Nobody likes eating cold food in winter and for mums who have to prepare lunch tiffins for their kids, that becomes a big worry as the temperatures fall. As it is, trying to ensure kids get a healthy nutritious meal to keep them fuelled for all their lessons and playtime is challenging enough, but having to take into account extra factors like the weather makes it a bit more difficult.
Luckily there are plenty of options that travel well, taste delicious at room temperature and provide a rich and fulfilling meal to enjoy while at school or during activities. These dishes lean into the convenient options for you that simultaneously provide your kids with the energy they need to get through the day a winner
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1. French Toast Bites
For a quick snack that all their friends will want to share, make a sandwich with nut butter and jam and cut it into cubes. Then dip these squares into a batter made with egg, sugar, custard powder and a touch of vanilla essence. Fry them in a small amount of oil or butter until they’re golden brown and crispy on all sides for bite-sized treats that are tasty and taste great at any time of the day
2. Pasta Salad
For fussy kids, it can be difficult to get them to eat their vegetables, but a pasta salad is the ideal solution because it tastes great and looks delicious too. Mix chopped bell peppers, onion, sweetcorn, grated carrots and chopped herbs like coriander or parsley with some mayonnaise, salt, pepper and a touch of lime juice. Then add in some cooked pasta and stir together for a veggie-packed meal your kids will actually eat!
3. Sabzi Wrap
If you put a portion of roti and sabzi in your kids tiffin, it will probably come back half-eaten. But the simple process of turning it into a wrap can make all the difference. Just spread whatever vegetable sabzi you’ve made across a roti, roll it up and wrap it in some foil, we’re sure that this balanced bite will be gone in no time.
4. Til Laddoos
Sesame is a secret nutrient powerhouse with 975 mg of calcium per every 100 gms. An easy and tasty way to get some more calcium into your kids diet, especially in winter is to add one or two til laddoos made with pure jaggery into their lunchbox. Both ingredients are incredibly nutritious and suited to a winter diet, and since they’re sweet everyone will be happy.
5. Sweet Potato Fries
Who doesn’t love to munch on fries at lunch? By including some baked sweet potato chips with your kids lunch, you’ll be able to make use of this winter favourite which is packed with potassium and will serve as a healthy fast food alternative. By baking them you also eliminate andy need for extra oil or you could also air fry them for a crunchy finish.
6. Paneer Tikka Skewers
For some bite-sized snacks that are nutritious and delicious, this offers a simple solution. Marinate paneer cubes in a mix of yoghurt and spices. Skewer them and bake or air fry until golden. Serve with a mint chutney for a protein-packed snack that can be served as a side dish or with roti for a ore complete meal.