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Chocolates for Toddlers & Kids - Benefits, Side Effects and Fun Facts
For many kids, the first chocolate bar that they received on their birthday might have been the very incentive they needed to socialise with new people. As infants and even as adults, chocolates have always been the favourite comfort food for everyone. But parents often wonder whether chocolate is good for kids? This is because it is linked with poor dental health. The answer is rather straightforward. Treating chocolate like a treat and not a mandatory food item is how you can begin to keep those chocolate-eating habits in check. Pairing that with a healthy chocolate choice would be the right way ahead.
History and Interesting Facts about Chocolate for Kids
Before your child dives into his first bar of chocolate, we’ve put together some information about chocolate for kids to get their interest level piqued as well.
Chocolate was used as a currency in the Mayan civilization
Chocolate was usually considered a food meant for the deities.
It was in 1819 when the first chocolate bar was manufactured. Until then, people would only drink chocolate.
Christopher Columbus was the first individual to get cocoa beans to Spain and give it to the kings.
In the Aztec civilization, the kings used to drink about ten cups of chocolate-based drinks in a single day.
Different Types of Chocolates
Though most kids are introduced to chocolates in its popular form as a chocolate bar, there are numerous forms of chocolate that can be used. These vary across form, flavour and composition, making them the preferred choices to be used in a variety of recipes.
1. Ground Chocolate
What do you get if you were to keep smashing a chocolate bar until it reduced down to a powder-like state? That is precisely what ground chocolate is, and is commercially available, too. Used in various preparation for garnishing or even as an important constituent, it is necessary to know that this is not the same as the cocoa powder that you might find in the supermarket as well.
2. Unsweetened Chocolate
The inclusion of sugar and other sweetening agents in the chocolate bar is what brings out its flavour and makes it deliciously edible. Pure chocolate, which is extracted from the liqueur of the same substance after hardening it, is not sweet at all. This is also termed as bitter chocolate or even baking chocolate since pure chocolate forms quite an integral component of various baked dishes and even cakes.
3. Chocolate Liqueur
The precursor to unsweetened chocolate, chocolate liqueur can be termed as the initial stage that leads to the formation of other chocolate types. It resembles a smooth liquid with chocolate flavour, although the word “liqueur” is not to be connected with alcohol. When cocoa beans are procured, they are ground together until they form a paste that has a smooth texture. This paste generally contains a substantial proportion of cocoa butter.
4. Cocoa Powder
Another popular ingredient used by many people in a variety of preparations, this is interpreted by many to be similar to ground chocolate. However, that isn’t the case. Cocoa powder is exactly what it states, a powdered form of the cocoa beans. The shells of the beans are removed and these are then ground together, which also ends up containing a small amount of cocoa butter in them. This powder is the first step to be used in making any kind of chocolate-flavoured beverage.
5. White Chocolate
If compared on technical terms, white chocolate would not be considered in the category of chocolates, since the essential ingredient of chocolate liqueur, is missing from its constitution. However, the reason why it is popular and included in the list of chocolate forms is due to the presence of around 25% chocolate in its form, paired with sugar and milk-based products.
6. Bittersweet Chocolate
This is one of those types a lot of health fanatics swear by and indulge in regularly to satisfy their cravings without feeling guilty. This is not the same as dark chocolate, which is actually a variant of it with a little more sweetness. Bittersweet chocolate primarily contains a specific proportion of sugar, cocoa butter and raw chocolate. These proportions have to be precise in order to deliver a combined flavour that’s bitter and sweet at the same time.
Health Benefits of Chocolates for Children
For children, chocolate is usually considered to be a treat or an occasional luxury to indulge in. And as proper as it might be, it is not just the taste, chocolate has vitamins for kids that provide numerous health benefits as well.
The constitution of chocolate is known to contain certain elements and substances that affect various mood-regulation hormones within our body such as serotonin and help in getting them back to a good level. Dark chocolates especially are extremely beneficial to elevate your mood.
When lacking in energy or a tiredness starts dawning upon you, taking a bite out of the chocolate can make you feel rejuvenated and give you a quick boost of energy to get back to your tasks.
Dark chocolate is recommended by many people since it plays a vital role in triggering the presence of flavonoids in the brain’s hippocampus. These elements, when stimulated, result in your children developing good concentration and an effective memory.
