Toddler Lunch 28

Today's Daycare Lunch Bag:

Snack # 1: Blueberries and sweet red apple wedges

Snack # 2: Pack of raisins and honey graham sticks from Back to Nature ( contains no artificial preservatives, flavors, colors  or hydrogenated oils)

Lunch: Pesarattu ( moong dal ) dosa with ketchup. My son loves to eat dosa with ketchup...what can I say!

Pesarattu is a green moong dal crepe that is savory, high in protein content and easy pesy to make in the morning. Soak overnight 1 cup of split green moong dal and 1/4 cup of rice. Adding rice to the batter makes crispy crepes.  Next morning, grind the soaked mixture with chopped fresh ginger, cumin seeds and salt. Batter consistency should be like a pancake batter. Pour 1 laddleful of the batter on a greased pan and spread it around in a circle to make a thin layer. Cook for couple minutes and flip the dosa to cook the other side. For grown-ups, add  chopped green chilies and onions for some heat and flavor before you grind the batter. Delicious !

Recently, I got a number of emails from non-Indian readers asking me to upload pictures of ingredients mentioned in my blog that are not usually found in regular grocery stores. I have included a picture of split green moong dal which can be purchased at any Indian store.

Toddler Lunch 27

Back by popular demand   :)

Today's Daycare Lunch Bag:

Snack # 1  Blueberries and cut up Apriplum ( sweet hybrid fruit of Apricot & Plum ...check fruit aisle in Publix)

Snack # 2: Babybel mini cheese and Annie's cheddar bunnies (yummy !!!!)

Lunch: Cilantro and carrot appe with ketchup

Appe are bite size shallow fried spherical vadas that are eaten with coconut chutney or ketchup. Perfect for breakfast or snack. You can make different variations using  vegetables or totally skip vegetables and add chopped green chillies for the bigger kids. You will need an appe patra which is available in few Atlanta Indian stores. This little gadget can be used to make koftas and vadas for dahi vada.

The batter is made of 1 cup of urad and 1 cup of rice. Soaked for 4 hours. Grind and ferment it overnight.

 Next morning, add chopped cilantro, cumin, salt, dash of sugar and ginger. This is an easy way to sneak in any chopped vegetables such as carrots and broccoli in the batter. Place the appe patra on the stove top. Pour little oil in the wells and then pour the batter. Shallow fry golden on each side.  

Toddler Lunch 26

Today's Daycare Lunch bag:

Snack # 1 Juicy pear spears and blueberries.

Snack # 2 Dried raspberries and vegetable thins.

Lunch: Store bought humus, mozzarella and spinach on Italian multi grain bread. I drizzled some honey since Y does not like sour taste.

Toddler Lunch 25

Today's Daycare Lunch bag:

Snack #1: Cut up juicy nectarine and blueberries

Snack #2: Raisins, whole wheat crackers with flax seed ( from Whole Foods),  cranberries & chocolate cookie (Cookies were made by Locks see her blog The Rich Vegetarian)

Lunch: Artichoke hearts, spinach and cream cheese triangles made with Pillsbury crescents. I also added some ranch dressing and dash of Italian seasoning to the mixture. Tomato ketchup to dip and enjoy.

Toddler Lunch 24

Today's Daycare Lunch bag:

Snack # 1: Blackberries and strawberries.

Snack # 2: Wheat thin crackers in garden veggie flavor along with freeze fried sour cherries from Whole Foods.

Lunch: Whole wheat pasta shells, onions and peas in sun dried tomato cream sauce. My dear friend SG made this yummy pasta and Y loved it. To make this pasta, I sauteed one clove of garlic, chopped onions, peas, sun dried tomatoes and a dash of Italian seasoning in olive oil for couple minutes. Add cooked pasta and some heavy whipping cream. Top with shredded mozzarella.

For adults, try adding more robust flavored cheese such as smoked Gouda, capers and a heavy pinch of fresh ground pepper.

