5 Healthy Recipes to Include in Winter Diet for Kids

As the temperature drops, winter forces us to turn on room heaters, warm clothes and bring them out. The pleasant, breezy and cool weather, though pleasant, brings with it a variety of health problems. It is especially dangerous for children. Children are likely to suffer from sore throat, cold, influenza etc. during winter. So it is important to provide them with a balanced and nutritious diet which will make their immune system strong to handle the cold weather. Winter food for children should have a combination of different nutrients.

Best foods to include in winter diet for kids

1. Carrots

Carrots contain beta carotene, vitamin A, fiber and antioxidants. All these nutrients help boost immunity and eyesight. Additionally, it helps protect children from viral infections.

2. Bajra

Bajra is a rich source of energy and nutrients, making it a great food for children.

3. Dates

Dates contain vitamins and minerals like calcium, iron and magnesium that help keep a lil’ ’em warm.

Also read

Also Read: Dates are your best remedy for winter allergies

4. Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes have heat producing properties. It also contains a good amount of beta-carotene and vitamin C, which strengthen our immune system.

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Healthy recipes to include in winter diet for kids

Here are some super tasty and easy-to-make recipes that will help you incorporate them into your child’s winter diet:

1. Carrot Muffins

What’s needed

• Red carrot (grated) – 2 bowls
• Milk (condensed) – 50-60 ml
• Milk powder – 20 grams
• Dry fruits – few
• Milk – ½ cup

method

1. Take a non stick pan and fry the grated carrot until the moisture evaporates.
2. Add ½ cup milk to it.
3. Cover and cook till carrot becomes soft, add milk powder and cook well.
4. Add condensed milk to it. Stir well until it reaches a medium thick consistency.
5. Once done, let it cool down.
6. Butter and flour the inside of a muffin mold. No, pour the carrot mixture into the mold until it is half full.
7. Preheat the air fryer at 180 degrees Celsius for 5 minutes. Place the molds inside the air fryer and bake at 170 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes.
8. Transfer it to a plate and serve hot.

2. Roasted Carrot Soup

What’s needed

• Carrot slices – 3
• Butter – 4 teaspoons (spoon)
• Black pepper powder – pinch
• Cumin powder – ½ tsp
• Honey – 1 tsp
• Water – 1 cup
• Oregano – ½ tsp
• Fresh lemon juice – 1 tsp
• Vegetable broth – 1 cup
• Salt – to taste
• Cooking Oil – For ghee

method

1. Set the oven at 200°C to preheat.
2. Grease a baking tray with cooking oil. Add carrot, pepper and butter to it. Roast until the carrots turn light brown.
3. Add the roasted carrot, oregano and water to a food processor. Blend and make a puree.
4. Add butter in a pan and add cumin and let it cook for a minute. Add the carrot puree, honey, lemon juice, pepper, salt and vegetable broth to the pan. Let the mixture boil for 5-10 minutes.
5. Serve hot.

Also Read: These 3 immune-boosting vegetarian soups will keep you safe and warm this winter

3. Bajra Pizza

What’s needed

• Bajra flour – 1 bowl
• Pizza sauce – 2 tablespoons (tablespoon)
• Cheese (grated) – 2 tbsp
• Chopped vegetables (tomato, capsicum, onion) – 1 cup
• Oregano – to taste
• Chillies – as per taste
• Ghee – 1 tbsp
• Salt to taste

method

1. Pizza base- mix bajra flour and salt. Add enough water to make a dough. Take some portions of the dough and roll them. Make perfect rounds using a round cutter. Cover with dry millet flour.
2. Heat a pan and place the base on it. Keep brushing the base with water while dry frying on low flame.
3. Bake the pizza on direct flame to make it crispy, then spread some ghee on it.
4. Apply the pizza sauce on the base and top with the chopped vegetables, grated cheese, oregano and chilli flakes.
5. Pour some ghee on the tawa. Place the pizza on the tawa and cover it. Cook until the cheese melts.
6. Serve hot.

4. Date logs

What’s needed

• Pitted dates – 200 g
• Ghee – 1 tbsp
• Chopped almonds – 1 tbsp
• Chopped cashews – 1 tbsp
• Chopped walnut – 1 tbsp
• Sunflower seeds – 1 tbsp
• Pumpkin seeds – 1 tbsp
• Custard seeds – 1 tbsp
• Watermelon seeds – 1 tbsp
• Poppy seeds – 1 tbsp
• Sesame white and black – 1 tbsp

method

1. Roast all nuts and dry fruits in a pan with 1 tbsp of ghee on low flame. Keep it aside.
2. Prepare date paste – Soak pitted dates in warm milk for an hour and blend them in a blender to a smooth paste.
3. Add this paste to the dry-fruit pan and mix well.
4. Spread the mixture on a plate for cooling. After cooling, give the mixture a log shape and refrigerate it.
5. It should be frozen and served cold.

5. Sweet potato cutlets

What’s needed

• Sweet potato (boiled) – 200 g
• Fox nuts – 50 g
• Groundnuts (roasted and crushed) – 3 tsp
• Green chillies (finely chopped) – 1
• Ginger (finely chopped) – ½ tsp
• Mint leaves (finely chopped) -4
• Coriander leaves (finely chopped) – 1 tbsp.
• Lemon juice – 1 tsp
• Cumin – ½ tsp
• Coriander powder – ½ tsp
• Sesame seeds – 1 tbsp
• Garam masala – ½ tsp
• Salt to taste

method

1. Dry roast faux nut on low flame. Grind it and make it powder.
2. Mash the sweet potatoes and mix them with faux nut powder, crushed peanuts, coriander leaves, chopped chillies, ginger, lemon juice and salt.
3. Mix it well and make small cutlets and roll it with sesame seeds. Fry on a tawa using adequate amount of oil.
4. Serve hot with mint and coriander chutney.

Although these recipes are healthy, make sure you check with your doctor before including them in the winter diet for kids.