It was 9.00 pm and I was off to bed with my grandson. Yes that’s our routine on weekdays. There was a gentle knock, the door opened and the light was switched on. My little princess was at the door…. Paatiii….. She called and rattled out her menu for the snack box to be packed for school the next day. The little darling was so specific about the quantity and kind of food she wanted in her box. No raisins Paatiii, only two each of cashew, badam, and pista with a small pao was her specification. Thanks to Bombay days, she is a diehard fan of pao. I nodded happily as she had built her snack box beautifully saving me from racking my brain.
Snack box…..more terrifying than academics …Planning, preparation and packing …oh the process drains every mother. She has to keep in mind the child’s preferences and also the fact that the food should be healthy. Daunting indeed. A snack is a miniature meal which is multifunctional and fills up the hunger gap. Snack hunger is smaller and can be satiated with a few pieces of mini idlies, a fruit slice, some trail mix, mini uthappams or a bite-sized sandwich.
Nutrition (social) media misleads you into believing that snacking is bad. I do not believe in labelling or sweeping off the whole act of eating or consuming specific food items, as “good” or “bad&”. Snacks are essential, particularly for children under 16 years of age. Their mental and physical activity demands that they eat every three to four hours thus replenishing their energy levels. Our stomach is the size of our fist and this holds good for our kids too…their stomach is also the size of their fist, tiny indeed.
Kids especially the school going ones are passing through their growth spurts and require serious calories from foods. They will digest that fist-size amount of food quickly and need a refill again and this is the purpose of a snack. A snack would help the child stay comfortable between and during larger meals. The portion size of a snack should be appropriate…. not too big to douse the hunger for next big meal. The best snack should have two or more or all of protein, fibre, fat, and carbohydrates.
Foodialogues shares with you recipes of carrot pasta, masala makhana, and beetroot poori to make your little ones snack time happy and enjoyable. Have an eye on the portion size that you pack up…. A ½ cup of pasta, 6-8 mini-sized poories, ½ c of toasted makhana is all that an 8-year-old would require. Reduce the numbers for younger kids. Happy snack box planning.
CARROT PASTA RECIPE
Ingredients for Carrot Pasta:
- Wheat Pasta Cooked Al Dente ½ C
- Grated Carrots ¼ C
- Italian Seasoning 1 Tsp
- Chilly Flakes 1.2 Tsp
- Pasta Sauce 1 Tbsp
- Butter 1 Tsp
Preparation Method for Carrot Pasta:
- Heat a heavy-bottomed pan, add butter and when it melts add the grated carrot. Sauté for about 2 minutes and add the cooked pasta. Sauté well.
- sprinkle the seasoning and chilly flakes. Remove when combined. Drizzle sauce and pack into the snack box.
NOTE:
You can add frozen peas and sweet corn to make the dish more interesting.
MASALA MAKHANA RECIPE
Ingredients for Masala Makhana:
- MAKHANA 1C
- GHEE 1 TSP
- CHAAT MASALA 1 TSP
- CHILLY POWDER 1.2 TSP
- SALT A PINCH
Preparation Method for Masala Makhana:
- Take a heavy-bottomed pan and toast the makhana as shown in the video. Test if crisp.
- Remove from flame. Into a bowl. Add rest of the ingredients and toss well. Cool and pack.
Beetroot Poori Recipe
Click here for the beetroot poori recipe
