Dates syrup can sweeten up a bowl of porridge or you can mix a teaspoon of it to sweeten up any of your little one's food like pancake batter, idlis, halwa, cookie or cake dough etc.
Check out the 2 min video below to see the procedure to make it at home. Please subscribe to get regular updates on innovative recipes for your kids.
See the detailed recipe & notes below if you are a mom who loves to read :-)
If you want an easier replacement for sugar, check our 100% pure dry dates powder. This is made with dried black dates, powdered fine enough for your little one to enjoy their meal.
Preparation Time: 10 mins
Total Cooking Time: 20 mins
Serving portion - 60-70 ml Syrup
1. Wash the dates and de-seed if required.
2. Put the dates in a bowl and add boiling water to it.
3. Cover it with a lid and let it soak for 2 hours.
4. After the dates have been soaked, mash the dates well.
5. Pour in the mashed dates through a sieve or a muslin cloth.
6. Squeeze well.
7. Put the squeezed pulp left over back in the bowl and add a little more water to it as required.
8. Mash it again and squeeze out the pulp again through the sieve.
9. Put the extracted juice in a sauce-pan.
10. Boil it on medium-high heat for 10 mins till it thickens. Stir well so that the syrup does not blacken.
11. Set it aside to cool.
12. Pour it into a jar and refrigerate.
Shelf Life: 1 Week. Please make small batches and consume before 1 week. Store in the refrigerator always.
Important Note: Don't throw away the pulp :-) Please reuse it into a simple atta or wheat dough to make sweet chappati and feed it with a little ghee to your little one.
]]>
The veggies added in the uttapam will provide that extra punch of vitamins and minerals to stay charged up through the day.
Check out our quick 2 min video below for the procedure. Please subscribe to stay tuned for all our healthy & innovative recipes for babies & kids!
Preparation Time: 05 mins
Fermentation Time: 20-30 mins
Total Cooking Time: 10-15 mins
1) For different variations, you can add chopped tomato, chopped capsicum or even add all the veggies together.
2) Best eaten hot as uttapam tends to be thick, consuming it when cold will make it rubbery.
3) Adding Ajwain & Jeera powder in the batter makes the Ragi to be easily digested by little babies.
4) Keep the dosa's small sized. Ragi does not have gluten, so it tends to break easily if the dosas are made big & heavy.
]]>
Vitamin C is also known as Ascorbic Acid. It is essential for your baby’s healthy growth and development. It is used for a multitude of functions throughout the body, including the growth of tissues, healing of the wounds and boosting immunity.
Here are a few important things to note about its role and how to effectively include it in your everyday diet of your little ones and your family.
1) Consume Vitamin C every day - Vitamin C is water soluble. It is not stored like fat, protein and other minerals etc.for later use by the body. Its processed and flushed out daily, so we need to consume Vitamin C every day.
2) Vitamin C is destroyed by Heat - Almost 30-50% of the vitamin C is destroyed if you cook vegetables for over 15mins. So try not to overcook veggies that are rich in Vitamin C, an ideal would be to saute, steam or blanch for 5 mins and then add them to your gravy. It is also best if you can eat them raw. Do you now remember your mom saying, squeeze the lemon in daal after it has cooled down and not while it's cooking. :-)
3) Consume it fresh - Vitamin C is very unstable, quickly oxidizes so consume these Vitamin C foods as fresh as possible to get the maximum benefits.
Vitamin C is said to be one of the most essential nutrients for good functioning of the body. One classic example being, sailors going on long journeys would generally fall very sick, tired and mostly died from scurvy, a disease resulting from Vitamin C deficiency. Most veggies & fruits they carried as stock at the start of the journey would be consumed within 2-3 weeks. Because back in those days these foods would not stay fresh beyond 2-3 weeks, so they just consumed fish & some nuts for the remaining months of their journey. So the shortage of vitamin C made them prone to tiredness, gum bleeding, hair fall, sore limbs etc.
So here is why its super important!
1) It Boosts Immunity - Vitamin C is anti-inflammatory, helps improve the white blood counts and boosts the immune system against bacteria, fungus, virus etc. It helps maintain immune responses and may play a role in the management of upper respiratory tract infections.
2) Helps heal wounds - The body needs vitamin C to form and strengthen collagen in bones, cartilage, muscles and blood vessels. This becomes so important for children since they fall and bruise themselves more often.
3) Better Iron Absorption - This vitamin is especially beneficial for kids as their rapid growth imposes high iron requirements and Vitamin C improves the absorption of iron better from the food they eat.
One of the easiest ways to identify fruits/vegetables that are rich in Vitamin C is to check how dark and bright in color they are. The bright and dark colored ones are always the richest source of Vitamin C.
1) Citrus Fruits, Oranges: The most common source of Vitamin C is citrus fruits. It is said that one lime per day may be enough for one to get their required dose.
2) Amla: This is the richest source of Vit C amongst all the fruits/vegetables mentioned here. One amla a day will provide your child with the exact amount of Vitamin C required by the body. Amla powder is another good option to derive the benefits of Vitamin C throughout the year. Check out our organic & sun-dried Amla Powder in our store that you can mix with a litte honey & make an immunity drink for your kids in a jiffy.
