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Kids' food? Child's play!

Tired of thrusting food down your child's throat? Experiment a bit. You can steal the thunder from junk food yet, and happiness might just be a bite away

LURE OF THE PIZZA With intelligent substitution, tasty temptations need no longer be unhealthy choices PHOTO: VINO JOHN

Many years ago, we used to hum along, "Hum Bhi Agar Bachhe Hote, Naam Hamara Hota Paplu Aur Khane Ko Milte Laddoo... " Yes, childhood is that time of life when the world stops for your whims. You eat what you want, you play when you want. And study when you must.

But we are not children anymore, and realise that some of the joys of childhood do not necessarily translate into lasting happiness in adulthood. Distance in time diminishes emotion and one realises that a good childhood has to be a well-guided one, well-directed one, not necessarily killing the fun but channelling the energy in the right direction. And since, "you are what you eat", we should spend some dedicated time on kids' food. Yes, it should be rich in nutrients and all the vital minerals they need to grow up, but importantly it should be fun too. A bland plate is unlikely to attract a child just as a colourful meal, deficient in nutrition is unlikely to do him any good.

Stick to the basics

Rather than going in for fancy experimentation, if we stick to the basics in kids' food, it will be good enough. The right quantity of protein, the right amount of carbohydrates, just right in vitamins. And if it is topped with a lot of kid fun, then bingo! You have the best formula in town!

One way of doing it is to just get creative, in moderation though. Experiment with ingredients and create something that will be fun to eat and also take care of the daily intake of your child's dietary requirements. Learn to involve your child in preparation.

Some improvisation

Can't experiment much? Go ahead, steal ideas! If your kid is a lover of the so-called junk food then just steal that idea and try to change junk food into healthy fun food. All you have to do is change the ingredients and cooking method.

Change the deep fat fried vegetable patty inside the vegetable burger to a grilled vegetable and tofu patty. Add a lot more of salad to that and you are done.

Cut out scoops of papaya and put them in a fancy glass with some badam thandai and you are ready to invite the kids. Ice cream can take a beating here.

Just dip banana in chocolate and let it cool, kids will run after you.

Just make your own pizza base from soya parantha and top it with the season's fresh vegetables and low fat cheese, and you have everything ready.

Still not enough? Then just try filling golgappas with tangy bean sprouts minus the spicy water.

Then? No more running after the kids to feed them, kids will run after you to be fed.

Now an idea kids may not have heard about: Chicken ki jalebi

This is one fun food idea in which you can involve the kid too, with precautions of course. Kids sure love to make a jalebi of everything.

Chicken ki Jalebi

Ingredients

200 gms lean chicken fine mince
50 gms powdered soya flakes
1 tablespoon garlic paste
1 tablespoon ginger paste
Salt to taste
1/2 teaspoon green chilly paste
2 tablespoons fresh cream
1 egg white
1 teaspoon garam masala powder
1 tablespoon mint and coriander paste
2 tablespoons oil

Method

Just tell your kid to mix everything together nicely and well. Heat tawa to medium intensity and grease it with some oil. Take a clean kitchen cloth and make a small hole, of pencil thickness, in the middle, just like the jalebi cloth.

Put a portion of the chicken mix in it and hold it firmly on the hot tawa. Squeeze and make jalebis on the tawa in round motion with your or the child's hand. When done on one side, turn over to the other side, till it is all golden brown.

Remove and serve with sauce of your choice.

RAKESH KUMAR

(The author is Executive Chef, Crowne Plaza.

He can be emailed at chefrk@crowneplazadelhi.com)

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