Are you a working parent struggling to feed your child healthy food because of time constraints? Waking up early, making your own tiffin as well as packing your kids’ lunchbox can be tiresome. You want to make something that is easy and fast to cook but, at the same time you do not want your child to be devoid of any nutrients.
Children are most excited for their lunch time after spending a tiresome half day. The morning of kids at school starts by asking around their friends, ‘Aaj tiffin me kya laya?’ It is essential to make a delicious and nutritious lunch for them, worthy of their excitement. Here are some healthy lunchbox ideas for your children.
1. Roti Taco
One of the easiest and healthiest lunch box ideas is roti tacos. Make any sabzi of your kids’ choice and stuff it into taco shaped roti. It will give your child a fancy tiffin and relieve you as your child will have a healthy lunch. You can also make mix veg and stuff it into the roti. You can customise this dish as per your convenience and your child’s choice of veggies. Wheat roti is rich in fibre, protein and has vitamins B1, B2, B3 and B6. It also contains minerals like iron, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc. According to study, wheat contains dietary fibre which is good for digestion. Additionally, the vegetables that you add in your taco will contain more health benefits than the roti. Adding roti taco in your child’s lunchbox idea list will save you from the confusion of what to pack for lunch.
2. Ragi Dosa
Ragi is high in protein and calcium which helps in strengthening your child’s bones and muscles and will keep him up during the sports and physical training sessions. In an interaction with the OnlyMyHealth team, Reena Poptani, Clinical Dietitian, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, Mumbai, said, “Ragi contains amino acids which promote hair growth. It is low in fats and right in fibre and protein, both of which help promote a feeling of fullness and reduce overall calorie intake.” Ragi dosa can be made instantly without adding baking soda or soaking it overnight. Just mix the ragi flour with veggies as per your choice, salt, some chillies and water. Mix the batter and start making crispy dosas. You can pack it with coriander and mint chutney. Your kid will love it.
3. Thepla
Being a Gujarati, my heart always stops at thepla. Apart from its delicious taste, it is healthy and filling as it is commonly made of methi. What we call thepla is basically methi paratha. In thepla, you can make the dough by adding curd or buttermilk in it so that it can be consumed for 3 - 4 days. Methi, also known as fenugreek, is rich in antioxidants as per studies. Antioxidants help in fighting free radicals and protect your child’s cells from damage. The content of fibre in methi can promote digestion. Methi is also known for preventing gastric disorders. It is also beneficial for skin and hair health. Make some theplas a day before and store them in a tight container. Next day, without any hustle, pack them in your kid’s lunch box along with any chutney of your choice or curd.
Conclusion
Above mentioned lunchbox ideas are healthy and delicious as well. Apart from these there are many more healthy dishes like stuffed chilla, upma, fresh fruits, salads alongside nuts, vegetable sandwiches, millet idlis and dosas, roti pizzas, vegetable frankie and so on.