Back to school recipes - Oats Banana Date Breakfast Smoothie and Vegetable Wrap for School Lunch

I am back after what looks like a summer vacation. The schools have reopened for the new academic year after the much-needed summer break. For us, it was a very refreshing and revitalizing break because we spent a month at my parent's place. The distance and the change in routine allow us to look at our regular routine with a new pair of eyes and see what can be changed to make it better.

The daughter used to eat oatmeal cooked in milk with some cinnamon and sugar before leaving for school every day. She thought something to drink is more appropriate in the early morning and much quicker to finish in the rush to catch the school bus. I feel just drinking milk does not have the staying power to pull her through till the 9:30 am breakfast break in school. One day she, me and my mom had a casual discussion and came up with this smoothie which she is happy to drink before leaving for school.
Banana and dates add sweetness, fiber and good nutrition. Oats up the fiber content and add bulk to provide staying power.

Oat Banana and Date Breakfast Smoothie

Breakfast smoothie for kids

Ingredients:

1	regular sized banana
2	dates
1 to 1.5 tsp	oats*
1 cup	milk
a pinch	cinnamon powder

Method

• Take oats in a microwavable bowl and add enough milk to cover them. Microwave for 30 seconds.
• Meanwhile, peel and chop a banana into a small mixer jar.
• Add the cooked oats and dates and blend well till not pieces remain.
• Add the rest of the milk and cinnamon powder and blend well.
• Serve in your kid's favourite glass.

Notes:

• I use about 1.5 tsp of oats. You can reduce the amount if you want the smoothie to be less thick.
• Oats can be used without cooking but I do not like the raw taste it imparts so I cook them a little before blending.
• Cooking the oats also heats up the smoothie so it comes to room temperature. I do not like to give a cold drink to the kid so early in the morning. This is suitable for winter mornings too.
• A hand blender also works well instead of using a mixer.

This vegetable wrap was also a product of the 3 of us brainstorming. I love that my daughter is beginning to come up with ideas for dishes that she would like to eat and that she is trying to include vegetables in her diet. :)

Veggie wrap for school lunch

veggie wrap for kids school lunch

Ingredients:

1	regular roti
1	boiled potato
1 tbsp	cooked corn
1 or 2	leaves of lettuce
1 tbsp	sliced capsicum
1 tsp	sliced onion

Method

• Make a thin roti as usual and spread about 1/2 tsp on ghee on it.
• Mix rock salt and cumin powder with the boiled and mashed potato.
• On the ghee roti, spread the boiled potato and arrange 1 or 2 lettuce leaves depending on their size.
• Sprinkle corn, capsicum and onion in the center of the roti. Sprinkle a pinch of chaat masala on top.
• Fold a small section of the roti from the bottom up to prevent the stuffing from falling from one end. Then roll the rest of the roti.
• Wrap with paper and place in the lunch box.

Notes:

• Some green chutney can also be applied if the kid likes it.
• I have switched to paper wraps from aluminium foil.