3) Bell Peppers: Whether you are making fried rice or whipping up a bowl of pasta, make sure to add bell peppers for your Vitamin C kick.
4) Broccoli: This wonder green vegetable is a storehouse of benefits. Packed with Vitamin C, include it in your salads.
5) Papaya: Just half a cup of papaya can give you enough of the vitamin for the entire day. Its many other benefits are additional motivation to have the fruit.
6) Strawberries: Who wouldn't relish a bowl of freshly chopped strawberries packed with Vitamin C.
7) Tomatoes: Raw tomatoes have plenty of the vitamin C. Eat them plain or toss them in a salad, add them to sandwiches or burgers, tomatoes are the most versatile fruit to eat.
8) Guava: Guava has Vitamin C five times higher than that of an orange. Just make sure to eat the whole fruit to derive its complete nutritional benefits.
9) Pineapple: This light yellow colored juicy fruit has loads of Vitamin C. It can be eaten raw or included in a fruit salad with some salt & pepper.
10) Kiwi & Apricots: Packed with the richness of Vitamin C, these apricots include important vitamins and minerals in significant amounts. They are best eaten raw or added to a fruit salad.
1) Take smaller doses, many times a day: Vitamin C is absorbed through the mucous membranes of the mouth, stomach and upper part of the small intestine. To add to this it must be kept in mind, that the larger the dose, the less is absorbed. So ~80% is absorbed when you take less than 250 mg, but only ~50% is absorbed rate when taking above 250 mg up to 2g. And Vitamin C not absorbed is flushed out immediately.
So eat 2 different fruits or vegetables at different intervals, instead of one big portion of fruit/veg salad just once a day.
2) Get more direct sunlight: The sun strengthens and increases the absorption and function of Vitamin C. So getting some direct sunlight for at least 20-30 mins a day is essential.
So ensure your kids go out every day, play and get some sunshine for maximum benefit & fun!
Vitamin C is undoubtedly the most important vitamin required in a growing child's body but it is also important to keep in mind that too much of anything is not good. Same goes for Vitamin C too much of it can cause diarrhea. Hence it is important to know how much can be consumed in one day.
The amount of vitamin C you need each day depends on your age. For a clear reference, we have mentioned an average daily recommended amounts for different age groups listed below in milligrams (mg)
Life Stage |
Recommended Amount |
Equivalent Approx Source |
Birth to 6 months |
40 mg |
One Lemon, mostly received through breast milk. |
Infants 7–12 months |
50 mg |
One Orange |
Children 1–3 years |
15 mg |
Half Piece Raw Ripe Tomato |
Children 4–8 years |
25 mg |
1 Honeydew Melon |
Children 9–13 years |
45 mg |
One Orange |
Teens 14–18 years (boys) |
75 mg |
(100 gms) Strawberries |
Teens 14–18 years (girls) |
65 mg |
1 Guava |
Adults | 90 mg | 1 Kiwi |
Table Source Derived From- https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-Consumer/
Note: Infants need more Vitamin C than children because their immune system demands it to support the growth of rapidly growing cells in their body. Once they complete 5 years the need for this Vitamin C decreases and they just need a little of it to meet their daily body requirements.
It is a known fact that the first five years for a new mother are the most difficult years as the growing baby/toddler is prone to falling sick with cold/cough and fever very often.The visits to the pediatrician become a part of a routine.The reason is that the child's immune system is still developing and is not strong enough to fight our environment which is increasingly getting polluted each day.
Your baby or toddler’s immune system is continuously changing, adapting and strengthening in response to external factors. Exposure to germs helps the immune system learn how to defend itself and builds resistance to infections. The immunity foods they eat helps to support their natural defenses, so they can fight off illness effectively. This is where it becomes important to feed them foods rich in Vitamin C. Foods rich in this vitamin tend to strengthen the immune system keeping infections at bay.
As a parent, you can support their developing immune system by providing a healthy & balanced diet by including fresh fruits & vegetables. These nutrient-rich foods, as well as good sources of prebiotics, will help to build up their immunity and contribute to their long-term good health. So support your toddler’s immune system and general health by including vitamin C-rich foods in their diet every day!
Sources:
http://www.ijstr.org/final-print/nov2013/Effect-Of-Heating-On-Vitamin-C-Content-Of-Some-Selected-Vegetables.pdf
http://www.medicalmedium.com/blog/healing-benefits-of-vitamin-c
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets
]]>1) Do not use aluminum paper for baking. It is considered unsafe especially for kids.
2) Serve it hot and fresh, since it is baked it will tend to get rubbery if eaten cold.
]]>Check out our quick 2 min video below for the procedure. Please subscribe to stay tuned for all our healthy & innovative recipes for babies & kids!
If you just like to read, carry on below to see the detailed steps to make these yummy hot ragi poori's.
