Breakfast and dinner for babies and toddlers

Wheat Pancake

Wheat pancake is a healthy breaksfast recipe and can be prepared in just few minutes. Using eggs is optional but it give more fluffy pan cakes. I have used sugar for making these pan cakes but you can substitute it with honey or palm sugar or even jaggery.

 A good way to make a fussy toddler eat, is to give them something new each day. But spending too much time will not be possible during the busy morning hours. So we can opt for some easy and halthy breakfast recopes.Babies love sweet taste so this mildly sweet pancakes will surely be their favorite. This is not just a good breakfast for babies but a good one for adults too.

The ingredients given below.will fetch you two medium size pan cakes.

Ingredients : 

• Milk-1 cup
• Egg-1
• Sugar-2 spoons or as needed
• Wheat flour-1/2 cup
• Adding Cinnamon powder/vanilla extract  is optional.

Preparation:

• In a wide bowl pour the milk.
• Break open the egg into ot and add sugar.
• Whisk together thoroughly.
• Add the wheat flour and cinnamon powder or vanilla extract and whisk again until you get a lump free batter of thick pouring consistency.
• Heat a tawa and pour the pancake mixture on it.
• Add butter or ghee and cook both sides until it turns golden brown.
• Serve hot with honey. 

Ragi vegetable upma

Ragi vegetable upma is a healthier

alternate to the regular rava or semiya upma. Ragi semiya is easily available in stores. Unlike the regular semiya,this needs to be steamed before cooking. Ragi semiya can also be had like puttu where,coconut and sugar/jaggery is added to the steamed semiya. I always add veggies to upma to make it look colourful for my son. My son is also a fan of this upma now.

 Ingredients : 

Ragi semiya -1 packet

Onion-1

Ginger-1 inch piece

Green chilly-2

Curry leaves-a few

Mixed vegetables-1/2 cup

Salt

Oil-3 tsp

Mustard seeds-1tsp

Urad dal-1 tsp

Cumin-1 tsp

Preparation : 

• Take the ragi semiya in a bowl and add water just enough to immerse it. Leave it for 2 minutes. Not more than 2 minutes as it might turn mushy if left longer.
• Now drain the water and place the bowl in a stramer/idli cooker and steam for 3 minites.
• In a pan add oil and heat it.Now add mustard seeds,urad dal and cumin.
• Add the chopped onion,ginger,curry leaves,green chilly and saute.
• Add the mixed vegetables and saute for few seconds.
• Now transfer rhe steamed semiya to the pan and add salt.
• Mix well and switch off flame.
• Serve it hot with coconut chutney.

Idli sambar for babies and toddlers :

Idli is the best food you can give your babies as it is easily digestible. It is rich in carbs, proteins and fibre. It is the best nutritious breakfast you can feed your babies.

 Here is a simple Moong dhal sambar recipe that goes well with idli. This does not have tamarind like the regular sambar we prepare. I have used only onion and tomato in this sambar but ,you can add finely chopped ,mixed vegetables like carrot,beans, pumpkin etc to this. The same recipe can also be followed with toor dhal.

Ingredients:

• Cooked Moong dhal-1 cup
• Onion-1
• Tomato-1
• Curry leaves- a few
• Green chilly-1 ( optional)
• Sambar powder-1 spoon or as needed
• Water-2 cups
• Salt 
• Ghee -2 tsp
• Mustard seeds-1 tsp
• Cumin-1 tsp
• Fenugreek-1/2 tsp
• Asafoteda - a pinch

Preparation :

• Chop the onions and tomato. Cook Moong dhal until it's mushy.
• In a pan,heat ghee and add the mustard, cumin and fenugreek. Add asafoteda.
• Add curry leaves and chopped onions and saute for few seconds. Add the slit green chilly.
• Add the Tomato and saute.
• Add salt and sambar powder to this and mix well.
• Once the Tomato is cooked add the mashed dhal and water and mix well.
• Let it boil for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Serve with idlis.

Wheat dosa/ milagu seeraga dosai

Here is an instant dosa recipe for breakfast or dinner. Wheat dosa with a twist of ground pepper and jeera is a quick and tasty dish that you will surely love. You can also add chopped onions,ginger,curry leaves and green chilly if you prefer. It goes well with curd or any chutney or sambar.

