6 Delicious And Healthy Indian Toddler Lunch Ideas

Mothers worldwide are searching for something nourishing & healthful for their kids. As a mother of a toddler, I know how difficult it can be to prepare the perfect lunch for my child. 

However, nothing has remained on my toddler’s plate since I prepared his lunch using Indian-style toddler lunch ideas. 

Indian Style Toddler Lunch Ideas:

It would be beneficial to share these meal suggestions with other mothers so that they can prepare delicious lunches and dinners for their toddlers.

These cheap meal prep ideas are easy to make and full of essential nutrients that help your child grow and fulfill his energy needs. 

So, let’s experience India’s rich culinary tradition and let your toddler taste delicious and nutritious dishes!

Carrot potato rice:

An easy and quick lunch & dinner recipe for kids and toddlers made with rice, carrots and potatoes. 

The combination of carrots and potatoes always works well; this carrot-potato rice is also no exception. 

Carrot-potato rice tastes so good that it can be served to even picky eaters. It also helps with healthy weight gain. This is my toddler’s favorite meal, and he enjoys it!

Ingredients:

• Two large scoops of rice 
• Half a cup of chopped and peeled carrot 
• A small amount of powdered turmeric 
• 1/4 tsp cumin powder 
• One-sixth spoonful of black pepper
• Salt as needed 
• A cup of water 
• Ghee, one spoonful 

Instructions:

1. Clean the carrots, then peel and chop them into pieces. 
2. Rinse the rice and soak it in boiling water for 20 minutes. 
3. A pressure cooker should be filled with water, soaked rice, diced carrots, cumin powder, black pepper powder, and salt (if using). 
4. Add the ghee and turmeric powder and mix well. 
5. Turn off the pressure cooker’s burner and cook on medium heat for four minutes. 
6. After lowering the pressure, either open the cooker and mash the mixture or place the grinder in the blender.

Vegetables Dal Khichdi:

Dal Khichdi is the most nutrient-dense supper for kids and is simple, quick, and healthy to make in a single pot using a pressure cooker. 

This is a wonderfully cosy supper when a child or adult becomes ill. Adding onion, tomato, and a few spices improves the flavor of this Dal Khichdi. 

In addition, Dal Khichdi is easy to digest, gives the body energy, and strengthens the body’s defenses against illness.

This is the meal I prepare for my child’s lunchtime food and when he gets sick. 

This is one of India’s most popular lunch options and a well-known dish. 

I prepare rice, moong dal, onion, tomato, green chili, ginger, veggies, turmeric powder, garam masala powder, hing, coriander leaves, water, and salt.

Ingredients:

• Rice – ½ cup
• Moong dal – ½ cup
• Onion, tomato, green chili, ginger
• Vegetables – 1 cup
• Garam masala, turmeric, asafoetida, salt
• Water – 4.5 cup
• Ghee, cumin – for seasoning

Instructions:

1. Chop the onion, tomato, and green chili.
2. Chop vegetables into small pieces.
3. Heat ghee in a pressure cooker.
4. Add cumin, onion, tomato, vegetables, and masala pulses.
5. Add the soaked rice and moong dal and mix. Add water and cook for 3-4 minutes.
6. When the pressure reduces, open the cooker and fluff the rice.

Curd rice:

Another fantastic lunch meal for toddlers in daycare or preschool lunch. 

Curd rice is rice made with curd, carrots, and tempering ingredients. I love curd rice, and now my little son is following in my footsteps! He loves to have curd rice anytime!

This food is perfect for lunchbox use and traveling as it does not spoil quickly! This curd rice can be given to children after 7 months (leave out the tempering part, carrot and milk)!

Ingredients:

• ½ cup of rice, 
• 1 cup of curd, 
• 1 spoon of makkhan, 
• 2 large spoons of grated carrot and 2 large spoons of chopped dhani leaves 
• Water: 2 cups; 
• milk: ⅛ cup 
• Salt, as needed 

Regarding Tadka: 

• One spoon of oil; 
• one spoon of rice; 
• one spoon of urad dal; 
• one spoon of curry leaves; 
• one sprig of green chili; 
• two spoons of chopped adrak; one pinch of hing; 
• two large spoons of spiced cashews 

Instructions:

1.  After washing, pressure cook the rice. 
2. After mashing the rice, allow it to cool. 
3. Chop the ginger, coriander leaves, and green chilies.
4. Add the oil to the tempering pan after it has heated up. 
5. Grate the carrots. 
6. To the chilled rice, add the curd, milk, and butter. 
7. As a tempering, add the coriander leaves and grated carrots. Combine all ingredients and serve cool.