1. Ajwain & Jeera are added to the dough to assist digesting ragi for little babies.
2. Whisk the potato mixture really well, if it doesn't mix properly you can blend it as well to form a puree. Since there is less wheat flour or gluten, potatoes play a good role for binding the dough together.
3. Add more water if needed to bind the dough.The dough should be stiff in the end.
4. Fry pooris only when the oil is very hot. Ensure the oil does not smoke.
]]>To make pancakes more nutritious, we are adding sprouted ragi flour instead of maida or white flour. You can easily make sprouted ragi at home and use the flour for many recipes.Fresh ripe bananas add natural sweetness and eggs binds the pancake together.
For growing kids Eggs are an incredibly nutritious component of breakfast.They contain Vitamin A, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B2, Folate, Phosphorous, Selenium. Bananas are a great source of potassium and calcium and Ragi contains a treasure trove of vitamins and minerals especially Calcium.
Lets get started!
You can check out our 2 min video below for the procedure. Please subscribe to stay tuned for all our healthy & innovative recipes for babies & kids! If you just love to read, carry on below to know the detailed recipe & procedure.
Preparation Time: 05 mins
Total Cooking Time - 20 mins
1) In a small bowl mix the sugar and cinnamon together and sprinkle it on top of the pancakes through a sieve, which is optional if your baby is less than 12 months old.
]]>If you look at the ingredients section of any biscuit you will see that refined wheat (Maida), white sugar or invert sugar, vegetable fat/oil form the majority of a biscuit. Apart from them, we also need to be aware that to enhance the taste and shelf life of factory-biscuits they add preservatives, chemicals & artificial flavors. On an average approximately, about 75-80% is real food and the rest are artificial ingredients, the proportion could vary across different brands too.
Now let’s understand in detail what ingredients actually go into making a biscuit and how it affects our bodies in detail.
1) Refined Wheat (Maida) – Maida is refined wheat flour. Most of the nutrition & fiber is wiped off in the refining process. White flour is rich in carbs and quickly raises blood sugar, very similar to what sugar does. In addition to refining, the maida is bleached using peroxides, chlorine, bromates etc. to make it appear white in colour. These flour bleaching agents also help the cookies stay intact and not spread too much while baking.
Now a little bit about labeling of maida. Most biscuits contain maida or refined wheat flour if it has been labeled as “wheat flour”. We as consumers are mislead to think it could be whole wheat flour. Please note, that only when 'whole wheat flour' is mentioned, it's understood that the 'whole' & not refined wheat grain is used. Check the picture below where it shows both wheat flour and whole wheat flour as the ingredient. We hope you now know the difference and would make a better choice next time.
Also, choosing ingredients whose flour is used to make Whole Wheat Cookies, Ragi Cookies, Amaranth Cookies or any other Multi-grain Millet cookies seem to be a better choice for kids.
2) White Sugar - Most biscuits contain 20-30% white sugar in a very refined form and this quantity may vary across brands. White sugar, especially for children, is not the healthiest you can offer. Cavities, increased fatigue, sugar addiction, and obesity are common health issues in the long run. Another important point to check is what kind of sugar is used?
There are different forms of sugar used for baking like liquid glucose, invert sugar syrup, corn syrup etc. High-fructose corn syrup spikes up the body insulin super fast making it dangerous for diabetics. High-fructose corn syrup in any form causes obesity and cardiovascular diseases when consumed in pharmacologic doses. Even a few drops of this is enough to sweeten the product hence it is economically beneficial for the manufacturers of these factory biscuits.
Next time, do read the label and chose brands that use a more natural form of sugar for sweetness like jaggery cookies, dates cookies, cane sugar, brown or raw sugar, honey in these baked snacks.
\
3) Invert Sugar Syrup - Inverted or invert sugar syrup is a mixture of glucose and fructose; it is obtained by splitting the disaccharide sucrose into these two components. To put it in simple words invert sugar is nothing but more of fructose. It is much sweeter than sugar and easily absorbed by the body immediately. It is added to biscuits for a smoother texture and longer shelf life. Also, it is cost effective for the manufacturers as it provides more sweetness with little quantity.
Inverted sugar is considered more harmful than sugar because in sugar our body further breaks down glucose to fructose but in this, you are consuming fructose making it go directly into the blood vessels without giving the body a chance to convert it. Hence, it has harmful effects and makes people prone to diabetes later on.
4) Vegetable Oils - Vegetable oils have been used for decades and it is the cheapest to manufacture cookies. The vegetable oils used in these factory-made biscuits are hydrogenated at very high temperatures. This process transforms oil in a liquid state to a solid state like appears like butter. It is also called as dalda or vanaspati is most places. But in the process, it creates a lot of trans-fat which is banned in most countries. The artificially produced trans fats (produced when hydrogen gas reacts with oil) as in hydrogenated vegetable oils are extremely bad for health and are a factor in causing heart diseases and cancer. So it's safest to choose a snack baked in cold pressed oils where it's mostly vegan biscuits or simple old animal fat butter as the key ingredient in making cookies. It could be an expensive choice, but they don't have trans-fats and all the bad stuff!
