Children, especially when entering the 2-year-old stage, will start to get more active and, thus, require a nutritious food intake to support their activities. As such, their meal menu needs to be healthy and varied to allow them to grow healthy while, at the same time, ensuring they will not get bored with the menu.
Of course, it is normal for a child to be picky because they have already learnt what kind of snack and preference they want. Nevertheless, parents are still needed to provide balanced and healthy meals for 2-year-olds with an interesting approach to maintain their appetite.
To make sure that your child's appetite is healthy, here are some tips and ideas for a 2-year-old dietary menu that you can try!
A Meal Idea for 2-Year-Old Children to Keep Them from Getting Bored
Before preparing the meal for 2-year-old children, you have to make sure that the ingredients and water used are clear and safe. The reason especially comes from the concern that boiling the ingredients will not fully cleanse the dangerous chemical compound that can negatively affect the child’s health.
For that reason, it is important to choose the right water for our children. In this case, AQUA is the best option because it is 100% SAFE from both physical and chemical contaminants and any pathogen.
With AQUA, which is 100% PURE for your little ones, you can present the children’s favorite menu worry-free, as the water quality is assured with the utmost quality. Now, with the AQUA prepared, let’s discover some healthy meal inspiration for 2-year-olds to keep them from getting bored
1. Vegetable Nugget
Most of the time, children tend to dislike vegetables, even though they are rich in fiber, vitamins, and other minerals necessary for their growth. Of course, to make it more appealing for little ones, you can make it into interesting and savory vegetable nuggets.
The easiest way to make this menu is by combining steamed sweet potato, along with eggs, chopped chicken, spinach, grated carrot, and chopped garlic before mixing them evenly. Then, don’t forget to pinch some salt to enrich the flavour.
Mold the mix into a flat round shape, dip it into the egg mixture, and cook it until it turns golden brown. Rinse it properly before serving with warm rice!
2. Egg Soup
Soup is always the go-to option whenever kids have no appetite. Many kids like this kind of menu since it has a savory taste and soft texture. You can make it by sautéing onions until fragrant, then adding shrimp shells and water. Wait until it boils before rinsing the shrimp stock.
Boil the stock again, add shelled corn inside, and pour the egg mixture while slowly stirring it. As it properly boils, sprinkle in salt, sugar, and powdered stock as needed. Serve while it is still warm. Also, you can add rice for the best taste.
3. Beef Pudding
Beef pudding could be a cooking idea for 2-year-olds when they are low on appetite. A tender texture, accompanied by a palatable taste, and abundant with nutrients. You can mix minced beef, eggs, garlic, onions, and water in the blender until smooth.
After that, sprinkle some salt, pepper, beef stock, soy sauce, coconut milk, and the leftover water before stirring it well. Then, pour it into a small mold and steam it for 20 minutes. Present it while still warm as a side dish or healthy snack for kids.
4. Steamed Tofu (Pepes)
Tofu is a great food option as it contains a lot of protein, omega-3, and iron that are necessary for a child's development. Therefore, you can pick it as a healthy meal option for 2-year-olds.
You can start making it by sautéing the onion and garlic with margarine until fragrant. Then, put the chicken meat and cook it thoroughly.
The next step is to add soft tofu, grated carrot, egg mix, green onion, and cornstarch. Wrap the mold with a banana leaf before pinning the edge, and steam until cooked
5. Vegetable Macaroni Omelette
To ensure that kids don't get bored with any egg-based meal, you can get creative by combining macaroni and vegetables in the meal.
Just shake the egg neatly with salt before adding steamed macaroni, minced chicken, mushrooms, peas, grated carrot, chopped broccoli, and grated cheese. Make sure to heat the margarine, pour the mixture inside, and cook it thoroughly.
6. Creamy Fried Rice
Going for another creative healthy meal for 2-year-olds is by making fried rice with the addition of milk for extra nourishment. Easy to make, you can start melting the butter, and then sauteing garlic along with ginger for a while to allow the aroma to rise.
Add some sausage, tomato, and mix it well. Put the rice in before pouring the milk. Stir it again, then toss fish sauce, sweet soy sauce, mushroom stock, and a little pinch of sugar. Start stirring it well and taste it for a bit to ensure it tastes delicious before serving.
7. Carrot Cupcake
Last but not least, a carrot cupcake is a dessert and even a healthy snack for a 2-year-old, an exceptional choice for a kid who has a slight distaste towards vegetables. You can easily make it by combining flour, baking soda, salt, and a variety of spices in a bowl.
In the other bowl, start swirling vegetable oil, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla thoroughly. Pour the flour mix periodically while keeping it stirred until there are no lumps within, and mix in the grated carrot and stir it with a spatula.
Pour the ingredients into the cupcake mold and bake it at around 170°C for 30 minutes. Get ready to munch on it as it cools down!
Additional Tips to Ensure Your Kids Eat Well
Child eating habits are not the easiest ones to predict. Thus, it is important for parents to make sure that children receive enough important nutrients and vitamins for their optimal growth.
If a child has trouble eating or even a picky eater, worry not, you can try several methods below to allow them to eat heartily:
- Made the meals fun, either through cute shapes or even colorful meals that are eye-catching. Make sure to dice the fruits and vegetables into small pieces to make it easier to eat.
- Ask them to join you during shopping, washing vegetables, and cooking. These activities will make them feel appreciated and thus encourage them to eat more.
- Allow them to choose the kind and quantity of food they want to keep meals from getting boring.
- Avoid giving them gadgets during eating sessions and, instead, create a comfortable dining atmosphere to improve their appetite. Also, create a stronger bond between family members.
- Give a proper eating habit by consuming healthy meals to motivate them to do the same.
Besides paying attention to the meal menu option, it is important to make sure that kids get the right amount of water, especially when they are having indigestion, such as diarrhea.
If your child happens to have diarrhea, choosing a safe and appropriate drink for children with diarrhea is very helpful, especially during the recovery process.
To support that, don’t forget to prepare AQUA Gallon while feeding your child to ensure that their daily mineral water needs are fulfilled. The 19-liter AQUA Gallon offers a practical and economical choice, starting from IDR1000 per liter.
What is more is that the cleanliness is guaranteed through 20 rounds of high-pressure water sanitation.
AQUA sourced from the best, protected mountain springs, strictly chosen from 9 different categories, went through 5 steps of the process, and has been researched for at least 1 year while also going through more than 600 quality parameters.
This original Indonesian product is certified halal and meets the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) and the Indonesian National Standards (SNI). AQUA is 100% Pure, 100% Indonesian, and 100% Halal. So, make sure to always prepare your AQUA Gallon at home to preserve the health of all family members!
