9 Healthy Indian Winter Foods for Babies With Recipes

Winter is almost here, and we all love delicious foods that warm up our bodies on cold winter days. As babies start eating solid foods, they are ready to develop their taste palette and enjoy new and different foods, which calls for the inclusion of tastier and healthier meals other than good old breastmilk. Since winter calls for some extra care when feeding your little one as the appetite in winter increases, your baby’s diet should include foods that enhance their immunity and protect them from colds and flu. In this article, we have carefully listed nine Indian winter foods for babies that will keep their immunity and taste buds in check. It is not just the food items we have listed but also their recipes that will save up your time and get you in cooking mode faster than you think!

Healthy Winter Foods With Recipes for Babies

As your little one starts enjoying solid foods, you need to be a little creative to get him to eat food that is good for his health. Here are some food recipes for winter food for babies that will give your baby the right nourishment and won’t take up a lot of your time.

1. Spiced Milk With Nuts

It is a wonderful way to include the goodness of dry fruits in your baby’s diet during the winter season. The nuts and spices in this recipe will keep your little one warm and help build his immunity.

Benefits

The goodness of nuts helps a toddler gain strength and improves immunity. Its mild aromatic flavour makes it tempting and the best thing about this dish is that the nut powder can be easily stored and it can be added to milk anywhere.

Ingredients

• Almonds- 10
• Shelled pistachios- 10
• Cashews- 10
• Cardamom powder- ½ tsp
• Nutmeg powder-  ¼ – ½ tsp
• Saffron strands- 2-3
• Milk: 1 cup
• Sugar- as per taste

How to Make

Take the nuts and blend them in a mixer till you get a coarse, powdery mix. Add the cardamom powder and nutmeg powder to the nuts and mix well. Put the nut mix in an airtight container. Pour the milk into a pan and warm it till it gets scalding hot but does not boil. Add sugar and mix well, then add the nut mix, allowing the milk to thicken. Take the pan off the heat, pour the milk into a mug, and garnish this delicious drink with strands of saffron and sprinkle some nut mix.

2. Fluffy & Cheesy Scrambled Eggs

Eggs are one of the most versatile food items and they are so easy to make. Try out this scrumptious preparation of eggs that will leave your kids wanting for more.

Benefits

Eggs are a rich source of protein and contain vitamins and minerals that help your child grow and develop (1). According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, eggs can be introduced to children after the age of 6 months (2). Cheese is another high-protein source and also contains calcium, magnesium, and vitamins A and D.

Ingredients

• Eggs- 2
• Water- ¼ tbsp
• Butter- ½ tbsp
• Shredded cheddar cheese- 2 tbsp
• Salt and pepper to taste

How to Make

In a bowl, whisk the eggs. Add a little water, salt, and pepper to the whisked eggs. In a pan, melt the butter and pour the egg mixture. Stir the eggs for 3 to 5 minutes or until soft curds start to form. Once you’re happy with the consistency, take the pan off the heat and add the cheese to the eggs.

3. Garlic-Butter Broccoli

Want to make your kids like broccoli but don’t know how? This fibrous vegetable will be your little one’ s new favourite.

Benefits

Broccoli is full of vitamins and minerals that are essential for a child’s development. It is also rich in antioxidants and promotes bone development (3). Additionally, garlic boosts immunity and protects the body against the flu and cold.

Ingredients

• Broccoli- 1 bunch or ½ kg
• Garlic- 2 cloves, minced
• Butter- 2 tbsp (unsalted)
• Salt and pepper to taste

How to Make

Boil the broccoli in lightly salted water till it becomes tender. In a pan, melt the butter and cook the garlic till it softens. Add the cooked broccoli to the pan and mix the salt and pepper. This dish can be served as a snack or as a side dish in a meal.

4. Cream of Tomato Soup

It is a delicate and tangy soup made with cream, spices, and fresh tomatoes, which is wholesome and healthy.

Benefits

It contains vitamin C and boosts natural immunity. A bowl of tomato soup is very refreshing and energising, and babies will love it.