5) Artificial Additives & Preservatives - Additives are substances added to food to preserve flavor or enhance its taste, appearance, or other qualities. Potassium Nitrate, Iso-Ascorbic Acid, Potassium Nitrite, Sodium Ascorbate are names of some common permitted preservatives added in almost all biscuits.
Preservatives prevent or inhibit spoilage of food due to fungi, bacteria and other microorganisms.The preservatives are added to increase the shelf life but the problem is that due to the addition of these artificial ingredients the toxins are building up in our bodies. For children, it is even more harmful as the foundation of a growing body must be clean & toxin free.
6) MSG (Mono-sodium Glutamate) - MSG, also known as sodium glutamate is the sodium salt of glutamic acid. MSG is a taste enhancer. Foods sitting in the store for more than 5-6 months should still taste good when you eat them, and that is exactly what MSG helps in. It makes food taste good even when it is actually stale. It also makes you crave for more of the same stuff. It spikes up blood sugar rapidly in people prone to it. Even though it is present in small quantities, in the long run, it tends to build-up toxins.
Some companies replace Mono Potassium Glutamate (MKG) instead of Sodium Glutamate and claim 'No MSG'. MKG is equally harmful to our body. So please be very careful in reading labels before purchasing ready to eat snacks.
7) Milk Powder - Powdered milk or dried milk is a manufactured dairy product made by evaporating milk to dryness. Milk added in a dry form enhances flavor and does not decrease shelf life. So it's a great ingredient to add in baked products. However, powdered milk contains oxidized cholesterol, which is not a form of cholesterol that our body desires.Some companies also claim that powdered milk is added to all low-fat and fat-free milk in order to give it more body. And they say that there’s no way for you to tell whether or not your milk contains added dry milk because the packages are not required to list powdered milk in the ingredient list. Nevertheless, it is important to know the harmful effects of this as it causes serious ailments as Alzeihmehers disease along with obesity in the long run.
8) Raising Agents - Raising agents are additives (liquid or powder) that are there to ensure the product not only rises but also has an even texture. Common raising agents are baking powder or baking soda. These raising agents gives crispiness to the food and also increases the volume of the food by releasing gases.
These agents develop gas or colic in the body. Some of these baking powders are mixed with Aluminium sulfate so that the CO2 is only released once baked. We know Aluminium is a heavy metal and is not needed by our body. A small accumulation of such toxins regularly in growing bodies of children can later cause harmful health diseases.
Very few companies actually make cookies that are free from raising agents. Check out these chemical free cookie options from Early Foods.
9) Artificial Flavors & Colours - Flavors are additives that give food a particular taste, colour or smell and may be derived from natural ingredients or created artificially. On their own, these chemicals have no taste. But when combined with other foods, they become flavor enhancers. These artificial flavors are added in biscuits to enhance its taste and increase shelf life. Don’t be deceived with biscuits flavorings like “orange flavor”, “pineapple flavor”, “strawberry flavor”, “sour plum flavor” and the likes. Technology is so advanced that the cheaper alternative, synthetic chemicals, can be used to mimic this flavoring to be like the real thing. Most of the time, the ingredients do not include any of these mentioned fruits at all.
(Picture credit : Ithappensinindia.com)
10) Emulsifiers - Emulsifiers are compounds that increase the stability of an emulsion like allowing water and oils to remain mixed together in a stable solution. Common examples are mayonnaise, ice cream, and homogenized milk,in jelly beans, stuffed chocolates, frozen vegetables with sauces, ready-made sauces, soft cheeses and most baked products. Common emulsifiers used are lecithins, mono-diglycerides, polysorbates etc.
They increase shelf life and also the crunchiness of the biscuit. However, these emulsifiers are probable cancer-causing ingredients and hence should be best avoided.
Read more on why most baking industry uses emulsifiers?
11) Dough Conditioner & Improvers - Dough conditioner creates an enhanced environment for the growth of yeast helping to make the bread and biscuits more uniform and lighter. It is mainly used to strengthen and improve the texture of the dough and also enhance its quantity. Dough Conditioner is also known as improvers. They also make the biscuits extra crisp.
They are usually a combination of enzymes, yeast nutrients, mineral salts, oxidants and reductants, and emulsifiers. It works great for manufacturing biscuits, but by regularly eating & feeding the same to our children, we are only accumulating more toxins & chemicals in our bodies.
We hope we could spread awareness on what ingredients are used in our favorite snacks. We can't avoid eating them, but we can definitely read labels, ingredients on the packaging and make a better choice for our family.
Understanding the ingredients used in baking & their ill effects on health, Early Foods, a mom-founded premium organic food company has consciously chosen only ingredients that can only have a good health benefit. Early Foods envisions to feed natural, fresh and chemical free food to children. There is a whole range of freshly made jaggery cookies & baked vegan snacks for your child and have a uniqueness that you will all love.
This is a boon for busy parents who don’t find enough time to bake these snacks at home. Just pack them in your travel bags, and you will never feel guilty eating them.
To order, check our online store www.earlyfoods.com
We strongly believe and promote that a happy & healthy start leads to a happier future. After all, behind every healthy child stand wise choices of those parents who inculcate the healthy eating habits at a young age.
