ka cow and gates ka layay hai soji ki jaga woh use karlu tu,or itnay bachay ki quantity kitni hai meanz half cup soji? Ya 1 CUp tayar hokar,

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    1. han app koi bhi healthy cereal khila saktay hain.... jo usay pasand aie or wo shoq se khaie... ik din cereal or ik din soji ye bi kar sakti hain app

      pehlay thora thora sa din... ahista ashista bara din... 1/2 cup tayar bohat hoga

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  8. Thx u r my teacher ap ne mayri buhat badi problem solve kardi,u know ap ko sub bolay k ap ki bachi buhat kamzor hai 1 sal ki nae lagti na kadh barh raha hai tu ap ka dil kitna dhukta hai,3 month tak mayri beti buhat healthy the but phir bimar parh kar kamzor hogaye any way suhaga kitna layna hai,mai ne note kiya hai,woh banana,mix veg with rice mash shok se kha layti hai,us k time table 12 phir 2,phir sojati hai.phir 7,9 ,11 hai khanay ka,plz ap koi mayri beti ka diet chart suggest karday jis mai suji,banana,pasta,mix veg with rice,wagera shamil hu ,she is still hate spoon ,plz reply

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    1. thats okay... logo ka kaam to hota hi batin banana hai... u dont worry... bus take good care of ur self n take good diet...ik healthy mom can take good care of her kid...

      or dear mujhe bohat acha lagta hai when u ask questions n i love to answer them... but i m on dietation at all... mai sirf diet ka idea de sakti hon... so mujhe 1-2 din dedo tow mai apko bata deti hon inshAllah.. asal mai mera laptop mai koi masla hogaya hai...is liye mai ajj kal recipes mai bhi update nahi hon...

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  9. One more cheese kaun si ,or agar mai apni beti k meal mai ap ki yeh recipe potato wali use karo tu ,us k pait mai gas tu nae hogi

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    1. cheese koi si bhi...cheese ik healthy item hai to add in kids meal.. cheddar sab se yuumy hai for kids...

      potao se gas nahi hoti waise... mager i would personally suggest k potato har waqt na do...kion k sirf bachay ko motapa charhaie ga or yehi khanay ki adat aprh jaie gi... but its a good n tasty meal for kids to have

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  10. Thx mehwish ap ne mayri buhat help ki,mai apni beti ko 12 per cereal,2 per juice,ya soji,phir so kar uthnay per glucose biscuit with milk phir 8 per pasta or 10 per khicri..yeh sahi hai,jub b ap online ho zaror batayay ga

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