12 Healthy and Delicious Indian Food Recipes for Toddlers

Every parent wants their kids to develop healthy eating habits, laying the foundation for a lifetime of well-being. However, toddlers can present unique challenges in this regard, often exhibiting picky eating habits and resistance to new flavors and textures, especially those found in traditional Indian cuisine. Introducing toddlers to Indian dishes can require patience and creativity. To navigate this journey, it’s essential to start gradually, offering familiar ingredients and gentle introductions to new tastes. In this article, we will explore a selection of easy and enticing toddler recipes for Indian households specifically tailored to ensure that mealtime becomes a joyful exploration of flavor, texture, and cultural heritage.

12 Easy and Tasty Indian Recipes for Toddlers

These Indian food ideas for 2 and 3-year-olds are easy to make and are sure to provide a tasty yet nutritious meal/ snack your munchkin is sure to love.

Breakfast Recipes

Start your toddler’s day off right with these nutritious and delicious breakfast options that will keep them energized throughout the morning.

1. Carrot and Spinach Puri

This puri recipe is a sure-shot way to attract the picky eaters. Its natural red and green shades will make this recipe a hit among toddlers.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup blanched and pureed spinach
• 1/2 cup carrot puree
• A pinch of asafetida (hing)
• A pinch of turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp carom seeds (ajwain)
• Salt to taste
• 1 ½ cup wheat flour
• 1-3 tsp oil for kneading
• Oil for frying puris

How to Prepare

1. Add carom seeds and salt to the wheat flour and mix well.
2. Divide the flour into three equal portions.
3. Knead one portion with water into a stiff dough.
4. To the second portion of wheat flour, add the carrot puree and mix.
5. Add some water if required and knead it into a stiff dough.
6. Add the spinach puree to the third portion of wheat flour and make another stiff dough.
7. Use some oil in each dough but ensure the dough is stiff.
8. Take some dough from each portion and make small balls.
9. Roll out the three coloured balls to form thin rotis of about 5 inches in diameter.
10. Now, place the green roti on a flat surface, spread a little oil over it, then lay the white roti on it.
11. Spread some oil over the white roti and then put the orange-coloured puri on it.
12. Now, roll the three rotis from one end to form a tight roll.
13. Slice the roll into 1-inch pieces.
14. Take each piece and roll them out into puri.
15. Deep fry the puris in oil.

2. Banana Sheera

If your toddler has a sweet tooth, this recipe is perfect for him. Banana sheera is a great dish if your little one needs to gain some weight.

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp suji
• Pinch of cardamom powder
• ½ cup milk
• Bananas (3 small)
• Desi Ghee
• Water (if required)

How to Prepare

1. Add desi ghee to a pan and heat it.
2. Add suji and roast it till it is light brown.
3. Pour the milk and cook it until the mixture thickens a little.
4. Keep stirring the sheera as the milk could get burnt.
5. The mixture should have a runny consistency. Add some water/ milk if required.
6. Sprinkle the cardamom powder and mix well.
7. Turn off the heat.
8. Cut the banana into pieces and grind it to a smooth paste in a blender.
9. Combine this banana paste into the suji mixture and serve warm.

3. Vegetable Upma

Vegetable upma is a nutritious and flavorful dish made from semolina (rava) and mixed vegetables. It’s easy to digest and can be customized with your toddler’s favorite vegetables.

Ingredients

• 1 cup semolina (rava)
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 small carrot, finely chopped
• 1 small potato, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup green peas
• 1 green chili, finely chopped (optional, adjust according to your toddler’s taste)
• 1/2-inch piece of ginger, grated
• 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• 1/2 tsp urad dal (split black gram)
• 1/2 tsp chana dal (split chickpeas)
• A pinch of asafoetida (hing)
• Few curry leaves
• 2 cups water
• 2 tbsp oil or ghee
• Salt to taste
• Fresh coriander leaves for garnish (optional)