Eggs are an incredibly nutritious component of breakfast that every mother should try to include at least every other day.They contain Vitamin A, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B2, Folate, Phosphorous, Selenium, and lot of protein.
These innovative egg cups are simple to make, are in a new form & texture that your kid can cut, bite, chew & explore. Adding different vegetables and herbs to turn it into a deliciously healthy finger food for your little one.
Check out our quick 2 min video below for the procedure. Please subscribe to stay tuned for all our healthy & innovative recipes for babies & kids!
The detailed recipe & notes are given below. Let's Begin!
1) You can also use alternative ingredients instead of chopped veggies like mushrooms, broccoli, yellow & red bell peppers, chicken, etc.
2) Dry basil goes well with tomato and corn but not onion and capsicum avoid using the same on them.
3) Different herbs like thyme can be used to make innovative combinations.
]]>And variety was the key! Their staple food was made from a variety of grains, not just wheat or rice which unfortunately has occupied almost 60-80% of our daily diets. They ate millets, legumes, sprouts, cereals, dry fruits, seeds and many herbs and spices.
In this article, let’s focus on the role that millets play in the body of growing babies. Millets provide a host of nutrients, has a sweet nutty flavor, and is considered to be one of the most easily digestible and non-allergenic grains available. It is also one of the few grains that are alkalizing to the body. To summarize, millets have the following nutritional benefits
Since many of you are new to these grains, here is a brief description & nutritional benefits of each of the commonly available millets.
Foxtail millet is an extremely rich in protein & fiber. The presence of protein is higher than wheat and plays a very important role in the body of a growing baby. It also contains a high amount of lecithin and is excellent for strengthening the nervous system. The rich fiber ensures they stay full for longer and is said to be about 30 times higher in fibre when compared to rice.
Check out our organic porridge mix - Foxtail Millet Makhana / Lotus Seeds porridge
Ragi is also known as the wonder millet for babies simply because of rich calcium quantity. Calcium present in Ragi or Naachni is 10 times higher than wheat or rice, hence making it the perfect food for expecting mothers and babies. Sprouting Ragi further improves the bioavailability of nutrients and makes it much easier to digest it.
Ragi combined with veggies & dry fruits are a great weight gain food for babies.
Bajra also known as pearl millet is the richest source of iron amongst all other millets. It is 19 times richer in iron and fat when compared to rice! While phosphorous and calcium are about 2.5-3 times higher than rice. Now isn’t it obvious, which grains should become staple foods for our family?
Easy Bajra porridge can be made for babies. Check our store for more details.
Kodo millet is rich in protein, fiber and minerals and vitamins. The fiber content of the whole grain is very high. Kodo millet has around 11% protein, and the nutritional value of the protein has been found to be slightly better than that of foxtail millet but comparable to that of other small millets.
Proso millet contains high amount of lecithin. Lecithin is a compound that indirectly affects the nervous system and keeps it functioning smoothly. Proso millet is also known to strengthen nervous system of growing babies due to the rich presence of Vit B6 in it. It has the highest amount of phosphorous amongst all other millets. A single cup of proso millet provides the 24% of the body’s daily requirement of phosphorus. Phosphorus is very essential for cell building and genetic replication in the body. Also it is excellent for growing immune systems.
Barnyard Millet is a wholesome grain, rich in fibre and iron. Some varieties of barnyard millets are seen to have over 18mg of iron/100g. The rich iron content can ward of all anemia issues common in pregnant women and growing babies.
Little millet is rich in cholesterol, when consumed increases good cholesterol in the body, suitable for weight gain in kids. Little millet strengthens the body. It’s complex carbohydrates digest slowly which is keeps the baby full for longer. It is very rich in phosphorous like proso millet. One cup of little millet contains 220 mg phosphorous.
Jowar contains 8.45 milligrams of iron in every cup, or nearly 47 percent of the required daily intake of iron. This iron absorption can be increased by eating a little bit of Vitamin C (lemon, amla, oranges etc.) along with this meal of jowar. Riboflavin and Niacin are almost 20-99 times higher in Jowar than in rice.
You can check nutritional facts and charts about millets on http://milletindia.org/
Hoping this information was useful in highlighting the health benefits of millets. We really wish to revive and bring them back to our Indian plates to make the coming generation super healthy.
Joining and supporting this millet revolution is our company Early Foods. This is a mom-founded premium organic food company that envisions to feed natural, fresh and chemical free food to children. "Inspired by this very ancient Indian Food wisdom - Early Foods has come up with a whole range of freshly made organic porridge mixes for your baby. There are over 10 different varieties of porridges made from a wholesome combination of the above millets, sprouts, pulses, dry fruits, seeds. These millets are used to make organic jaggery cookies too.
Apart from using these ancient, super food millets a unique part of these porridge mixes for your baby are:
This is a boon for busy moms who don’t find enough time to make these traditional and laborious preparations at home. The instant or pre-cooked mixes are great for travel, where you can just add hot water/ milk and feed.
