Winter Foods, Meals, Dinner Ideas for Children's

Best Winter Foods, Meals for Toddlers

1 to 3 years

Created by Puja Sharma Vasisht
Updated on Nov 24, 2017

The temperatures are dropping and the nip in the air is welcome after the hot, dusty summer. Preparing for the cold months must be at the top of your mind, especially if you have a young child. A balanced, nutritious diet plays a very important role in building your toddler’s immunity, and keeping him warm during winter. Read on to find out what are some foods you must give your baby this winter.

Winter Food or Meal Ideas for Children's

During winter, the calorie needs go up in order to maintain the body heat. Your kid might feel hungrier than he normally does. That said, it is important to not indulge in highly fatty foods and sweets. Here are some tips on winter foods for your child.

Keep up the proteins:Include high protein foods in your toddler’s diet.
- The high protein content in foods like eggs, dairy, soy and sprouts helps in raising body temperature
- This is because the body has to work harder to absorb these proteins compared to carbohydrates or fats. So body uses and creates more heat
- Add proteins first thing to the breakfast as boiled or poached eggs, sprouts or a besan cheela
Vitamin C rich foods: Vitamin C helps boost immunity and its regular intake helps to keep seasonal flu, cold, cough away.
- Include amla, citrus fruits like oranges, lemon, sweet lime, capsicum, guava in your toddler’s daily diet
- Amla can be given in candied form or its juice can be added to any fresh fruit or vegetable juice
Vitamin D: According to a study, vitamin D deficiency is related to low immunity and occurrence of upper respiratory tract infections, cold, cough.
- Include fatty fish like herring, salmon, trout and whole eggs in your child’s diet
- If you’re a vegetarian, then include some butter/butter oil, fortified milk, and cereals in your toddler’s meals
- Consult your child’s pediatrician for vitamin D supplements
Ginger: For centuries, ginger has been used for its medicinal properties.
- Ginger helps in cold, flu, cough and even asthma (Herbal Medicine-Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition)
- You can add a little ginger juice to the glass of milk your little one drinks
- Ginger can be added practically to all foods including curries, soups, dals, even desserts
- You can also try giving ginger candy to your toddler
Carrots: These are a winter favorite. So make sure your toddler has a carrot every day in some form or the other.
- One carrot almost provides for a day’s requirement of vitamin A of a toddler
- Beta carotene or vitamin A of these carrots is not only a strong antioxidant but also has a direct role in functioning of the immune system
- You can give your child carrots in soup, vegetable, halwa or kheer form
Sesame and flaxseeds: These foods are traditionally consumed for the warmth/heat they generate in our body after ingestion.
- These are also excellent source of omega-3 fats, vitamin E which help in keeping up the immunity during winters
- You can roast and grind these seeds and add over porridge, soups
- You can even use Tahini sauce (sesame sauce) on chapattis, bread or as a dip for vegetable sticks
Nuts: Since your child will feel hungrier in the winter months, give her some nuts like walnuts, almonds, peanuts, pistachio to snack on.
- These generate heat in body and provide essential nutrients too
- You can make chikis, or add them to any dessert or porridge your little one eats
- You can even powder them and add to milk
Dried fruits: Dates, raisins, figs, prunes and other dried fruits are power houses of energy for your children during winter.
- Give these at least once a day to provide extra energy, nutrients like iron to keep up the hemoglobin levels (anemics feel colder)
- The high fiber content in dried fruits will prevent constipation common in winters
Jaggery: You can include jaggery instead of white sugar wherever possible in your child’s diet.
- Jaggery boosts immunity as it contains antioxidants, and zinc
- Provides relief from symptoms of cold and cough
- Jaggery is rich in iron, and can prevent your child from becoming anemic
- The high fiber content prevents constipation
Soups: Nothing can beat the warmth of a bowl of hot soup on a winter evening.
- Vegetable soups provide loads of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants
- You can make any of these for your little one - a mixed vegetable, tomato-carrot, spinach-pea or a chicken or mutton soup
- Add an egg yolk or some moong dal to enhance its nutritional value along with a dash of ginger

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This winter keep your little one healthy, and infections at bay by following a healthy, wholesome diet. Make sure your toddler is always well hydrated. Have a wonderful, and cozy winter !

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Have any toddler diet tips for the winter season? Share them with us in the comments section!