Ingredients

• Tomatoes: 3 to 4
• Onions: 1 tbsp, finely chopped
• Garlic: 4 small cloves, finely chopped
• Bread cubes: optional
• Butter/ghee: 1 tsp
• Pepper powder: ½ tsp
• Fresh cream: 1 tsp

How to Make

Boil tomatoes after washing them well. Grind the boiled and peeled tomatoes to make a fine puree. Toast the bread cubes in some butter. Melt the remaining butter in a pan and add the chopped onions and garlic. Add pureed tomatoes once the onions turn golden in colour. Then add ¼ cup of water and boil on a medium flame. Add salt, pepper, and fresh cream and mix well. Serve warm with the toasted bread cubes.

5. Vegetables and Lentil Soup

A bowl of this creamy and flavoured soup and your little one’s belly will be full of nutritious deliciousness. If your munchkin is not eating a wholesome meal, you can give him vegetables and lentil soup.

Benefits

Assorted vegetables, lentils, and mild spices are full of nutrition. Legumes and vegetables are also good sources of proteins and vitamins.

Ingredients

• Yellow lentil (Moong dal): 4 tbsp
• Cumin seeds: ¼ tsp
• Carrot, beans, peas, potato: 1 cup, mixed together
• Garlic: 1 or 2
• Butter/ghee: ¼ tsp.
• Salt and pepper to taste

How to Make

Wash and pressure-cook the chopped veggies along with yellow lentil. Allow them to cool slightly then blend to make a smooth paste. Reheat the blended soup with butter or ghee and add salt and pepper to it and serve warm.

6. Almond Halwa/Badam Halwa

It is a delicious, healthy dessert made with milk, sugar, ghee, and almonds.

Benefits

Almonds keep the body warm in winter and stimulate the digestion process. They are a good source of healthy fats, proteins, vitamin E, and minerals like magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus that help strengthen the bones and immunity (4). Being rich in proteins and carbohydrates, almonds also provide instant energy to babies.

Ingredients

• Almonds: 1 cup
• Milk: ¾ cup
• Sugar: ¾
• Ghee: ¼ cup

How to Make

Soak almonds for about 4 hours and then peel their skin. Take almonds, sugar, and milk in a mixer to make a coarse paste. Melt 2 tbsp of ghee in a pan and add the paste to it. Add the remaining ghee while stirring continuously. When the halwa thickens, switch off the gas. It should be soft, neither sticky nor wet.

7. Carrot Halwa

It is a traditional dessert in India which is mostly prepared in winter to keep the body insulated.

Benefits

This recipe calls for fresh carrots along with loads of ghee, nuts, and milk. It has the essential nutrients to boost the immune system. White sugar, if replaced by palm or brown sugar will make it healthier.

Ingredients

• Carrots: 3
• Milk: 1 cup
• Palm/Brown sugar: ¾ cup
• Ghee: 3 tbsp
• Cashews: 10
• Raisins: 1 tbsp.

How to Make

Wash, peel, and grate the carrots. Fry the cashews and raisins in a tablespoon of ghee. Once the nuts are fried, remove them from the pan. Add the grated carrot and saute until the raw flavour goes. Add milk and cook on medium heat. Once the milk is absorbed, add sugar. When the halwa thickens, add the fried cashews and raisins and turn off the flame.

8. Besan ka Sheera or Besan Halwa

This good old Besan ka Sheera has been a favourite in Indian households for ages. It’s time to introduce your little one to this classic gem, too! This is ideal for babies above 1 year.

Benefits

Besan Halwa or Besan ka Sheera is a delicious winter dessert. It contains wholesome chickpea flour, ghee, dry fruits, and jaggery. It is a popular home remedy for colds and coughs in babies, toddlers, preschoolers, children, and even adults. You can prepare it in a porridge or halwa consistency, depending on your preferences.

