Healthy Bites To Help Kids Focus Better

Exams are around the corner and often good nutrition slides down the priority list when all we can think about is studying. As you train your brain to run the exam marathon, you need to fuel it with well-balanced food.

Today I am going to share with you 4 delicious and nutritious brain-boosting recipes, which not only help in sharpening the brain but also provide the necessary nutrients to the body.

Wishing all the children who are going to write exams all the very best.

Almond Drink/Badam ka Harira

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 Tbsp Raw Rice, (I used Basmati)
• 15 Almonds
• 1 Tbsp. Dry Coconut Powder
• 1 Tbsp. Ghee
• 2 Cloves
• 1 1’ Inch Piece Cinnamon
• 1 Cardamom
• 3 Tbsp. Sugar
• 200ml Milk

Method

• Boil the milk to boil and let it cool down to room temperature.
• Thoroughly wash and soak raw rice for ½ an hour.
• Soak almonds for 2-3 hours. Peel the skin and set aside.
• Drain the water from rice. Put the rice, almonds and coconut in the mixer jar and grind to a smooth paste by adding little water.
• Now place a clean kitchen or muslin cloth over a big bowl and empty contents of the jar. Bring the ends of the cloth together and squeeze the liquid. Repeat the process for 2-3 times by adding little water to the contents of the cloth. Set the liquid aside.
• In a pan, heat the ghee and add the cloves, cardamom and cinnamon stick. Fry for a second and reduce the flame. Now slowly add the collected liquid. Stir continuously to avoid lumps until the liquid thickens and turn into a smooth paste.
• Stirring continuously, add in milk and then the sugar. Bring this to boil and turn off the flame.
• Our badam ka harira is ready. Serve warm or chilled by garnishing with chopped almonds.

Note: You can either use fine sieve instead of cloth to extract the liquid from the above ground ingredients.

Date-Walnut Truffles

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 Cup Walnuts
• 1 Cup Dates, pitted and chopped
• ¼ Cup Almonds
• ¼ Cup Cashews
• 2 Tbsp. Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
• Icing Sugar for dusting

Method

• In a mixer jar, coarsely pulse the walnuts and almonds. Then add the chopped dates.
• Pulse for 10 seconds and remove into a greased bowl. (Grease a bowl with 2-3 drops of butter) Then add the semi-sweet chocolate chips. Mix gently.
• Smear your hands with a drop of butter and then start rolling the mix into golf size balls.
• Roll the balls in the icing sugar and coat them evenly
• Place each ball in a muffin liner and place in the fridge for 4-5 minutes.
• Your healthy snack is ready.

Besan-Oats Ladoo

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 Cup Besan/Chickpea Flour/Senaga Pindi
• ½ Cup Oats
• ¾ Cup Powdered Sugar
• ¼ Tbsp. Cardamom Powder
• ¼ Cup Ghee
• 1-2 Tbsp. Pistachio, coarsely powdered

Method

• In a heavy bottom cooking vessel, dry roast the oats for 2-3 minutes on medium flame. Remove and let it cool on a plate. Once cool grind to a fine powder of it.
• Use the same pan, dry roast the besan on medium flame until the raw smell disappears. It will take 10-12 minutes for the colour of besan to start changing. You will get a nice roasted aroma of besan.
• Turn off the flame and add powdered sugar and cardamom powder. Mix gently using a wooden spoon and set aside.
• Now add the melted hot ghee spoon by spoon.
• Gently fold roasted oats powder also.
• When the mixture is slightly cool to handle, grease your hands with ghee and shape them into ladoos.
• Sprinkle coarsely powdered pistachio or any nut of your choice and serve.

Fruit & Yoghurt Parfait

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 Oranges, peeled and white pith removed
• ½ Cup Pomegranate Seeds
• 1 Cup Yoghurt
• 1 Tbsp. Honey
• 2-3 Drops Vanilla Essence
• 2-3 Tbsp. Ragi/Finger Millet cereal
• 1 Tbsp Almonds, chopped
• 1 Tbsp Raisins

Method

• Whip the yoghurt with honey and vanilla essence.
• In a glass, start the layers with sliced oranges, pomegranate seeds, yoghurt mix, ragi cereals, almonds and raisins. Repeat the layers if necessary.
• Cool in the fridge for a bit or you can serve immediately.

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