Certain flavonoids are present within the cocoa powder used for the chocolate production itself. Apart from improving the properties of preventing inflammation, increasing antioxidants and improving the clotting properties within the blood, insulin sensitivity gets a boost as well, reducing the chances of being diabetic in the future.
Milk chocolates and dark chocolates, when combined effectively, provide the appropriate balance of flavonoids from the latter and a reduced caffeine consumption from the former.
The flavonoids present in the cocoa powder used in chocolates are similar to those found in red wines and certain fruits. As doctors suggest that a glass of red wine is good for your heart, a similar proposition can be presented for your kids in regards to chocolate.
If your child suffers from skin related issues or does not have a healthy skin, eating chocolate could help restore the healthy skin back, without inducing any acne.
The antioxidants present in the chocolate play a key role in taking care of any free radicals within the child’s body, and preventing them from damaging the body internally.
Dark chocolate is considered a healthy choice by many, simply because of the presence of various minerals such as selenium, zinc, potassium, magnesium, iron and many others, making a part of its constitution.
Most parents avoid giving their children chocolate due to the belief that eating chocolate causes teeth to decay. The truth is actually the opposite since chocolate actually works towards reducing the presence of plaque.
One of the key effects that eating chocolate has is the immediate boost to blood circulation within the body. This helps support the developing brain function in children as well.
Most dark chocolates contain tryptophan. This is essential in revitalizing your mood and reducing the stress in your body.
Side Effects of Chocolate when Taken in Excessive Quantities
Even though chocolates might provide a lot of happiness and some health benefits, the effects of chocolates on toddlers and kids, when consumed in improper circumstances or quantities, can be harmful temporarily or even in the long term.
1. Insomnia
Yes, this isn’t just an issue plaguing the adults of today. Though this might not be due to stress in children, the presence of caffeine in most chocolates today can be a stimulant for kids, keeping them awake at night, and robbing them of the necessary amount of sleep.
2. Avoiding Healthy Food
What starts as an occasional tantrum, could very well manifest into a habit. The affinity that children develop towards the sweetness and taste of chocolate, could cause them to push away any other healthy foods, resulting in their development taking a hit.
3. Increased Risk of Allergies
Various chocolates contain a lot of other constituents such as milk, nuts, or added flavours. If your child tends to have an allergy for either of these, choosing a chocolate blindly and eating it, could trigger them right away and cause a medical emergency.
4. Peeing a Lot
The bladder capacity in children develops over time, which is why they need to go to the toilet more often. The presence of caffeine in chocolate aggravates this further since it is diuretic. This could cause your little one to visit the loo numerous time or even end up wetting his pants.
5. A Propensity for Addiction
Chocolate addiction is real. Very real. Be toddlers or young kids, the taste of chocolate can get too hard to resist at times, leading children to start crying when they are refused chocolate, or resorting to eating chocolates by hiding it from the parents.
6. Increased Hyperactivity
Children are already bundles of pulsating energy, staying engaged in one thing or the other. The presence of sugar in chocolates gives that yet another boost, by increasing the levels of sugar and adrenalin in the blood. This could make it difficult for your kid to stay in one place and concentrate.
7. Risk of Diabetes
It is not chocolate that causes diabetes, but its effect on insulin sensitivity that is the culprit. Even in children, consuming chocolates in exorbitant quantities could cause a huge load on the body’s insulin production, and could create the foundations to trigger type 2 diabetes quite early in life.
8. Risk of Obesity
Not just sugar and caffeine, but chocolates have a lot of fat in them as well, thanks to the presence of cocoa butter and other ingredients. By exposing the body to a large quantity of these, and leading a lifestyle void of exercise, your child is pretty much opening the door to obesity by himself.
Tips to Choose the Right Chocolates for Kids
There’s nothing wrong with giving chocolates to your kids. However, choosing a healthy chocolate for kids and giving them at the right time is just as important.
Do use chocolates as a way to encourage good behaviour in your child but don’t use it to get them to behave properly or as a bribe to get a task done.
Instead of opting for large bars of chocolate, go for smaller ones and in limited quantities.
Opt for chocolates that have low-fat, sugar and milk content in them.
Alternate usual chocolates with chocolate-flavoured biscuits or ice cream, once in a while.
There are caffeine-free chocolate bars available as well. Choose those over the usual ones.
