Easy 30 Indian Lunch Ideas for Toddlers
It is not easy to have ideas for school lunches every day. Kids are fussy eaters and it is very difficult to find healthy school lunch ideas that are tasty for kids. Parents should prepare a healthy and nutrient-dense lunch for their kids that will fill their little tummies while giving a power boost of nutrition. This is going to be the ultimate guide for parents looking for Easy 30 Ideas for School Lunches over the Internet.
Quick and Healthy Lunch Ideas
For parents who want kid lunch ideas for school that can be quickly made and are healthy at the same time, these options are going to be the most suitable.
1. Fresh Fruit Salad
Tasty mixed fruit salad is going to be the best option for those kids who do not finish their lunches. Parents can cut various fruits in different designs to make the fruit salad for kids look more appealing. Parents should try to add fruits of various colors to give a boost of vitamins and minerals to their children.
2. Easy Pasta Salad for Kids
Parents can prepare a healthy veggie-loaded pasta salad for their child’s lunch. You can make this pasta with some boiled pasta of your choice, veg mayonnaise, simple spices as per taste, some boiled corn, and sautéed mushrooms. This healthy pasta is a very convenient way of feeding vegetables to the kids, that they don’t eat otherwise.
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3. Peanut Butter and Banana pancake
Kids have a sweet tooth and what can be a better lunch than healthy Peanut Butter and Banana pancakes? You can make these pancakes by adding flour of your choice, milk, butter, and chocolate chip cookies together. The choice of ingredients and quantity can vary depending on the kid’s personal choice and taste.
4. Vegetable Poha
Poha is made up of rice grains that are easy to digest and provide quick energy. Parents can make this even healthier with the addition of their choice of veggies like peas, capsicum, and fried peanuts.
Sandwiches for Lunch
Sandwiches are one of the most loved ideas for school lunches. Not only are they easy to make but also very filling for kids. Parents can try these sandwiches for their kid’s lunch.
5. Pizza sandwich
Every child is fond of pizzas and this sandwich is a healthy version of pizza. Parents should use whole wheat bread for making sandwiches because they are a healthier alternative to white bread. With the choice of veggies like capsicum, onion, paneer, and mushroom loaded with lots of cheese it is surely going to be a tasty and healthy delight for kids.
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6. Veg Mayo Sandwich
This is a quick recipe that can be made by adding chopped vegetables like cucumber, lettuce, and tomatoes in mayo and then using this paste to make the filling for the sandwich. It does not even require cooking. This sandwich option is a time-saving, easy-to-make, and filling lunch option for kids.
7. Potato Sandwich
This sandwich is made by making boiled potatoes, adding spices, and then mixing everything all together. This potato mixture is to be put on one piece of bread and then has to be covered with another piece of bread. After this, it can be grilled on a pan or in the sandwich maker. Parents can pack this potato sandwich with tomato ketchup for a healthy and filling lunch.
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Creative Lunch Boxes
The creative lunch box is a fun and easy way to fill kid’s lunches with nutrient-dense food items. Parents can customize this box to their kid’s liking. Following are some examples of creative lunch boxes:
8. Veg Biryani with Raita
Every kid’s dream lunch is Biryani and parents can add a lot of vegetables for the extra nutrients. Raita goes very well with Biryani. Raita like boondi raita, aloo raita, or pineapple raita will surely become every kid’s favorite lunch. Parents can use thick curd to make raita to increase the protein amount in the diet of their kid.
9. Parathas with Yogurt
Kids are very fond of parathas. Parents can choose the filling of the paranthas for alternate days like making aloo paratha one day and paneer paratha another day. Paratha served with yogurt and pickle will become every child’s all-time favorite lunch.
10. Kathi roll with lots of veggies
Kathi roll is an easy-to-make dish. It is made by making one or two chapatis as per a kid’s appetite. After making rotis, parents can apply their kid’s choice of sauces like green chutney, tomato ketchup, or tandoori mayo. And then, After applying a layer of sauces, the roti can be filled with a choice of veggies, paneer, and then some cheese. After preparing it, the rotis can be folded and a butter paper can be used to keep the roll in shape.