To order online, check our store www.earlyfoods.com
We strongly believe and promote that a happy & healthy start leads to a happier future. After all behind every healthy child stand wise choices of those parents who inculcate the healthy eating habits at a young age.
]]>
Most parents try to make this mixture at home but get frustrated as it can get a little clumpy and oily. This is because the dry fruits leave out a lot of oil when churned at high speed.
This recipe includes makhana or fox nuts or lotus seeds that are extremely light and non-oily. This is a secret ingredient when added to the remaining dry fruits absorbs all the oil and keeps the powder fine and dry.
Check out the video for a quick review. The detailed recipe is also available below for your reference.
You can even check our quick recipe video or read the detailed recipe below to know how to make these yummy pancakes.
It's very overwhelming to enter the kitchen not knowing where to start, so we have put together a few really easy recipes for dads new to the kitchen!
All these recipes are really quick and can be made under 10 mins. Anyone can cook, so just get started, and of course more practice in the kitchen will make you perfect!
Eggless Russian Salad is an assortment of colorful veggies mixed with hung curd, herbs spices. The steaming retains the flavor of the vegetables and keeps the nutrients intact. It's a super easy recipe and we hope you can give a competition to the baby’s mama;-P
Beetroot has a ton of health benefits. Beets are high in immune-boosting vitamin C, fiber, essential minerals like iron, potassium, and manganese. It has the highest sugar content of all vegetables but releases sugars very slowly into the blood. Here is a 10 min simple recipe that can be made using leftover rice. We hope your kid loves this dish prepared by you.
A smart combination of carrot and pasta in soup, allows the dish to be nutritious and also a learning opportunity for your little babies to pick and eat up the pasta on their own. The chewy pasta adds a new texture to the baby's food too! Add amla powder to replace salt in the soup.
This recipe is the most nutritious out of the lot. It has the goodness of protein-rich almonds and the iron-rich dates, combined with chocolate to make it so heavenly. There cannot be a cleverer way to get these nutrients in your toddler in the guise of a chocolate :-P. If fresh dates is not available, simple add dried dates powder to replace refined sugar.
Once the porridge mix is made, it hardly takes 5-6 mins to cook it with water or milk to make a creamy yummy slurrpy meal. Check our organic ready porridge mixes made freshly for your baby. More than 8 different variations from millets, dry fruits, seeds and veggies.
Who does not love eggs? They make the easiest breakfast option with bread. And eggs are a great way to get some vitamin D, which is normally obtained through sunshine. Seasoning with a little bit of pepper & turmeric, a little bit of garlic will add in the anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial properties too!
Aloo Poha is quick to make and whole some too. With peanuts and potatoes it is so filling for breakfast. This is best for those hurry burry mornings when you have to pack lunch for the kiddo and also get them ready. Ready in 10 mins and your work is done!
Ragi Sevviyan is like eating noodles but with a powerhouse of calcium in it. The complex carbs and fibre will ensure a tummy filled satisfied look on your naughty kid’s face.
If the dosa batter is ready, dosa is a 3-4 min affair. You can make it crispy or soft, but when we add crunchy onions in a nutritious ragi dosa batter it becomes difficult to resist.
Bananas are a very rich source of potassium and calcium.This is an easy recipe for the dads, it just needs an overnight planning of freezing ripe banana's the previous night. A filling that will leave your kid bursting with energy all day long.
Here are some organic homemade products that you can stock in your kitchen for use in these recipes. We make them fresh, so it's completely free from chemicals, preservatives or any artificial flavors.
As parents, hoping these easy recipes get you started off to share the load in the kitchen. Its not just the effort, but its a starting point to build a great relationship with your child.
Happy Feeding!
Early Foods Team
]]>
Scrambling the egg and using it in this rice recipe is a smart way to getting your kid eating the whole egg. The added veggies is a plus on fiber and essential nutrients. The best part is that if you have leftover plain rice from the last meal, you can quickly stir it up to make a quick & yummy snack. So let's get started.
This quick recipe of potato poha is a great option for kids too, especially when they are running out in a hurry for school in the morning or as a quick evening snack when they come back hungry from play.
Its good for babies too because poha or beaten rice is easy to digest and they can get their hands on the diced potatoes and try to feed a little bit on their own. So lets get started to tell you how to make this super simple dish..
]]>
1/2 Cup Mixed Sprouts of Green Moong beans & Chickpeas (chana)
1 cup - Pomegranate seeds
1 - Pear cut into small pieces
1 - Muskmelon cut into small pieces
1 - Papaya cut into small pieces
Handful of Chopped Mint Leaves(Pudina)
1/2 Tsp of Amla powder for a Tangy Taste
A pinch of Hing
If you are new to sprouting, check out the detailed method to sprout whole grains here.
]]>
So lets get started..