Falling in love with chocolate doesn’t take a long time, and neither does the addiction. By keeping an appropriate grip on the consumption of chocolates right from the start, you can make sure your child gets the benefits of it and stays away from any potential side effects, keeping himself healthy throughout.
Also Read: Simple Chocolate Recipes for Children Read more
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20 Easy and Quick Family Dinner Recipe Ideas that Can Save Your Day
Have you called over friends for dinner or are you thinking of making something special for your family? Well, whenever it comes to making anything special, it requires elaborate preparations and a lot of effort. Well, that may not hold true in case of our dinner recipes.
Vegetarian Family Dinner Recipes
A home-cooked meal will not only be relished by your guests, but it is also a more nutritious option than eating out. Here are some of our quick and simple vegetarian dinner recipes:
1. Spinach and Corn
This recipe with corn and spinach will be an instant hit.
Ingredients
500 grams of spinach leaves
200 grams corn kernels
3-4 medium-sized onions, finely chopped
3 medium-sized tomatoes, finely chopped
6-7cloves of garlic, minced
½ an inch ginger, minced
1 teaspoon cumin powder
½ teaspoon red chilli powder
½ teaspoon coriander powder
¼ teaspoon garam masala powder
1 tablespoon fresh cream
Salt to taste
Oil/ ghee
Method
Blanch the spinach leaves and churn them into a coarse paste.
Add some oil to a pan and then heat it.
Add chopped onions, turn them golden brown.
Add minced ginger and garlic and cook for a few minutes.
Add tomatoes and cook for 5-7 minutes or until tomatoes are done.
Add corn kernels and all the dry spices, cook for a few minutes.
Add spinach and cook for some time.
Once the vegetables are done, add cream and mix well.
Serve with Indian bread or boiled rice.
Pre-Preparation Time: 10-11 minutes
Cooking Time: 20-22 minutes
Servings: Serves 4-5
2. Crispy Okra
This crispy okra dish can be made within no time, and it will be loved by your young ones too.
Ingredients
500 grams fresh okra
½ cup gram flour
½ tablespoon dried mango powder
½ teaspoon cumin powder
½ teaspoon red chilli powder
½ teaspoon turmeric powder
½ teaspoon garam masala powder
Fresh coriander leaves for garnishing
Salt to taste
Oil for frying
Method
Slit okra lengthwise; one into four parts.
Mix the spices and gram flour together.
Smear the semi-dried okras with the spice mixture.
Heat oil in a deep pan.
Fry masala smeared okras in smaller quantities, until crispy.
Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
Pre-Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 15-20 minutes
Serving: Serves 5-6
3. Stuffed Capsicum with Cottage Cheese and Peas
This versatile dish can be served with an Indian menu as well as a continental menu.
Ingredients
8-10 medium-sized capsicums
200 grams fresh cottage cheese
200 grams boiled green peas
1 onion, chopped
1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
1 teaspoon cumin powder
½ teaspoon black pepper powder
½ teaspoon red chilli powder
½ teaspoon coriander powder
3-4 tablespoons cheese, grated
Salt to taste
Oil for cooking
Method
Take the capsicums, discard their tails and scoop out the seeds.
Heat oil in the pan.
Put onions, and let them turn pink.
Add ginger-garlic paste and cook for a minute.
Add peas and the dried spices and cook for a few minutes.
Mash the cheese nicely and put in the pan.
Mix well and cook for 3-4 minutes.
Fill the capsicum with the mixture.
Cook capsicums in a flat pan until they turn tender.
Add grated cheese on top and microwave the capsicum for two minutes.
Pre-Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Serving: Serves 4-5
4. Exotic Stir Fried Vegetables
No fancy preparations but still this dish turns out to be utterly exotic and equally tasty.
Ingredients
1 medium broccoli, cut into florets
1 yellow zucchini, cut into cubes
1 green zucchini, cut into cubes
200 grams mushrooms, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
3-4 cloves of garlic, crushed
1/2 teaspoon black pepper powder
½ teaspoon all-purpose seasoning
½ cup parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons butter
Salt to taste
Method
Heat butter in a pan.
Add garlic and cook for a minute
Add all the vegetables, salt and pepper and cook for 5-6 minutes.
Once tender, add the seasoning and mix well.
Garnish with freshly chopped parsley
Cooking Time: 20-25 minutes
Serving: Serves 3-4
5. Aromatic Potato Wedges
This is a great side dish and can be prepared quickly.