Vegetarian Options
11. Soya Pulao with onion Raita
Soybean chunks are a good source of protein. To make soya pulao, sauté some onion and tomatoes in oil, then add spices of your choice, soybean chunks, and rice. This easy-to-make recipe can be cooked in a pressure cooker in just 20 minutes. This recipe goes pretty well with onion raita. It is a nutrient-rich kid lunch idea for the school that kids will delight in.
12. Veggie Upma
Veggie upma is a good option for kids’ lunches because it is easy to make, flavorful, and nutritious. To make veggie upma, parents can use roasted rava or suji. Any vegetable of choice can be added to this recipe like peas, capsicum, carrots, etc. The texture of upma with softly cooked veggies makes it a recipe worth trying. It is easy to digest, a quick energy-providing recipe for a kid’s lunch.
13. Carrot, Onion, Tomato Uttapam
Uttapam is a South Indian dish that is very similar to English pancakes. It is made with rice and lentil batter that is fermented overnight. It is going to be very delicious and healthy for kids’ lunch ideas for school. The uttapam can be topped with a choice of vegetables like carrot, onion, and tomato.
Special Day Lunches
There are some special days in a kid’s life like birthday parties, potluck, and festival celebrations and on such days kids expect a special lunch from their parents. Parents can make these recipes on the special occasion of their kids:
14. White Sauce Pasta
This cheesy creamy delicacy is the perfect dish to be made on a special occasion. To make this recipe healthier, parents can choose whole wheat durum wheat pasta instead of maida pasta. Add a lot of veggies and cheese to make the white sauce pasta even more delicious.
15. Bread Pakora with Ketchup
Big celebrations call for special dishes. Bread pakora is a deep-fried dish but a healthier version of this dish can be made in an air-fryer or can be shallow fried instead of deep frying. Parents should use whole wheat bread to make these bread pakoras. Bread pakoras taste good with tomato ketchup or green chutney.
16. Paneer Cutlet
Paneer cutlets are indeed one of the best Ideas for School Lunches. And, Paneer has a good amount of proteins, calcium, and various important nutrients. To make this dish even healthier, parents should use less amount of oil in making it. Making paneer cutlets in an air fryer can also be a good option. Parents can also add some finely chopped veggies in cutlets to increase the amount of fiber.
17. Rajma Rice
This delicacy is one of the most loved lunch recipes of north Indian cuisine. Not only is this dish a staple food in every Indian household, but it is also super filling and protein-rich. This recipe can consume some time and it is advisable to soak the kidney beans or rajma overnight to cook it easily in less time.
18. Dosa with Coconut Chutney
Dosa is a nutrient-dense, easy-to-digest, low-fat balanced meal that deserves to be on the list of healthy school lunch Ideas. Parents can prepare the batter for dosa one night before for their convenience in the morning. Dosa goes well with coconut chutney and sambar. Parents can prepare this recipe, to their kid’s liking.
19. Pav Bhaji
A tasty dish that can be made of as many veggies as wanted. To make bhaji parents can use veggies like potato, tomato, peas, and cauliflower. After cooking all these veggies together and mixing pav bhaji masala with them, mash the veggies together to make a smooth bhaji. Instead of using maida pav buns, parents can opt for healthy whole wheat pav buns.
20. Butter Garlic Fried Rice
Fried rice is an easy-to-cook dish that can be made with a choice of spices and veggies. Parents can use red and yellow bell peppers to make the fried rice look more colorful. Fried rice tastes delicious when sauteed in butter. Parents can adjust the spices according to their kids. If Schezwan sauce is available, use it to add a distinct flavor to fried rice.
Easy-to-Pack Salads
Salads are easy-to-digest, nutrient-rich lunch options. If parents are bored with the usual lunch options or want their kids to try something new, these salad options will soon become their next favorite.
21. Boiled Chickpea and Potato Salad
To make this easy salad parents have to just boil some chickpeas with potatoes. After peeling the potatoes and cutting them into small pieces, parents can add the boiled chickpeas, chopped onions, tomatoes, chaat masala, and lime juice. This power-packed lunch is going to be energy-giving for the kids throughout the day.
