10 Delightful Indian Tiffin Recipes for Kids!

 

Indian cuisine is a treasure trove of flavors and textures, and what better way to introduce your kids to its richness than through their tiffin boxes? Tiffin time can be both nutritious and exciting with these delicious Indian recipes that your kids will adore.

Tips For Packing School Tiffin for Kids

Few helpful tips and tricks for packing school lunch and snacks tiffin recipes for kids:

• Plan your Tiffin box in advance:  Take time on the weekends or the previous night to decide what you’ll serve in the days ahead. You can also make handy printable. You can prep the night before as much as possible to ease your stressful mornings. For example, – make the dosa batter, chapati dough, filling for paratha, sandwich, cool completely and refrigerate. You can also chop some veggies, fruits and store them in the fridge.

• Get your kids involved in lunchbox planning – It is an inspiring way for them to learn and try new foods. You can also ask them to help chop the fruits and veggies, skewer the fruits on toothpicks, make the sandwich, or pack the food in the tiffin box.

• Bento Box – Bento-style stainless steel tiffin for kids with compartments as it allows you to pack a variety of foods like main lunch meal, snacks like fruits, veggies, sweet treats, and sides like sauce, and dips.

• Thermos: You can pack hot soups and pasta in a thermos to keep the food warm and retain its consistency on a chilly or rainy day.

• Water: Always filtered water, but occasionally you can send fresh homemade juice like orange or strawberry.

• Balanced Meal: Pack a well-balanced meal with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, unprocessed foods, carbs, protein, and dairy. Consider the below nutrient-dense foods for tiffin recipes for kids.

• Fruits: Always try to pack fresh, colorful, organic seasonal fruits for your child in the tiffin.

 

• Vegetables: Try to include a variety of fresh, low-sodium frozen vegetables, including colored, dark green leafy greens. Some tiffin recipes for kids including vegetables are mentioned below.

 

• Whole Grains: Choose whole grains, such as whole-wheat bread, quinoa, rice, whole-wheat pasta, and millet for their tiffin.

 

• Protein: Choose paneer (cottage cheese), Greek yogurt, tofu, lentils, beans, peas, unsalted nuts, and seeds, eggs, fish and meat.

 

• Dairy: Try to include dairy products, such as milk, plain yogurt, and cheese.

• Switch things up:  Repeated lunches can be boring, so try to change the menu weekly by switching things up, be it in the main lunch, snacks, veggies, or fruits. Also put, surprise delights include crackers, chips, homemade cakes, cookies, savory snacks, or sweets some days. Also prefer to pack your child’s favorite breakfast food for lunch at times.

 

• Prevent food from getting soggy: Prefer cooking food just before packing the tiffin. However, hot food, when packed in steel tiffin boxes, causes condensation and makes the food soggy. To avoid it, allow food like paratha, grilled sandwich and other tiffin recipes for kids to cool completely before packing.

 

• Utilize leftovers – make sure to use any leftovers that will work as a cold lunch – pizza, pasta, soups, dips, etc.

In this blog post, we’ll explore 10 delightful tiffin recipes for kids inspired by the diverse and vibrant flavors of India.

• Paneer Paratha:

Start with whole wheat parathas stuffed with crumbled paneer (Indian cottage cheese) mixed with spices like cumin, coriander, and turmeric. Cook them on a griddle until golden brown and serve with a side of yogurt or chutney.

• Mini Vegetable Idlis:

Prepare small idlis from a fermented batter of rice and urad dal. Add finely chopped vegetables like carrots, peas, and bell peppers to the batter for a colorful and nutritious twist. Serve with coconut chutney or sambar.

• Masala Dosa Rolls:

Make mini dosas and stuff them with a spiced potato filling. Roll them up for a convenient and mess-free tiffin option. You can also add a dollop of tomato chutney for an extra kick of flavor.

• Mildly Spiced Pulao:

Cook fragrant basmati rice with a mix of colorful veggies like peas, carrots, and beans. Season it with mild spices like cumin, cardamom, and cinnamon for a kid-friendly pulao. A side of cucumber raita can complement the dish perfectly.

• Chapati Rolls with Egg Bhurji:

Scramble eggs with onions, tomatoes, and green chilies to create a delicious egg Bhurji. Roll it up in chapatis and secure them with toothpicks. These rolls are protein-packed and full of flavor.

• Vegetable Upma:

  Prepare upma using semolina (Rava) and sautéed vegetables. Add a tadka of mustard seeds, urad dal, and curry leaves for extra flavor. This South Indian classic is both hearty and wholesome.

• Mango Lassi:

  Blend ripe mangoes with yogurt, a touch of honey, and a pinch of cardamom to create a delightful mango lassi. Pour it into a small container for a refreshing tiffin drink.

• Chana Chaat:

  Boil chickpeas and toss them with finely chopped onions, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Season with chaat masala and garnish with coriander leaves for a tangy and healthy snack.

• Mini Samosas:

  Make mini samosas with a stuffing of spiced potatoes and peas. Bake them for a healthier alternative to deep-frying. These little parcels of joy are perfect for little fingers.

• Semiya (Vermicelli) Upma:

  Cook vermicelli with a tempering of mustard seeds, curry leaves, and roasted peanuts. Add mixed vegetables for added nutrition. This is a quick and easy tiffin option that kids will love.

 

Introducing your kids to the rich and diverse world of Indian cuisine through their tiffin boxes is a fantastic way to expand their culinary horizons. These Indian tiffin recipes are not only delicious but also provide a balanced mix of nutrients to keep your little ones energized throughout the day. Feel free to adapt these recipes to suit your child’s taste preferences and dietary requirements. Happy tiffin packing!