Ingredients
6-7 medium sized potatoes, cut into wedges
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
½teaspoon black pepper
½teaspoon coarsely chopped dried red chillies
2 tablespoons butter
Sale to taste
Method
Heat butter in a pan.
Add potatoes and cook them on high flame for a few minutes.
Add all the spices and salt and cook for 7-8 minutes or until potatoes are done.
Sprinkle some rosemary before serving.
Cooking Time: 25 minutes
Serving: Serves 2-3
6. Cottage Cheese in Creamy Tomato Gravy
Cream renders a smooth and rich texture to this yummy cottage cheese dish.
Ingredients
4-5 tomatoes
7-8 garlic cloves
½ inch ginger
200 grams cottage cheese, cut into cubes
100 grams fresh cream
½ cup cashew nuts, soaked in warm water
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp coriander powder
½ tsp red chilli powder
½ tsp garam masala powder
Salt to taste
1 tbsp Ghee
Method
Blend onion cashew nuts, tomatoes, ginger and garlic into a fine paste.
Heat some ghee and add the above mixture in a pan
Cook till the ghee separates.
Add all the dried ingredients.
Add cottage cheese and cream and mix well
Cook for two minutes. Serve hot with Indian bread or rice.
Cooking Time: 20-22 minutes
Serving: Serves 4-5
7. Cauliflower Keema with Peas
This is a vegetarian twist to the usual non-vegetarian keema recipe.
Ingredients
1 cauliflower, grated
1 cup peas, boiled
1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
½tsp cumin
½tsp coriander powder
½tsp red chilli powder
½tsp chaat masala
Salt to taste
1 tbsp oil
Method
Heat wok and add oil in it.
Add cumin seeds and ginger-garlic paste.
Add peas and cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add grated cauliflower and all other spices except chaat masala, cook until done.
Add chaat masala and serve hot.
Cooking Time: 15-20 minutes
Serving: Serves 3-4
8. Mixed Vegetable with Basil
Basil adds an aromatic twist to the usual mix-vegetable recipe.
Ingredients
200grams tofu, cut in cubes
200grams red pumpkin, thinly sliced
1 each of red and green capsicum, chopped in cubes
1 onion, chopped
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp red chilli sauce
½ fresh basil leaves
3 fresh red chillies, roughly chopped
1 tbsp oil
Salt to taste
Method
Heat oil in a wok; add onions and pumpkin and sauté for a minute.
Add soy and chilli sauce and mix well.
Add tofu and red chillies.
Add the capsicums.
Add roughly chopped basil leaves and salt.
Stir well and cook for 3-4 minutes.
Cooking Time: 20-22 minutes
Serving: Serves 4
9. Creamy Garlic Potatoes
This is a yummy potato main dish with a dash of garlic.
Ingredients
4-5 potatoes, cut in cubes
1 cup milk
6-7 garlic cloves, chopped
3-4 spring onions with bulb, chopped
1 tbsp black peppercorns, crushed
1 tbsp butter
Salt to taste
Method
Heat butter in a pan, add garlic, potatoes and salt. Mix well.
Add milk, cover and cook.
Add onions and cook covered for 7-8 minutes.
Cook on low heat until potatoes are done.
Add crushed pepper and spring onions before serving.
Cooking Time: 20-23 minutes
Serving: Serves 4-5
10. Dried Green Split Lentils with Tamarind Leaves
This tangy green lentil dish is a great side dish.
Ingredients
1 cup green split green lentils, soaked
1 cup tamarind leaves
1 onion, chopped
1tsp ginger-garlic paste
2 green chillies, chopped
½tsp cumin seeds
½tsp mustard seeds
½ tsp chilli powder
½ tsp turmeric powder
1 tbsp oil
¼ tsp asafoetida
Salt to taste
Method
Cook soaked lentils with turmeric and 2 cups water for 6-7 minutes.
Add tamarind leaves and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
In a separate pan, heat oil and add cumin seeds, mustard seeds and asafoetida.
Add onion and cook for a minute. Add chilli powder and mix well.
Add the lentil mixture to the pan.
Add ginger-garlic paste and cook covered for 5 minutes on medium flame.
Serve hot.