4 cups - Whole Wheat Flour
2 cups - Steamed Mix Sprouted Chickpeas(chana)
1/2 cup - Finely Chopped Fenugreek Leaves (Methi)
1/2 cup - Finely Chopped Spinach leaves (Palak)
A pinch - Rock Salt
1/2 to 1 Tsp - Chilli Powder
1/2 to 1 Tsp - Tumeric Powder
1/2 Tsp - Jeera Powder (Dhanajeera)
1/2 Tsp - Dhaniya or Corainder Seed Powder
2 Tsp - Oil
1/2 Pinch - Hing
Check how to sprout whole grains & legumes here.
A great lunchbox recipe for toddlers. They will never feel tired after eating such a wholesome yummy meal :-)
Try and let us know how your little ones liked it.
]]>
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cooking Time: 10 mins
Ingredients:
Method:
]]>
Eggs are not just delicious but are a rich source of protein. They can be introduced to babies around 8-9 months. But do ensure to introduce the white portion first to check for allergy and then the yolk. Once you are assured your baby does not have any allergy to egg, you can feed the whole egg for full nutritional benefits.
Most chickens are feed GMO corns, injected with growth hormones so that they big and fat quickly and are able to quickly produce eggs. So it is advised to purchase organic eggs, produced in farms that provide enough space to chickens to move around and keep them healthy without the growth hormones.
Now let's quickly get into the 5 min finger food recipe for your baby...
Salt is recommended only for 1yr plus babies.
Natural substitutes for salt (for babies): Lemon/ Amla powder. Check our store to purchase organic sun-dried Amla powder. Its a great food for immunity too.
Hope your baby enjoyed eating these peppery egg bites as much as you did.
Drop in your questions. We love to hear your thoughts.
]]>You make this recipe within 10 mins in two ways.
Serve warm, and enjoy watching the pincer grip in action :-)
]]>Ingredients:
You can buy sun-dried amla powder for flavouring your baby foods on our store. Its a great food to boost immunity too for kids.
Method:
Preparation Time: 15 mins
Total Cooking Time: 10 Mins
Serving Size: 10-12 Momos
Ingredients:
Whole Wheat Flour - 3/4th cup
Lemon/AmlaPowder - 1 or 1/2 spoon Amla Powder
Blanched & Finely Chopped Broccoli - 1/2 cup
Steamed Azuki and Green Moong bean Sprouts - 1 + 1/2 cup
Ginger paste - 1/2 Tsp
Pepper powder - 1 pinch
Finely chopped garlic - 1 Tsp
Dates puree (do not use sugar for babies) - 1 Tbsp
Cold pressed Oil of your choice - 3 Tsp
Suggestion: For toddlers use very low amount of salt, about half pinch of and preferably rock salt
Refer to a detailed procedure on sprouting whole grains on this blog.
Method:
A few things to note:
1. Since its made of whole wheat , it is important to consume it immediately and as its hot. Cold momos may get hard with a rough texture
2. Ensure you cook is a few mins extra to get the whole wheat completely cooked
3. You can also make the dough using part maida + part whole wheat. This may make it more softer and a closer resemblance to the traditional momos
Try them and give us your feedback on this yummy dish.
]]>
Read 11-reasons-to-feed-sprouted-grains-to-your-children-everyday here.
So here is 'Sprouts Dhokla, another delicious & healthy finger food for your family. Protein content becomes much higher with the combination of gram flour or besan. And adding a variety of mixed vegetables to dhokla brings in a lot of new flavour & nutrition.
Ingredients:
Green Moong beans sprouts-coarsely grounded - 1 Cup
American sweet corn - 1/2 cup
Grated Carrot - 1/4th cup
Grated Bottlegourd - 3/4th cup
Ginger - 1 Tsp grated
Asatoefida - Half pinch
Bengal Gram Flour - 2 TBSP
Tumeric powder - Half pinch
Salt (optional) Use Lemon or Amla powder to flavour
Oil - 1 Tsp
Eno (fruit salt) - 1 pinch
For the Tempering:
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1/2 tsp split black lentils (urad dal)
• 1 tsp mustard (rai) seeds
• 1 tsp cumin (jeera) seeds
• A few curry leaves
• 2 garlic pods, crushed
(Suggestion: For toddlers use very low amount of salt, about half pinch of preferably rock salt. Also, Eno is a better alternative to soda especially for babies above 1 year)
Check out detailed instructions to make sprouts using lentils here.
Method:
Hope you enjoyed this nutritious recipe.
]]>Cutlets are a favorite finger food for all children. So why don’t we use an innovative method and add a power packed punch of nutritional sprouts in them. It is also a pleasant break for the kids from the regular dal-roti-sabzi and very appetizing too. Here is a simple procedure
Preparation Time: 15 Mins
Total Cooking Time: 30 Mins
Serving Size: ~ 15 Cutlets
Ingredients :
Steamed & Mashed Kidney bean, Whole Lentils sprouts - 2 Handfuls
Big size Boiled Potatoes - 2
Medium sized Onion - 1
Chilli powder - To Taste
Black Pepper powder - To Taste
Salt (Optional) or Amla Powder
Lemon juice - 1
Coriander leaves chopped - 1 Handful
Whole wheat flour or Multi-grain flour - For Dusting and Shaping Cutlets
Note: For babies younger than 8 months, please use whole green moong sprouts and avoid Rajma or Chole. They might be heavier to digest for your baby. For older babies, start with the bigger grains slowly.