How to Prepare

1. Heat oil or ghee in a pan or kadai over medium heat.
2. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter. Then add cumin seeds, urad dal, chana dal, and a pinch of asafoetida. Stir well.
3. Add chopped onion, green chili, grated ginger, and curry leaves. Saute until the onions turn translucent.
4. Add chopped vegetables (carrot, potato, peas) and cook for a few minutes until they are slightly tender.
5. Meanwhile, dry roast the semolina in a separate pan until it turns aromatic and lightly golden. Keep stirring continuously to prevent burning.
6. Add the roasted semolina to the pan with vegetables and mix well.
7. Pour in 2 cups of water and add salt to taste. Stir continuously to avoid lumps.
8. Cover and cook on low heat for about 5-7 minutes or until the upma is cooked and all the water is absorbed. Stir occasionally.
9. Once done, switch off the heat and let it sit covered for a couple of minutes.
10. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves if desired.
11. Serve warm vegetable upma to your toddler as a nutritious breakfast or snack option.

Lunch Recipes

Make lunchtime a delightful affair with these flavorful and wholesome recipes that are sure to please even the pickiest of eaters.

1. Sprouted Moong Dal Chilla

This recipe can be included for breakfast or as an evening snack. Moong dal chilla is a fantastic way to add some protein to your baby’s diet.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cup sprouted moong dal
• 2 tbsp besan
• 2 tbsp suji powder
• Coriander
• Salt to taste

How to Prepare

• Grind the sprouted dal and coriander. Add ½ cup of water to make a smooth paste.
• Transfer the mixture to a bowl and add besan, suji and salt. Mix well.
• Adjust the consistency of the mixture to resemble the consistency of dosa batter.
• Take a non-stick pan, drizzle/ brush some oil all over the surface.
• Place a greased cookie cutter on the pan and pour some batter into it using a spoon.
• The batter will separate from the cookie-cutter as it cooks.
• Remove the cookie-cutter and gently flip the chilla with a spatula. Cook the other side as well.
• You may make the chilla without the cookie-cutter too.
• Ensure the chilla is cooked till it’s golden brown on both the sides.

2. Jeera Aloo

This is a stir-fried potato recipe that is quick to make and a favourite among kids. Here’s what you need to make jeera aloo.

Ingredients

• 2 to 3 potatoes (pressure cooked for 2 to 3 whistles and chopped)
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 green chilly, finely chopped (optional)
• A pinch of turmeric powder

How to Prepare

1. Heat the oil in a pan.
2. Add the cumin seeds and let them crackle.
3. As soon as the seeds crackle, add the chillies and stir.
4. Add the potatoes and mix.
5. Add the turmeric powder, some salt and mix again.
6. Cook it for another minute or so.
7. Serve with chapati, paratha or some puris.

3. Vegetable Khichdi

Vegetable khichdi is a nutritious one-pot meal that toddlers love. It’s soft, easily digestible, and packed with the goodness of vegetables.

Ingredients

• 1 cup rice
• 1/2 cup yellow lentils (moong dal), washed
• 1 carrot, peeled and finely chopped
• 1 potato, peeled and diced
• 1/2 cup green peas
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp ginger paste
• Salt to taste
• Water
• 2 tbsp ghee or oil

How to Prepare

1. Rinse rice and lentils together under running water until the water runs clear.
2. Heat ghee or oil in a pressure cooker. Add cumin seeds and let them splutter.
3. Add ginger paste and sauté for a minute.
4. Add all the chopped vegetables, turmeric powder, and salt. Stir well.
5. Add the washed rice and lentils. Mix everything together.
6. Pour in enough water (approximately 4 cups) to cover the ingredients. Stir well.
7. Close the pressure cooker with its lid and cook on medium flame for 3 whistles.
8. Turn off the heat and let the pressure release naturally.
9. Once the pressure is released, open the cooker carefully and give the khichdi a gentle mix.
10. Serve warm khichdi to your toddler. You can mash it slightly if your child prefers smoother textures.

Snack Recipes

Keep hunger at bay with these quick and tasty snack options that are perfect for busy days or on-the-go munching.

1. Carrot and Beetroot Raita

This delicious raita with its bright colour can be a winner with toddlers. Add some freshness into your little one’s meals with this delicious raita.