Pre-Preparation Time: 10-15 minutes
Cooking Time: 21-24 minutes
Serving: Serves 4
Non-Vegetarian Family Dinner Recipes
Here are some mouth-watering non-vegetarian easy dinner recipes for family dinners that can be whipped in no time. These easy dinner recipes are kid-friendly too.
1. Pepper Eggs
This is a simple and easy main course recipe for the all the egg lovers out there.
Ingredients
4-5 hard-boiled eggs, cut into halves
1 cup tomato puree
2 onions, thinly sliced
1-2 green chillies, slit into halves
10-15 curry leaves
1-2 tbsp crushed black pepper
½tsp fennel seeds
½tsp coriander seeds
½ tsp red chilli powder
½ tsp turmeric powder
1 tbsp oil
Salt to taste
Chopped coriander leaves for garnishing
Method
Heat oil, add fennel and coriander seeds in a pan
Add curry leaves and green chillies and let it splatter.
Add onion and all the spices, mix well.
Add tomato puree and cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add salt and put eggs in the mixture.
Cook for 2-3 minutes.
Garnish with fresh coriander.
Pre-Preparation Time: 10-15 minutes.
Cooking Time: 15-20 minutes
Serving: Serves 4-5
2. Dried Ginger and Pepper Chicken
This chicken recipe can be served as the main course and makes a great snacking option too.
Ingredients
½ kilograms boneless chicken, cut into pieces
2 tablespoons ginger, grated
2 tbsp black pepper, crushed
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tablespoon butter
Salt to taste
Method
Heat butter in a non-stick pan.
Add chicken, cook on high flame for two minutes.
Add grated ginger, pepper, and salt, mix well.
Cook covered for 10-12 minutes or until done.
Add lemon juice and cook for one minute.
Sprinkle some freshly crushed black pepper for garnishing.
Cooking Time: 20-25 minutes
Serving: Serves 4-5
3. Chicken in White Gravy
This tasty chicken recipe is an ideal option for people who do not like spicy chicken dishes.
Ingredients
½ kilograms boneless chicken, cut into pieces
3 to 4 Medium-sized onions, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
2 tablespoon crushed black pepper
2 tablespoon thick curd
1 tablespoon cumin powder
1 tablespoon dried fenugreek leaves
1 tablespoon fresh cream
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon oil
Method
Take a flat pan, heat oil in it.
Fry onions until they turn pink. Take these onions, cool them and churn into a fine paste.
Marinate chicken with curd, salt, cumin powder, ginger-garlic paste, 1 tbsp peppercorn and salt for 5-10 minutes.
Add oil in the pan along with the chicken. Cook on high flame for two minutes.
Add onion puree and the leftover pepper. Cook covered for 8-10 minutes.
Add fenugreek leaves and cream, mix well. Serve hot.
Pre-Preparation: 5-10 minutes
Cooking Time: 15-20 minutes
Serving: Serves 4
4. Fish in Thick Gravy
Ideally use boneless fish for this dish, or else choose the one you like.
Ingredients
½ kilograms boneless fish, cut into medium-sized pieces.
2 onions
3 tomatoes
1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
1 tbsp mustard seeds
2-3 green chillies
1 tsp turmeric powder
½ tsp chilli powder
1 tbsp grated coconut
3-4 dried red chillies
1 cup water
2 tablespoon mustard oil
Method
Marinate fish with ½ tsp turmeric powder, salt and ½tsp of ginger garlic paste, for 15-20 minutes.
Heat oil in a pan after which you must shallow fry the fish.
Take onions, tomatoes, green chillies and mustard seeds, churn them into a fine paste.
Heat oil in a pan, add dried red chilli, turmeric and chilli powder.
Add the onion paste and ginger-garlic paste. Cook for 6-7 minutes.
Use some shredded coconut and cook the same for about 6 minutes.
Add salt and water; boil for 7-8 minutes.
Add fish; cook covered for 3-4 minutes.
Serve hot with rice.
Pre-Preparation Time: 15-20 minutes
Cooking Time: 20-25 minutes
Serving: Serves 4-5
5. Easy Chicken Briyani
If you thought to make briyani was tedious, try this super easy recipe!
Ingredients
1-kilogram chicken, cut into 10-12 pieces
2 ½ cups long grain rice
1 cup hung curd
4-5 onions, thinly sliced
2 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
2 tsp garam masala powder
1 tsp biryani masala powder
A pinch of turmeric
1 tsp red chilli powder
9-10 fresh mint leaves
4 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoon oil
Salt to taste
Method
Marinate chicken pieces with half sliced onions, curd, 1 tsp garam masala and salt.