Toddler Lunch 23

Today's Daycare Lunch bag:

Snack #1: Blueberries and clementines.

Snack #2: Madeleines ( costco), raisins and freeze dried mango chunks from Whole Foods

Lunch: Savory ricotta pancakes with ketchup.

Mix rice flour, ricotta, egg and milk to form a pancake-like batter. Add whole cumin, salt, garam masala and fresh chopped cilantro. Pour a laddleful of batter on greased griddle to make thick pancakes. Sprinkle little chat masala on the pancakes. You can skip the egg, if you do so, increase the flour quantity in the batter.

Toddler Lunch 22

Today's Daycare Lunch bag:

 

 

 

Snack#1: Cut up grapes and figs.

 

 

 

 

Snack # 2: Vanilla wafers ( not one of the healthiest option..but oh well!)  and dried cranberries

 

 
 
 

Lunch : Parsnip and potato tikki with ranch dressing. Boil and mash potatoes and parsnip together. Mix in rice flour, shredded cheese, cilantro, ginger paste, salt and garam masala to form a dough. Shape into flat tikkis. Shallow fry for couple minutes.

 

 Note: Parsnip is a root vegetable that is closely related to carrots. The nutritional content  and flavor of parsnip is much better than carrots.Some of the larger parsnips had bitter core, so I trimmed out the core before boiling.

Toddler Lunch 21

Today's Daycare Lunch bag:

Snack #1: Cut up figs and cantaloupe

Snack #2: Shankarpali ( Thanks to grandma) cheese stick and raisins

Lunch: Ragi and rice flour dosa with chopped onions, cilantro and garam masala.

 I raved about ragi or Nachani here.The dosa is not great to look  but tastes really good. My son looked at the dosa and said ' I don't like it'. So here we were, me & M, running after a toddler at 7:00 in the morning asking him to try a piece of the dosa before I packed his lunch. Finally, Y took a bite and said 'Yummy in the tummy' ........phew!!!

Toddler Lunch 20

Today's Daycare Lunch Bag:

Snack# 1: Cut up strawberries and pear

Snack#2: Whole wheat crackers with sea salt, dried cranberries and prunes.

Lunch:
Mini Uthapams with green peppers and tomatoes. Ketchup as dipping sauce ( my son loves anything with ketchup..!)
Batter is bought from an Indian store.

Toddler Lunch 19

Today's Daycare Lunch Bag:

Snack #1: Cut up strawberries and grapes.

Snack # 2: Multi grain crackers with rosemary and olive oil. Dried cranberries and cheese stick

Lunch:  Upama made with cubed carrots, peas, green beans, corn and tomatoes.

Toddler Lunch 18

Today's Daycare Lunch Bag:

Snack #1: Cut up peach, plum and raspberries with cheese stick.

Snack # 2: Pistachio crisp, dried apricot and raisins.

Lunch: Crispy cutlets made with sweet potato, peas, sour cream, spices and breadcrumbs. Ketchup as dipping sauce.

(Note: restaurant review with food pics coming soon !)

Toddler Lunch 17

Today's Daycare Lunch bag:

Snack # 1 Cut up  juicy pear and yummy raspberries.

Snack #2: Couple madeleines and dried cranberries. Madelines are little french cookie & cake combo that is simply delish. Definitely not a healthy snack but its ok once in a while! I got these Madelines from Costco. Yummy

Lunch: Quesadilla ( Chapatti) stuffed with ricotta and a mixture of sauted spices, spring onions, spinach and red bell pepper. I drizzled some honey. This makes the quesadilla stick together and also makes it more tasty for a toddler.  For adults, skip the honey and add some fried onions instead...yum

Toddler Lunch 16

Today's Daycare Lunch Bag:

Snack # 1: Cut up peaches and grapes with honey.

Snack #2: True North Pistachio crisp ( you gotto try these!) dried apricots with cheese stick.

