Growing kids need to eat healthy, nutritional foods rich in proteins, iron, healthy fats and calcium, that will promote growth. Kids can be pretty fussy about food, and may not always want to eat healthy food, preferring junk foods like instant noodles, chips, and cookies. However, with a little imagination, you can steer your child away from these temptations. Make the food colorful and interesting to look at and smell. It is also important to include as much variety in their food as you possibly can, because kids can get bored easily. Variety in food, including color, also helps to ensure that you provide them with the widest spectrum of nutrients.

Here are 5 foods that are as delicious as they are tasty, and your kids will not say no to:

Dosa

Idlis are the best, but if your child doesn’t like it at all, dosa is equally good. Make the dosa more interesting for your child. Here are some ways:

• Use butter or ghee instead of oil
• Make them crispy instead of soft
• Stuff them with cheese
• Add carrots and coriander leaves to the batter make them colorful
• Apply peanut butter inside (again, healthy, protein rich)
• Make them from different batters like:
  • Moong dosa (green color)
  • Multigrain dosa with masoor dal, channa dal, yellow moong dal
  • Add ground spinach leaves to regular batter
  • Ragi dosa – add ragi powder to regular batter or soak ragi with rice and urad dal

Macaroni and Cheese

This international favorite of children can be quite healthy. Use whole-wheat or durum what macaroni, and add plenty of milk and cheese. You can also add cooked cauliflower florets so that the children get their serving of veggies along with calcium, iron and protein. 

Milkshakes/Smoothies

This is a great option for any parent whose child is either fussy about milk or fruit; you can simply blend fruits like bananas, mangoes, apples, avocados, strawberries, peaches, Chikoo, musk melon or papaya in the blender with milk – add honey instead of sugar for a healthy treat. Citric fruits like grapes, oranges and kiwis can be blended by themselves, or in combination – you can make smoothies with orange an banana with a little thick, fresh curd and almond milk (optional) .

Sweet potato

This tuber is packed with nutrition like protein and carbs, is low in fat, and is ideal for a snack. You can peel and slice the sweet potatoes, and sauté them in a wok with a spoon of butter, and add salt and pepper to taste. You can also bake these in the oven for about 10-15 minutes at medium heat, after drizzling olive oil, salt and pepper. Sprinkle with a little cheese for extra excitement.

Nuts

Nuts are wholesome, and great sources of Omega-3 fatty acids, proteins, iron, and other nutrients. Mix walnuts, almonds, cashews, and any other nuts of your choice like pine nuts, hazelnut etc., and roast them lightly and store in an airtight container. They can have a handful of nuts every day for energy, and all-round nutrition.