Ingredients:

• Wheat flour-1 cup 
• Rice flour-1/4 cup
• Ground pepper and jeera-1 tbsp
• Salt
• Water
• Oil

Preparation:

• In a bowl add the wheat flour,rice flour and salt and mix well.
• Add water gradually and mix to bring it to a thick flowing consistency like dosa batter.
• Mix in the ground pepper and jeera.
• Heat the dosa pan and pour this into thick dosa using ladle.
• Spray some oil.
• Flip and cook the other side too.
• Serve it.

Note: make thick dosa to avoid sticking to the pan.

Though it is thick it will still be soft.

Dhal palak/ spinach dhal

Spinach is rich in zinc,protein,fibre and is loaded with lots of vitamins and other nutrients. Cooking palak with dhal gives a good flavour and taste. This is a subtle gravy without much spices and can be had with rotis or dosa. This can also be mixed with rice and had. 

Ingredients :

• Spinach-1 cup, chopped 
• Cooked toor dhal-1 cup
• Onion-1
• Mustard - 1 tsp
• Cumin-1 tsp
• Oil-3 tsp
• Salt
• One tsp each of:
• Chilly powder 
• Turmeric powder
• Cumin powder
• Coriander powder 

Preparation :

• Heat oil in a pan.
• Add the mustard and cumin.
• Add chopped onion and saute for a minute 
• Add the chopped spinach and saute for few seconds.
• Add the  cooked dhal and the spice powders.
• Add needed salt and mix.
• Adjust water according to your need.
• Allow it to boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Switch off. 
• Serve with roti or rice.

Wheat or Godumai Upma

Wheat upma is a healthy breakfast or dinner option. Instead of the Rava and semiya upma you can add  this to your regular meal as it is much healthier than those. When you choose the samba wheat make sure to get the fine grain one for easy cooking. The bigger ones don't cook easily. I always add veggies to upma and that's really tasty. Any vegetable like carrots,potato,corn,peas,cauliflower,beans can be added to this. Coconut chutney is the best side dish for this wheat upma.

Ingredients:

• Samba wheat rava-2 cups
• Vegetables-1 cup
• Ginger-1 inch piece
• Green chilly -2
• Curry leaves-few
• Oil-3 tsp
• Mustard seeds-1tsp
• Urad dal-1tsp
• Water-5 cups
• Salt-as needed

Preparation 

• Heat oil in a pan and add mustard and urad dal.
• Add the curry leaves, ginger and green chilly
• Add the onions and saute for a minute
• Add the vegetables and saute for few seconds
• Pour water and let it boil until the vegetables are well cooked
• Add needed salt
• Add the wheat rava and mix well. Let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Wheat upma is ready. Serve with coconut chutney. 

Ragi koozh or ragi porridge:

Ragi is one of the best foods for babies from 8 months onwards. Make it watery in the beginning and then increase the consistency to semi solid state gradually. You can add jaggery as a sweetener instead of sugar. you can also add curd and salt to this if you dont prefer the sweet version.

Ingredients:

• Ragi flour-2 tbsp
• Milk-1 cup
• Water-1 cup
• Jaggery-1 tbsp

Directions:

• In a bowl add the ragi flour and water and mix well taking care to see that there are no lumps.
• Put it on a stove top on simmer. cook for 5 to 8 minutes.
• stir continuously. it will form a thick mixture.
• Now add the milk and jaggery and cook for few minutes.
• Switch off flame. Serve warm or cold.

Creamy veg pasta:

Boiled pasta can be given as a finger food for babies from 10 months onwards. You can prepare this creamy veg pasta for babies above one year. You can use the wheat pasta that is available in stores.

Ingredients:

• Cooked pasta-1 cup
• Mixed vegetables-1/2 cup (half boiled)
• Cream cheese-1 tbsp
• Tomato puree- 2 tbsp
• Garlic pods-5 (fine chopped)
• Pepper powder-1/2 tsp
• Salt as needed

Directions:

• Cook the pasta for 8 to 10 minutes or until soft.
• In a pan add a spoon of olive oil and saute the garlic until it turns brown.
• Add the vegetables and saute well.
• Add the Tomato puree and salt to it and mix well.
• Add little water and cover with the lid until the Tomato is well cooked and veggies turn soft.
• Now switch off flame and add this mixture to the cooked pasta.
• Add some cream cheese and pepper powder.
• Mix well until the pasta is well coated with the cheese and veg mix.
• Serve!