Lunch: Cut up spinach na thepla with yogurt.

Note: Thepla is a  Gujarati dish that is easy, tasty and very versatile. You can add any greens or grated vegetables to the dough and it tastes delish! I make the dough the night before. In the morning, roll it out and heat on lightly oiled griddle.

Dough is made of  spinach leaves,whole wheat flour, turmeric, Hungarian pepper powder( or chili powder), cumin-coriander powder, salt, sugar, ginger, yogurt and oil. Ajwain tastes good but is optional.

Toddler Lunch 15

Today's Daycare Lunch bag:

Snack # 1: Juicy red watermelon chunks with bright green grapes

Snack # 2" Wheat thins, dried cranberries and apricot

Lunch: Super soft triangles stuffed with Ricotta and spinach.

 Note: I use  Pillsbury crescent rolls that you get in refrigerator section at Publix. Spread out the dough, pinch together the seams, cut into squares. Filling is made with chopped spinach, ricotta, dot of ranch dressing, Italian seasoning, cumin ( I know strange..but tastes good) and some salt. Bake at 375 degree for 10 minutes.

Toddler Lunch 14

Today's Daycare Lunch bag:

Snack#1: Watermelon cubes and grapes

Snack # 2: Chakkali, dried sweet cranberries and roasted pistachios

Lunch:  Savory pancakes ( uthappam) made with moong flour and rice flour topped with sliced red bell pepper and spring oinions.

Toddler Lunch 13

Today's Daycare Lunch Bag:

Snack #1: Cut up grapes, pineapple and pomegranate.

Snack #2: Shankarpalli, dried apricots and cranberries.



Lunch: Quesadilla made with whole wheat chapatti stuffed with black olive hummus, shredded mozzarella, roasted red pepper ( pat dry) and pinch of cumin- coriander powder.

Note: For picky eaters, drizzle some honey before you fold the quesadilla and toast it. Press down firmly as you toast, so the cheese will melt and hold the filling together as it cools down.

Toddler Lunch 12

Today's Daycare Lunch  bag:

Snack: Cut up banana, figs and pomegranate seeds (!)

Snack #2: Vegetable cracker with roasted salted almonds, walnuts and pistachios

Lunch: Mini sandwiches made with butter bean spread and amul cheese slice. Tomato ketchup to dip and enjoy.

Note: Y tasted pomegranate for the first time yesterday. I was eager for him to like this super nutritious fruit and he did...yeppiee!. So guess what, I had to add few pomegranate seeds to his snack cup today. After reading up on health benefits of these sweet succulent ruby red seeds, I am going to make sure that all three of us periodically eat this wonder fruit.

The butter bean spread is super simple. Blend well cooked butter beans, palmful of spinach, dhania ( cilantro leaves), couple curry leaves, cumin seeds and chat masala. For grown ups, add few green chillies and splash of lemon juice. This spread stores well.

Nutrition Facts-Amul Cheese Slice


Serving Size: 1 Slice, 20g

Amount per Serving

• Calories 70 Calories from Fat 45

% Daily Value *

• Total Fat 5.0g 8%

• Saturated Fat 3.0 15%

• Cholesterol 15mg 5%

• Sodium 250mg 10%

• Total Carbohydrate <1g 0%

• Dietary Fiber 0g 0%

• Sugars 1g

• Protein 4g 8%

• Vitamin A 2%

• Calcium 15%





Nutrition Facts=Kraft Cheese Singles ( Kraft website)

Serving Size: 1 Slice, 19g

Amount per Serving

• Calories 60 Calories from Fat 40

% Daily Value *

• Total Fat 4.5g 7%

• Saturated Fat 2.5g 12%

• Cholesterol 15mg 5%

• Sodium 250mg 10%

• Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%

• Dietary Fiber 0g 0%

• Sugars 1g

• Protein 3g 6%

• Vitamin A4%

• Calcium20%