Ingredients

• 1 cup curd
• 1 small carrot, grated
• 1/2 beetroot, grated
• 1/2 tsp of roasted and powdered cumin seeds
• Salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp sugar (optional)

How to Prepare

1. Whisk the curd till you get a creamy texture.
2. Combine all the other ingredients and mix well.
3. Serve the raita cold.

2. Dry Fruit Milkshake

This is a great way to provide the goodness of dry fruits. Most toddlers love milkshakes. Serve it in a fancy tall glass with some colourful garnish. You can also add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to make it even more irresistible for your little one.

Ingredients

• 1-2 tbsp almonds
• 1-2 tbsp unsalted pistachios
• 1-2 tbsp cashew nut
• 1-2 tbsp raisins
• 7 to 8 dates
• 2 to 3 dried figs
• 2 to 3 threads of saffron soaked in 1 tbsp warm milk
• 2.5 cups chilled milk/ soy milk
• Sugar as per taste 

How to Prepare

1. Soak all the dry fruits in warm water for at least 30 minutes.
2. Then, chop the soaked dates and the fig.
3. Grind all the dry fruits. Add some milk to make a fine paste.
4. Add the rest of the milk, some sugar if needed and blend the mixture.
5. Pour the milkshake in a glass and garnish with some chopped dry fruits.

3. Mango Shrikhand

This delightful dish is sure to become your toddler’s favourite. It can be eaten with puris, parathas, or just by itself. Even you wouldn’t mind having a spoonful of mango shrikhand with your little one.

Ingredients

• 1 cup hung curd
• 1/2 cup mango pulp
• 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
• 1-2 tbsp sugar

How to Prepare

1. Blend the hung curd, mango pulp, cardamom powder and sugar to a smooth consistency.
2. Store it in the fridge in an airtight container.
3. Serve cold.

4. Peanut Chikki

Peanut chikki is a crunchy and delicious snack you can give you toddler anytime he feels hungry. You can make it in bulk and store it for 8 to 10 days in an airtight container. This healthy sweet can also replace chocolates at times.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of unsalted, roasted peanuts
• 2/3rd cup of jaggery powder (or 1/2 cup of tightly packed jaggery)
• 2 to 3 tsp of ghee
• 1 to 2 tbsp water

How to Prepare

1. Remove the husk of the peanuts and coarsely grind them in a mortar and pestle.
2. Heat a heavy-bottomed pan and put the jaggery in it.
3. Add the water and bring it to a boil.
4. You may strain the syrup at this point if needed and follow the next steps.
5. After 2 to 3 minutes of boiling the jaggery, check its consistency by dropping some molten jaggery in a bowl of cold water. If the jaggery becomes firm yet brittle, it is ready. If not, boil it some more.
6. When the syrup is ready, add the crushed peanuts and mix it immediately.
7. Take a plate greased with some ghee and transfer the peanut and jaggery mix to the plate.
8. With the help of a butter paper, gently but swiftly flatten the mixture to your preferred thickness. You can also use a rolling pin and flatten the mixture on top of the butter paper.
9. Then, remove the butter paper and cut through chikki to form small squares.
10. Let the chikkis cool at room temperature.
11. Store them in an airtight container.

Dinner Recipes

These dinner recipes are not only easy to prepare but also packed with wholesome ingredients to ensure that your little one goes to bed with a full belly and a happy heart.

1. Methi Thepla

Methi thepla can be included in a meal and served with some curd or stir-fried vegetables. You can also make spread some ketchup over it and make a roll for your little one to bite on in between meals.

Ingredients

• I cup methi (fenugreek) leaves, washed and finely chopped.
• 1 cup wheat flour
• 1/4th cup besan (gram flour)
• 1/4th cup bajra flour (pearl millet flour)
• 1/4th cup jowar flour sorghum flour (jowar flour).
• 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp coriander powder
• 1 tbsp oil
• Salt to taste
• 1/2 inch ginger, crushed
• 1-2 green chillies, finely chopped
• 4 to 5 tbsp oil/ ghee

How to Prepare

1. Mix all the flours together.
2. Add the spices and mix well.
3. Add the methi leaves and mix again.
4. Add some water and knead it into a soft dough.
5. Roll out the theplas with a rolling pin.
6. Roast each thepla on a non-stick tawa on both sides till it’s golden brown.

