A Week Of Vegetarian Lunch Ideas and Recipes For Toddlers (Indian Inspired)

In today’s post, I am sharing a week’s worth of Vegetarian Lunch Ideas and Recipes For Toddlers in an Indian context. These meals are designed to be nutritious and toddler-friendly while incorporating a mix of Indian flavors and ingredients:

As a family that embraces dietary diversity, we honor both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food options. While I am a vegetarian, my husband enjoys meat-based dishes. When it comes to feeding our toddler, we offer him a variety of culinary experiences that reflect our preferences and Indian culture.

While we introduce our little ones to a range of delicious foods, our everyday meals are predominantly vegetarian, in line with my commitment to promoting plant-based nutrition and sustainable eating practices.

We believe in exposing our toddler to different cuisines to develop a broader palate and appreciate different cultures. Whether it’s savoring a comforting bowl of Italian pasta, enjoying the vibrant flavors of Mexican bowls and quesadillas, or indulging in the aromatic spices of Chinese stir-fries and fried rice, these culinary adventures add a delightful dimension to our family’s mealtimes. However, at the heart of our culinary comfort lies Indian food, which reflects our cultural heritage and holds a special place in our hearts.

If you have checked my Lunchbox ideas post and liked it, today I am sharing part 2 of it with more focus on Indian quick meals.

These Lunch ideas are

• Vegetarian (lacto-ovo). “Lacto-ovo” vegetarian diet includes dairy products (lacto) and eggs (ovo) while excluding all types of meat, including fish and poultry.
• Quick to prepare, most of them are one-pot meals
• I try my best to provide a well-balanced meal plate that includes protein, grains, healthy fats (like sprinkling olive oil on veggies), vegetables, and yogurt.
• I focus on Offering sides along with the main meal as it helps me create a colorful and inviting plate and encourages mt toddler to try a variety of foods, fostering healthy eating habits and positive mealtime experiences. Foods that are not always a hit with my toddler, I offer them as a side, encouraging gentle exposure and the opportunity to develop their taste preferences gradually.

The million-dollar question- does my toddler eat everything that is offered on the plate? It happens rarely, but he eats a little bit of everything or prefers to eat one food completely and asks for a refill, or at times food goes untouched. All of this is normal and I try not to stress about the quantity and focus more on offering variety and creating a positive mealtime experience.

You might also like these related posts:

• Lunchbox Ideas for Daycare
• 2 Year Old Toddler Snack Plate Ideas
• Toddler Sick Day Ajwain Rice Recipe
• Oats and Banana Pancake Recipe
• Ragi Blueberry Smoothie Recipe

A Week Of Vegetarian (lacto-ovo) Meal Ideas For Toddlers

1. Chickpea Curry with Rice and Roasted Veggies

Chickpea Curry with rice

Oven Roasted Cauliflower and Zucchini Recipe

2. Coconut Rice with Beetroot Raita

Veggie load Coconut Rice Recipe HERE

Beetroot Raita Recipe

Beat Yogurt or curd in a bowl now mix in grated steamed beetroot, chopped onions, pepper and salt to taste. Mix everything and enjoy!

3. Spinach Upma with Ghee Roasted Paneer

Upma (I add onions, cashews, finely chopped spinach, and broccoli florets). If my toddler is not eating it, I sprinkle some sugar on it.

Ghee Roasted Paneer Recipe

In a pan, melt some ghee, and add paneer cubes to it. Cook it until both sides of the paneer are slightly browned. 

4. Dal rice with Boiled Eggs

Tomato Dal with rice and ghee

Boiled Eggs (I mix half of the yolk in the rice at times)

5. Carrot and Beetroot Paratha, French Beans Curry

Carrot Beet Paratha Recipe HERE (check the post caption for the detailed recipe)

French Beans and Asparagus Curry Recipe HERE

Yogurt

6.  Veggie load Sambar Rice, Kale Chips and Yogurt

Veggie load Sambar (we add carrots, radish, bottle guard, onions, okra, and brinjal). I used to give Sambar veggies to V as a baby as a part of BLW, he loves eating the carrots and radish since then.

Kale Chips

7. Panner Paratha with Black Beans

Deep brand Frozen paratha (on days we don’t have time to cook, we survive on these parathas, they taste really good)

Homemade Black Beans (I either freeze-soaked beans or cook them and freeze them; they come in really handy on busy workdays + zero waste)

Always consult with a pediatrician or a pediatric dietitian if you have any specific concerns or dietary restrictions for your toddler.

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