22. Boiled Peanut and Raw Mango salad
In the summer season, combine boiled peanuts with chopped raw mango and added spices to make a flavorful salad, which is not only a refreshing summer lunch but also a great source of protein for vegetarians.
Pulao Options
Pulao is an easy-to-make recipe that can be customized as per the choice of a kid’s liking. Down below are the Pulao options that are Healthy School Lunch Ideas for kids:
23. Cashew & Peas Pulao
Kids love cashews and they are a healthy source of fats for kids. It is an easy recipe where you fry cashews in ghee until they turn golden in color. This one-pot recipe involves mixing all the ingredients and spices in a pressure cooker. After 2 whistles, it is ready to eat.
24. Mix Beans Pulao
To make this pulao, parents can soak kidney beans, chickpeas, and black grams overnight. This dish can be prepared in a pressure cooker by sauteing onions and tomatoes in desi ghee. Then the soaked pulses can be added accompanied with rice, water and spices. After 2 whistles on the pressure cooker, this mixed bean pulao will be ready to eat.
25. Tawa Pulao
Tawa Pulao is a very quick and tasty lunch option for kids. To make tawa pulao, parents can cook basmati rice and set it aside. After that parents can Saute mixed vegetables like bell peppers, peas, and carrots in butter or oil with cumin seeds and pav bhaji masala. Add the leftover rice to these veggies, and the key ingredient that gives this recipe its taste is pav bhaji masala. After adding all the ingredients, give it a thorough mix, and the tasty and flavorful recipe is ready to be packed for the kid’s lunch.
Protein-Packed Picks
Protein is one of the most important nutrients that should be in every kid’s diet for their physical and mental development. Below down are protein-rich lunch options that are not just healthy but so delicious that every kid will fall in love with these healthy recipes.
26. Besan ka Chilla
Besan ka chilla is a nutritious option for a kid’s lunch. And, Besan is rich in protein, fiber, and several vitamins and minerals. These chillas are easy to digest. Parents can add finely chopped vegetables like spinach, tomatoes, and carrots to boost the nutritional value of the chillas. Besan ka chilla tastes best when served with a side of yogurt or chutney for a balanced and satisfying meal.
27. Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich
A Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich is a nutritious choice for a kid’s lunch. Peanut butter is rich in protein and healthy fats. Jelly, preferably made from real fruit, adds a touch of sweetness and some vitamin C. Parents should choose whole-grain bread over white bread to boost fiber content, aiding digestion and providing energy throughout the day. To make these sandwiches parents should use a preservative-free peanut butter that has no added sugar. Parents can add strawberries or bananas in the middle of the sandwich if their kid prefers it that way.
28. Paneer Tikka
One of the most famous starters of Indian cuisine is paneer tikka. This dish is full of flavor and protein and can also be given to kids for lunch. It is easy to make this dish by just marinating the small paneer cubes in preparation with yogurt and spices as per taste. Grill or sauté these cubes until they turn golden brown. This paneer tikka can be served on its own with green chutney, or you can also make a wrap with it.
29. Soya kabab
Soybean chunks are full of protein, and you can make tasty veg kebabs with a combination of soybean chunks, mashed potatoes, and spices. After mixing all these ingredients, parents just have to make them into the favorite shape of their kids like a heart shape, or a smiley shape, and then just shallow fry these kebabs in oil. With kebabs, parents can make mint yogurt chutney for Healthy School Lunch Ideas.
30. Palak Paneer & Chapati
Parents who have tried to feed green veggies or spinach to their kids know about the hardship that comes with feeding kids these veggies. Serving kids’ palak paneer is a sneaky way of feeding kids spinach, which they will not eat otherwise. Spinach is a good source of iron, and paneer is a good source of protein. Together they make a perfect dish full of flavors and essential nutrients. Parents can serve palak paneer in lunch with chapatis, pooris, or parantha as per the kid’s choice making it a balanced lunch option for school.
Conclusion
Incorporating these diverse and nutritious lunch ideas into a child’s school routine will ensure that they enjoy balanced, healthy meals every day. From quick and creative sandwiches to protein-packed dishes and easy-to-pack salads, these 30 lunch ideas will keep your kids satisfied and energized throughout the school day.
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