Ingredients

• Besan flour/Gram flour- 2 tbsp
• Ghee- 3 tbsp
• Jaggery- 2 tbsp
• Water- 1 cup
• Cardamom powder- a pinch

How to Make

Measure and set aside besan flour, sugar, and water. In a pan, saute the besan flour on low flame until aromatic, then turn off the heat. In a saucepan, dissolve jaggery in ½ cup of water and strain to remove impurities. Heat ghee in a pan, add the roasted besan and mix well to avoid lumps. Cook on low flame for 5 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly. Add the jaggery water and cardamom powder, stirring continuously as the mixture expands. Once the halwa thickens and the raw besan smell disappears, add the remaining ½ cup of water and boil for 2-3 minutes until it reaches a porridge-like consistency.

9. Creamy Carrot Soup

Who doesn’t like this seasonal winter vegetable that boasts multitude of health benefits from building immunity to improving digestion in babies. This winter, a warm, creamy carrot soup is a must for you and your baby to keep everyone in the family warm and snuggled with this winter delight!

Benefits

Rich in fibre, carrots are famous for keeping constipation at bay. They are also a popular weaning food for babies, thanks to their rich taste, denseness, and bland texture, which is perfect for not irritating the baby’s gut. 

Ingredients

• Carrot- 1 big-sized, chopped
• Onion – chopped, 2 tbsp
• Ginger – half-inch
• Garlic – 3 cloves, finely chopped
• Butter – 1 tsp
• Water – 1.5 cups
• Pepper powder – a pinch
• Salt – optional
• Cumin seeds – 1/4 tsp

How to Make

Wash the carrots thoroughly under running water, then peel and dice them into small, equal-sized cubes. Finely chop the onions, ginger, and garlic; set them aside. Heat a teaspoon of butter in a pressure cooker and add cumin seeds, allowing them to crackle. Add the chopped onions, ginger, and garlic, and sauté for 2 minutes. Next, add the carrot cubes, salt and pepper, and enough water to cover the ingredients. Bring the mixture to a boil, then pressure cook on medium flame for three whistles. Once the pressure is released, blend the cooked mixture into a smooth paste. For small babies, strain the soup before serving. Straining is optional.

FAQs

1. What should I keep in mind while preparing winter recipes for my baby?

When preparing food for babies in winter, there are some things to keep in mind given babies and children and fragile.

• Make sure to consult your doctor or an elder in the house before preparing and feeding your baby any new food recipe.
• Introduce each food ingredient separately before inculcating them in any recipe.
• Avoid cow milk, sugar, salt, and honey for babies below the age of 1 year.

2. What other winter foods and drinks can I feed my baby?

Turmeric milk is an ideal drink option for babies above the age of 1, while sweet potatoes can be given right 6 or 7 months of age. Nuts and jaggery can be introduced in the recipes, too.

If you are not sure about which foods to give to your baby in winters, try the ones mentioned above. The goodness of the ingredients will give you a power-packed meal.

References/Resources:

1. 9 Health Benefits of Eating Eggs for Breakfast; Keck Medicine of USC; https://www.keckmedicine.org/blog/10-healthy-benefits-of-eating-eggs-for-breakfast/

2. Moon. R. Y; When Should Babies Start Solids? How About Allergenic Foods?; AAP Journals Blog; https://publications.aap.org/journal-blogs/blog/23284/When-Should-Babies-Start-Solids-How-About?autologincheck=redirected; January 2023

3. Syed. R. U, et al.; Broccoli: A Multi-Faceted Vegetable for Health: An In-Depth Review of Its Nutritional Attributes, Antimicrobial Abilities, and Anti-inflammatory Properties; Antibiotics (Basel).; PubMed Central; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10376324/; July 2023

4. 4 Reasons Why Almonds Are Good for You; Cleveland Clinic; https://health.clevelandclinic.org/benefits-of-almonds

Also Read: 

Baby Winter Care
Baby Breakfast Recipes
Healthy Khichdi Recipes for Babies
Indian Dinner Recipes Your Baby Would Relish