Moms are always concerned about what their kids are eating and how much their kids are eating. Means, quantity and quality both matters alot for moms. I always have clash with my father whenever I grab my kids and start stuffing their mouth with food. He always say that I should not force the kids to eat, I should leave them, whenever they will feel hungry, they will eat by themselves. I have tried this many times but it never works for me (but only in case if I make something of their choice - mostly fried chicken, pizza and fries for my elder daughter and only fries for my little one, but no healthy food).
Anyhow, when my elder daughter was five, I decided to do this thing with her. I waited for the weekend, because I can't leave her empty stomach atleast in school days. I have never send her school without breakfast. So, on friday morning, I gave her breakfast, but I did not force her to finish. She had just a quarter cup of milk with some chocos (may be two or three tablespoons or may be less than that, but surely not more than that), and she left for school. When she came back from school, I called her to have lunch, but she denied and I did not force her. I again offered her some snacks in the evening but she denied, and again, I did not force her to eat. The same happened at the time of dinner. I asked her to have something but she was still not willing to eat anything, and again, I did not force her to eat. She went to bed, slept empty stomach. And for the very first time in my life I let her sleep without having food the whole day. And that was the time, when I burst into the tears. Though I was upset the whole day and off-course I also did not eat anything. That night i kept thinking that the idea was not as easy as it sounds (to others, not me, because for me it never sounded easy).
The night was very difficult. I woke her up in the morning. She looked at me with dull eyes. She was looking so weak and lazy. Her eyes were not bright as she always have.
I asked her if she wants to eat something. And she said, "I want to eat suji ka halwa". Suji ka halwa is a dessert made with samolina. I immediately prepared that for her. She ate few bites and that is it. She had no breakfast. At lunch time, she started eating at 2 p.m. and I did not as her to eat faster, I did not force her to finish her food and she ate only quarter tortilla in three and a half hours. Yes you read it correctly, it was half past 5 and she ate only quarter tortilla. And that was the end of my endurance.
I picked up her plate and let her play for some time.
And from that night, I again started grabbing her and stuffing her mouth with food and keep on saying, "please eat faster", "chew faster", "eat fast then we shall play", " eat faster then I will tell you story" and so on... And it still continues...
So, last week my father cooked this vegetable rice for us but specially for my both girls. My little one liked that and ate enough to fill her small stomach.
Well, I also make many vegetable rice, mainly the fried rice but I add vinegar and soy sauce in it that I think not so good for kids under 3. Second I make vegetable pulao but i use a little large diced veggies in it. My father cut vegetables in very small cubes and used no spices, but only salt, cumin and cardamom, that is all. I thought that we can add chicken stock in it instead of water to make it more healthy and it will also taste good. Well you may say that this is a simplest and easiest version of any vegetable rice and not only toddlers, all of can enjoy it.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup potatoes
- 1/2 cup carrots
- 1/4 cup capsicum
- 2 tbsp green onion
- salt (to taste)
- 2 green cardamom
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- you can use chicken or vegetable stock instead of water
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 cup rice (washed and soaked)
Method:
- Heat oil and add cumin seeds and cardamom.
- Add vegetables, cook for a minute.
- Add water (enough to cook rice) and salt. Bring it to boil then add rice.
- Cook on high flame for a minute then slow down the flame and close the lid, let it cook until rice gets done.
