Lunchbox Funbox: Enticing Vegetarian Lunchbox Recipes for Kids

By Divya Rao

We all know how fussy kids are when it comes to food. Sometimes they dont like the color, particular vegetable, the shape.or sometimes its just that they dont want to eat the same thing again & again! It becomes so difficult for us as parents to cope up with such situations day in, day out especially when we have to pack our kids lunchbox that plays a vital role in their nutrition regime.

LunchBox - FunBox is a book that brings to you tantalizing, simple, tasty & easy to cook vegetarian recipes which can turn your kids LunchBox into a FunBox!!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing India
• Release date: Jun 22, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543700220

Divya Rao

Divya Rao is a hard core veggie & belongs to south India. Working as a Software professional for more than a decade. Her passion for cooking, started a way back. The aromas, the spices, the herbs, the colors always took her imaginations & experiments to a new level in the world of vegetarian food. She has published a website “dashofsalt.in” which has tantalizing vegetarian recipes from various cuisines. “Right ingredient and a right method” is always essential to prepare a perfect dish..” is what she believes in!!!

Book preview

1. Pinwheel Pepper Rollers

No baking, No frying, No cooking……Only Rolling!!!

Pinwheel sandwiches are basically prepared by rolling the bread slices that contains some sort of spread or filling. This is an ideal recipe to pack in the lunchbox when you running out of time!

Bell Peppers are an excellent source of Vitamin C which powers up the immune system. It assists health in many ways like reducing cholesterol, eases inflammation & takes care of skin health. On the other hand, protein packed cottage cheese has substantial health benefits. It is fat free and thus helps in weight management. Also helps to build bone strength.

Here I am introducing a healthy and oil-free Pinwheel Pepper Rollers

Pinwheel%20Pepper%20Rollers.jpg

Ingredients

• Green bell pepper (long & thin sliced) – 20 chopped pieces

• Yellow bell pepper (long & thin sliced) - 20 chopped pieces

• Red bell pepper (long & thin sliced) – 20 chopped pieces

• Cottage cheese / Paneer (long sliced) – 20 chopped pieces

• Dash of salt

• Cumin powder – 1 teaspoon

• Chaat powder – 1 teaspoon

• Sandwich bread (white) – 10 slices

• Tomato ketchup – 1 cup

Method of preparation

• Trim the edges of bread and keep them aside

• Dry roast cottage cheese slices on a hot pan till their they turn slightly brownish

• Take them off the flame and sprinkle a dash of salt, cumin powder, chaat powder and mix it gently so that cottage cheese doesn’t break

• Sprinkle a dash of salt & chaat powder on the bell peppers and mix it thoroughly

• Now take a trimmed bread slice, flatten it using a roller. Place 1 or 2 pieces of cottage cheese and 2 or 3 pieces of green/red/yellow bell peppers. Apply little water on 2 opposite sides of the bread

• Hold the bread slices on either sides with hands and roll them gently so that it doesn’t break in-between

• Repeat the above steps for rest of the bread slices

• Pinwheel Pepper rollers are ready

2. Crushed Popcorn Upma

Introducing you to my very own and innovative recipe called Crushed Popcorn Upma. This upma is made of crushed Popcorns tossed with veggies. Popcorn is kids’ all-time favorite. I have tried giving it a new look and feel with crushed Popcorns. Popcorn is simply a type of whole wheat corn which pops out when the corn is put in on high temperature and thus the name popcorn. Popcorn is considered as famous snack time especially during movie time! But equally, it carries many health benefits like it aids digestion due to its rich fiber content that comes from whole grain & helps reducing cholesterol.

Crushed%20Popcorn%20Masala.jpg

Ingredients

• Popcorn (plain) – 4 cups

• Onion (finely chopped) – 1 cup

• Groundnuts – ½ cup

• Coriander (chopped) – ¼ cup

• Green chillies (chopped) – 2

• Red chilli powder – 1 teaspoon

• Tamarind Pulp – ¼ cup

• Sugar – 1 teaspoon

• Water – 1 cup

• Oil – 4 teaspoon

• Mustard seeds – ½ teaspoon

• Urad dal (white lentils)– ½ teaspoon

• Jeera / cumin seeds – ½ teaspoon

• Turmeric powder – ½ teaspoon

• Asafetida (hing) – 1 pinch

• Salt as per taste

Method of Preparation

• To begin with, crush popcorns to form a coarse powder. You can crush it or grind it in mixer. Keep this popcorn powder aside

• Prepare seasoning by heating oil in a small pan. Add urad dal and groundnuts, stir it continuously till urad dal turns brown in color

• Sprinkle mustard seeds and allow them to splutter. Add cumin seeds & turmeric powder, give it a good stir

• Add chopped green chillies and add a hint of asafetida. Add onion and sauté till they turn translucent

• Put the flame off and allow it to cool

• In a big vessel, take popcorn powder. Add red chilli powder, sugar, salt & mix it well

• Now add the seasoning (prepared above) and mix the popcorn powder nicely with it

• Add tamarind