Mom: Good morning, how’s your day going? How’s Anaaya and is she taking those protein rich foods vegetarian that we discussed the other day?
Me: I am fine Mom; these things are planned for the day. Anaaya is doing fine, just gets a bit tired. Her Annual Sports Day practice is going on in the school.
Mom: I have told you; you need to take really good care of her diet. She is a growing child. She needs proper nutrition. When you were small, I took extra care and you really need to keep a check on this.
Me: Mummy, I take care of her diet requirements. I know protein rich foods along with other growth nutrients are important for her growth.
Mom: She looks so weak; I really doubt it!
Me: Don’t worry Mummy, thoda toh bharosa rakho. She is eating well. When you come next, check it for yourself. I always keep your list of protein rich foods for vegetarians in mind, trust me! Love you.
Sounds like a familiar situation all moms face irrespective of how old your kid is, right?
Well, my mom isn’t wrong! A well-balanced diet is important for everyone, be it an adult or a child to keep us healthy. Every component of food – carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals, fats and water; provides us with nutritional benefits and we can’t discount the part they play in our growth and development. One of the components i.e. protein plays a vital role when it comes to the growth of a child.
Protein is essential for building muscles. That’s the reason they are called the building blocks of life. It helps in repair of body and supports body functions. It helps in generation and regeneration of cells, helps in wound healing, blood replenishment, growth of hair and nails, to name a few. It also helps in strengthening your immune function. As a result, proteins do play a crucial role in a child’s growth and development.
Being a vegetarian, the concern of incorporating protein rich foods vegetarian is always there for any mother at the back of her mind because, unlike people who eat eggs and meat, our sources are limited with high protein content. Not to forget the biggest fact that kids are picky eaters.
Like every lock comes with a key, never underestimate the power of an Indian Mom. She is the powerhouse of information she has inherited through generations. My mom always shares her tips and lists which can help me from time to time, reinforcing whenever any health concern comes in.
I am sharing this pitaara with my friends today.
The 4 protein rich foods vegetarian which I offer to Anaaya are as follows:
1. Milk:
Well, this is the first food which a child gets familiarised with right from birth. Its mother’s milk then supplements if required. Then the progress happens to other food products. Milk forms an important part of my daughter’s diet too. In the beginning I have faced tough times when it came to milk but it’s a story for another day.
Milk and milk products like curd, paneer should always be part of a child’s diet as it is a good quality protein among the vegetarian protein options.
I was a fussy milk drinker so I ensure Anaaya gets her dose the way she likes. Today we have so many options to enhance the milk flavour and that acts as an nutrition provider too. She loves her milk with Complan which has 34 vital nutrients including 100% milk protein and contains 63% more protein than other nutrition drinks. Awesome right? It also supports 2x faster growth in kids and supports memory and concentration.
2. Lentils & Pulses:
This forms a daily part of the diet in any Indian household. There is always a portion of your dal or pulses in your food plate. If you like it with rice or roti, this is always preferred over vegetables by all the fussy eaters at home and a healthy protein rich foods vegetarian option.
When a cup of lentils is combined with cereal it not only increases the appetising factor but also the nutritional content.
3. Nuts:
To make your child eat nuts requires some effort. However, nuts are a healthy snacking option and a good source of protein rich foods for vegetarians. The protein content across nuts is different however, a small quantity is good enough for our little ones.
4. Vegetables:
Peas or matar as we commonly call it is rich in proteins and can be added to a variety of food items. Most of the kids also tend to like it so it makes a great choice for protein rich foods for vegetarians.
There are other options available to us like millets, quinoa, and seeds for protein foods vegetarian however, they can be slowly incorporated for your child depending on their food habits. We all know the struggles of a mother with these fussy eaters.
What are some protein rich foods vegetarian that you swear by?
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the blog content are independent and unbiased views of solely the blogger. This is a part of the public awareness initiative supported by Complan.Image: Pixabay & Pexels