New Delhi: Children often crave potatoes, yet many are overweight these days. Doctors frequently advise keeping them away from sugar and carbs, recommending the avoidance of potatoes in their meals. However, if your child refuses to eat without potatoes, try preparing dishes using raw bananas instead. They have a texture similar to potatoes and are highly nutritious. Once your child develops a taste for them, you achieve two goals at once: you avoid the risk of weight gain associated with potato-heavy meals while ensuring the child gets adequate nutrients from simple foods. Raw bananas are rich in iron—a nutrient young children often lack—so consider incorporating them into your child’s diet in these five ways.
How to Make ‘Chokha’ (Mashed Banana)?
If your child insists on potatoes, boil raw bananas and mash them with a tempering of onion, garlic, and cumin seeds to make ‘chokha’. The child will likely mistake it for potato, and your mission will be accomplished.
How to make Raw Banana Paratha?
If you usually pack potato ‘parathas’ for your child’s lunchbox, try preparing the stuffing by boiling, mashing, and sautéing raw bananas instead of potatoes. To ensure the taste appeals to your child, add ingredients they enjoy, such as ‘paneer’ (cottage cheese) or peas. They will eat it happily without noticing much difference in taste.
How to make Long Fries?
If you have been serving potato French fries, switch to making fries from raw bananas. For a healthier version, fry them briefly in oil and then finish cooking them in an oven or air fryer. Serving raw banana fries instead of potato fries is a healthier option for children.
How to Knead into Dough for Rotis?
To help your child get used to the taste of raw bananas, boil the bananas and knead the pulp into the flour to make *rotis* or *parathas*. This not only makes the *rotis* soft but also introduces a unique flavor that the child is likely to enjoy. Raw Banana Cutlets
Prepare raw banana cutlets for your child. To bind the mixture, add a little gram flour (besan), and mix in some mashed paneer to enhance the flavor. Season with salt, coriander, chili, and a few crushed spices; shape the mixture into cutlets, cook them on a griddle (tawa), and serve. This snack will help encourage healthy eating habits in your child.