You can read our article on detailed sprouting procedure here.
Method:
]]>
Sprouting is a practice of germinating seeds that can be eaten raw or cooked. Sprouts can be germinated easily at home and we will show you how.
The germination process takes a couple of days and all you need is a bowl, muslin cloth and some water.
Note: Any vessel used for sprouting must allow water to drain from it, because sprouts that sit in water will rot quickly.
Some grains are rinsed two to four times a day, depending on the climate and the type of seed, to provide them with moisture and prevent them from souring. Each seed has its own ideal sprouting time. After three to five days the sprouts will have grown to 5 to 8 cms in length and will be suitable for consumption. If left longer they will begin to develop leaves, and are then known as baby greens. Refrigeration can be used as needed to slow or halt the growth process of any sprout.
Some important things to note:
Hope you liked this article on the basics of sprouting procedures. Feel free to ask questions or share your feedback in comments below.
]]>An important thing to keep in mind is not all babies digest sprouts easily for the first time, hence it is very important that it has to be cooked well with the combination of hing to prevent colic in babies.
Preparation Time for Sprouts: ~1 Day
Preparation Time for Khichdi: 3-4 mins
Total Cooking Time: 20 Mins
Ingredients :
Sprouted Green Moong dal (soaked) - 1 cup
Yellow Moong Dal - 1/2 cup
Rice - 1/2 cups
Ghee - 2 Tsps
Salt (Not necessary for babies less than 1 yr) : To taste for toddlers
Hing : 1 pinch
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 pinch
Garlic peeled & chopped - 3-4 pods
Coriander (chopped) - Handful
Steps for Sprouting Whole Moong Beans:
Method for Making Khichdi:
Wash the dal and rice changing waters two times
Serve it to your child after it cools down. You can feed it along with cow’s curd to maximize its nutritional value.
Drop in your comments and let us know how your little one enjoyed this nutritious khichdi.
So here are 10 Easy, Simple & Nutritious Ragi Recipes for you to make for your children :-). Click on the link.
I am sharing my personal experience with Ragi, that made me a strong believer of this grain.
As a child I remember my grandmother telling me stories of how she would make Ragi Mudde (in kannada) /Ragi Ball every day. The family would have this each morning and leave to school or work and would just not feel hungry for 5-6 hours. Its almost 10 times richer in calcium than rice or wheat. Its complex carbohydrates and fibre content makes the body spend a lot of calories just to digest it. And this is why I have heard a lot of actresses eat Ragi regularly to stay in shape too.
Now coming to me, during my pregnancy, since I was not such a big fan of milk or calcium pills (these would make me constipated). I ensured to have 1 big Ragi ball everyday with my favorite curry to meet my daily calcium requirement. I had no back or knee pains in my pregnancy journey.
Post delivery, I was hungry like crazy, as so much of food was going to my baby through breast milk. So I had to eat so much. Initially, put on a lot of weight with all the extra ghee added to my diet. But yes, once the weight started showing significantly, it was time to make a change. So I was back on the ragi ball diet for 3 months - A big palm sized ragi ball with a curry, was enough to keep me filled for a long time and burn some extra calories to help me lose weight naturally :-)
So, despite its many many healthy benefits, Ragi is still absent on our plates and I hope to help you include Ragi in your family foods as regularly as possible through these simple & quick recipes.
Please do drop your feedback once you make these recipes. Ask me questions or share your stories. I would love to hear them
Lots of Love,
Shalini
]]>Ragi being a power house of calcium, one way of naturally consuming a lot of calcium is to eat Ragi Balls or Ragi Mudde as it is called in south India. It’s a steamed ball of ragi, the size that you can hold in your palm. Have one ball every morning or afternoon with your favorite curry for a month, and you will have no signs of pains in your body. Eating a big portion is important for breast-feeding mothers is because they need to meet the calcium requirement for themselves and their baby. So do ensure you take at least 100g of Ragi powder to prepare your meal each time. The best part of this recipe is, it has a weight loss benefit to it. Eat more and Lose more body fat!
When your babies grow to 8+ months, you can even make mini balls for them which they can directly swallow.
Cooking Time – 15 mins
Ingredients:
Method:
]]>
Cooking Time: 20 mins
Ingredients:
Instructions:
]]>
Cooking Time: 10 Mins
Ingredients:
Note: You can buy Instant Organic Ragi/Naachni Flour and Dry Dates Powder for this recipe from our store. Click here to see more about them.
Method:
You can make Instant Ragi flour at home yourself. You will need to buy the whole ragi grains, wash & sundry. Roast the grains for 15-20 mins till it crackles when you bite them. Cool the grain, grind them to a fine powder. Sieve & Store for all your recipe innovations:-)
Now if you are a busy parent or really not someone who likes to work in the kitchen. You can buy 100% organic instant ragi flour, free from sugar, salt, milk powder chemicals, pesticides and added flavors, directly from our store - where we have done all the hard work for you & your little one :-)
]]>