Children who participate in the entire process of planning, shopping (if any), and preparing their lunch boxes to develop the ability to choose and enjoy healthy foods.
Little Ms.K and I usually plan our week together. This academic year, we decided to plan the lunchbox menu as well. So, these are some of the easy to pack school snacks for kids that you can get the kids involved in too. Note: I’ve tried to avoid crackers and cheese here because it doesn’t suit Little Ms.K, you can add her preferences.
chapati rolls
These are easy, just make chapati and roll it up with a filling of your choice. When we want it to be heavier, our filling has paneer, otherwise there is (homemade) jam or ghee and sugar.
• dosa corner
Coin Dosa is my go-to option for a no-fuss snack. All you need to have is the dosa dough. These are coin-shaped dosas that can be topped with cheese.
• Khakra
This is the crispier version of Roti or Methi Thepla. Very good to give as a snack. 100% homemade and healthy. You can give jam as an accompaniment
• sun
This is a very famous dish from Tamil Nadu. You just have to plan a little. Pre-soak the chickpeas until they sprout. Before preparing the lunch box, put a little oil in the wok, add mustard, curry leaves and asoephotida. Add these soaked but drained sprouts. There are many varieties of Sundal. You can use Kabuli Chana, Green Moong (Pasi Payir), Mot, Horse Gram or the like. Finely chopped cucumber, carrot can also be added as a dressing.
• paniyaram/application
These are made from Dosa dough. If you have Paniyaram Chatti or Pan to make these little dosa battered dumplings then it is incredibly easy to make in no time.
• sattu laddoo
If you make powdered sattu at home, great. But if you buy it at the store, don’t worry. Just roast Sattu powder in ghee and mix it with Jaggery. Roll them into laddoos. You can also add dried fruit in these laddoos. Favorite of little Ms.K. I am sure that all children will like it.
• fry idli
This is our favorite snack. As I make big idlis, he breaks them into pieces. I add oil to the wok, add mustard, while it’s sizzling add onion, curry leaves. Until they’re done, I add some cold red powder and turmeric. Mix well and add the broken idlis. Mix well and top with cilantro.
• crispy onion rings
Onion rings coated in moist chickpea flour and fried in peanut oil are nothing more than crispy onion rings. I usually give him yogurt or achar as a side dish. I don’t use store bought sauce.
If the lunchbox has chapati and sabji as lunch, then I give Poha or puffed rice (roasted in ghee, curry leaves and jeera) as a snack. Makhna or puffed lotus seeds (roasted in ghee, curry leaves and jeera) also taste good and are nutritious but light on the stomach. These are some simple snacks that we can make in a jiffy. Let me know if you have any other snacks you make often…I’d love to try them.visit us in: The5ammommy