Masala rice:

Masala chawal is a delicious and nutritious lunch or dinner meal cooked with assorted vegetables, spices and tempering.

My neighbour friend shared this recipe, and the kids loved it! You can use sambar powder or pav bhaji masala, whichever is available.

The kids will love this masala chawal! You can increase the spice level to your taste using sambar powder or pav bhaji masala. 

This masala rice makes a complete meal when served with dahi or raita. After one year, when the children start eating all the family meals, this masala rice can be given to them.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of rice 
• Large onion 
• A single medium-sized tomato 
• One green chili, 
• one ginger
• one spoonful of minced turmeric powder, 
• one ¼ spoonful of Sambar powder or Pav Bhaji Masala, and one large spoon 
• One cup of chopped veggies, one handful of Dhania leaves
• Water 
• 1.5 cups; salmon,

 instructions:

1. Give the rice a soak. 
2. Chop the vegetables. 
3. Oil or ghee can be heated in a pressure cooker. 
4. Rice, water, veggies, tomato, ginger, green chili, and onion should be added. 
5. After turning off the pressure cooker’s flame, cook for four minutes. 
6. Fluff the rice and open the cooker once the pressure has decreased.

Dosa and sambar:

Dosa and sambar are a classic Indian combination that is healthy and tasty for toddlers’ lunch or dinner. 

Dosa is a crispy and thin rice-lentil crepe that goes great with sambar, and sambar is a flavorful and nutritious lentil-based stew rich in vegetables and spices. 

For toddlers, dosa can be soft and thick, and sambar can be mild and less spicy. 

This combination is rich in protein, fiber, and vitamins and is nutritious for toddlers. 

It provides energy and nutrients to toddlers and also benefits their growth and development.

Dosa and sambar provide a pleasant and nutritious lunch for toddlers. They contain a variety of minerals and fibers vital for children’s growth and development. 

You can change the spices to suit your child’s preferences.

Ingredients for the dosa: 

• 1/2 cup methi seeds, 
• 1 cup urad dal, and 2 cups rice 
• Water and salt (if necessary) 

Instructions:

1. Soak the methi seeds, urad dal, and rice.
2. Grind and ferment the batter.
3. Grease a non-stick skillet and pour the batter into it.
4. Flip the dosa after cooking it.

Sambhar: Ingredients: 

• A cup of toor dal 
• Two cups water 
• A spoonful of oil 
• Vegetables (potatoes, carrots, onions, and garlic) 
• Powdered spices (turmeric, coriander, and cumin seeds) 
• There is tamarind paste and salt. 

Instructions:

1. Soak the toor dal.
2. Sauté vegetables in oil in a pressure cooker.
3. Add toor dal and spices.
4. Cook and mash the sambar.

Palak paneer paratha:

My mother blessed us with her cooking skills last summer. Hot parathas were ready daily for breakfast and lunch; it was my kids’ dream come true! 

I had been asking my mom about making parathas, especially this Palak Paneer Paratha, which is fantastic for toddlers. 

The filling does not need to be cooked, and the combination of spinach and paneer gives kids a good nutrient boost. 

The parathas are soft and easy to chew, making them ideal for lunch or breakfast for little hands.

Ingredients:

• Spinach – Organic baby spinach
• Paneer – Gopi paneer
• Wheat flour – Ashirwad Sharbati flour
• Ginger and green chilli – Homemade paste
• Spices – Garam masala, coriander, cumin, dry mango, salt, and fenugreek.

Instructions:

1. Knead the wheat flour.
2. Mix spinach, paneer, ginger, green chilies, and other spices.
3. Divide the flour into 8-10 parts.
4. Make a round shape for each part, keep the spinach-paneer mixture, and grind the flour.
5. Make a 6-7-inch paratha using a rolling pin.
6. Cook the paratha on a non-stick pan or tawa till it turns golden brown on both sides.

Conclusion:

These toddler Indian-style lunch ideas give your child wholesome, well-balanced eating options. These toddler lunch ideas for picky eaters contain protein, carbs, healthy fats, and vital vitamins and minerals essential for giving your kid diversity.