2. Paneer Tikka

This is a yummy idea of Indian food for toddlers. This recipe can be delectable finger food or a main dish your toddler can enjoy with a paratha. Let’s find out what you’ll need to make paneer tikka. 

Ingredients

• 150 to grams paneer (cottage cheese)
• 1-2 small capsicum (Shimla mirch)
• 2 to 4 tbsp oil for shallow frying
• 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
• 1 tbsp besan (gram flour)
• A pinch of turmeric powder
• A pinch red chilli powder (optional)
• 1/4th tsp garam masala powder
• 1/4th tsp cumin powder (jeera powder)
• 1/2 tsp coriander powder (dhania powder)
• 1/2 tsp chaat masala
• 1/2 tsp carom seeds (ajwain), coarsely crushed
• 1/2 tsp lemon juice or as required
• Salt to taste

How to Prepare

1. Cut the cottage cheese in cubes.
2. In a bowl, add all the dry spices to the cottage cheese cubes and the bell peppers and toss them.
3. Ensure the paneer is properly coated.
4. Marinate the cottage cheese for 20 to 30 minutes.
5. Skewer the cottage cheese cubes and alternate them with some chopped capsicum. Make several such skewers.
6.  In a pan, heat some oil.
7. Gently place the skewered cottage cheese cubes in the oil.
8. Fry them on all sides till they turn golden brown.
9. Serve with some mint chutney.

FAQs

1. What are some nutritious ingredients commonly used in Indian toddler recipes?

Indian toddler recipes often incorporate nutritious ingredients such as lentils, vegetables like spinach, carrots, and peas, whole grains like rice and wheat flour, and dairy products like yogurt and paneer. These ingredients provide essential vitamins, minerals, and protein necessary for healthy growth and development.

2. How can I make Indian food appealing to my picky eater toddler?

To make Indian food more appealing to picky eater toddlers, you can introduce familiar flavors gradually, offer small portions in colorful and visually appealing presentations, involve them in the cooking process, and be creative with texture and presentation. Additionally, incorporating mild spices and adjusting flavors to suit their preferences can help encourage acceptance.

3. Are there any Indian toddler recipes that are suitable for children with dietary restrictions?

Yes, there are many Indian toddler recipes that can be adapted to accommodate various dietary restrictions such as gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegetarian diets. For example, you can use gluten-free grains like quinoa or millet instead of wheat, substitute dairy products with plant-based alternatives like almond milk or tofu, and avoid adding any ingredients that may trigger allergies or sensitivities.

These were some of the Indian recipes for toddlers from 18 to 24 months. It is not difficult to plan your toddler’s meals when you have enough options to choose from. These are just a few simple recipes, but Indian cuisine has several other ways of preparing delicious dishes with the same ingredients. Do try these breakfast and lunch ideas. Let your creativity take over and use imaginative ways to prepare and present healthy meals to your toddler to combat his mealtime quirks.

References/Resources:

1. Feeding & Nutrition Tips: Your 2-Year-Old; American Academy of Pediatrics; https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/nutrition/Pages/Feeding-and-Nutrition-Your-Two-Year-Old.aspx

2. Serving Sizes for Toddlers; American Academy of Pediatrics; https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/nutrition/Pages/Serving-Sizes-for-Toddlers.aspx

3. How Much and How Often To Feed; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/foods-and-drinks/how-much-and-how-often.html

4. Healthy Eating for 6 to 24-month-old children; Family Health Service; https://www.fhs.gov.hk/english/health_info/child/14727.html

5. Preventing Choking; Nemours Kids Health; https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/safety-choking.html

6. Nutrition Guide for Toddlers; Nemours Kids Health; https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/toddler-food.html

7. Infant and Toddler Nutrition; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/index.html

Also Read: 

Indian Dinner Recipe for Baby
Indian Breakfast Recipes for Kids
Indian Snack Recipe for Children

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