Heat oil in a pan, put rest of the onions and turn them golden brown. Take out a spoonful, for garnishing.
In the remaining onion add ginger-garlic paste and cook for 1 minute.
Add marinated chicken, cook for 10-15 minutes or until chicken is almost done.
Add washed rice, garam masala, chilli powder, biryani masala and salt, cook on high flame for 2 minutes.
Add 4 cups water, a pinch on turmeric and mint leaves.
Cook covered for 7 to 8 minutes. Add butter mix well.
Garnish with fried onions before serving.
Pre-Preparation Time: 20-25minutes
Cooking Time: 20-25 minutes
Serving: Serves 5-6
6. Stir Fried Chicken with Capsicum and Onion
Try this simple and quick chicken recipe when you have surprise guests at home.
Ingredients
500 grams boneless chicken
2 green capsicum, cut into cubes
2 onions, cut into cubes
1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
1 tsp green chilli paste
1 tsp barbeque sauce
1 tsp crushed black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped spring onions
Salt to taste
Method
Heat oil in a flat pan.
Put chicken and cook on high flame for a minute.
Add chilli paste, ginger-garlic paste and salt.
Cover and cook for 5-7 minutes.
Add capsicums and onions and cook for 4-5 minutes.
Add barbeque sauce and crushed peppercorns. Cook for 3-4 minutes.
Garnish with spring onions.
Cooking Time: 20-25 minutes
Serving: Serves 3-4
7. Chicken in Mushroom Sauce
This is a yummy chicken recipe in white gravy.
Ingredients
2 chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
2 cups mushrooms, chopped
1 big onion, chopped
8-10 garlic cloves, crushed
2-3 tablespoons cream
½ cup milk
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp black pepper
1 tablespoon oil
Salt to taste
Method
Heat some oil, add crushed garlic and sauté for a minute in a pan.
Add onions and cook for 1-2 minutes.
Add chicken, cook on high flame for one minute.
Add mushrooms and salt; cook covered for 7-9 minutes.
Add pepper and oregano and cook for 3-4 minutes.
Add milk and cream and give a boil.
Serve hot with rice.
Cooking Time: 25-30 minutes
Serving: Serves 3-4
8. Spicy Mutton Gravy
This is a must-try recipe for all the mutton lovers.
Ingredients
½ kilograms mutton, cut into pieces
½ cup thick curd
3-4 onions, sliced
3-4 dried red chillies
2 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
½ tsp cumin seeds
4-5 green cardamom
4-5 black cardamom
2-3 bay leaves
½ tsp cloves
½ tsp turmeric powder
½ tsp chilli powder
2 tablespoon oil
1 cup water
Salt to taste
Fresh green coriander for garnishing
Method
Marinate mutton with curd, salt and 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste for 20-25 minutes.
Heat oil in pressure cooker put all whole spices and cook for 1-2 minutes.
Add onion and turn them brown, add ginger-garlic paste and cook for one minute.
Add mutton and all the dried spices, mix well. Cook covered for 10-15 minutes.
Add water and pressure cook on medium flame for 10-12 minutes.
Garnish with chopped coriander.
Pre-Preparation Time: 20-25 minutes
Cooking Time: 25-30 minutes
Serving: Serves 3-4
9. Boiled Eggs with Stir-Fried Veggies
This is a healthy recipe that you can make to make boring meals more interesting.
Ingredients
3-4 boiled eggs, cut into halves
1 cup broccoli florets
1 green capsicum, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp tomato ketchup
1 tbsp chopped spring onions
½ tsp black pepper
1 tbsp oil
Salt to taste
Method
Heat oil and add all the vegetables and sauté it on a pan in high flame for 3-4 minutes.
Add soy and tomato sauce, cook for a minute.
Add salt, black pepper and boiled eggs, mix well.
Garnish with spring onions.
Cooking Time: 15-20 minutes
Serving: Serves 3-4
10. Garlic and Lemon Fish
This easy fish recipe will be a hit in any party or family dinners.
Ingredients
½ kilograms boneless fish, cut into pieces
Juice of a lemon
2 tablespoon crushed garlic cloves
2 tablespoon crushed black pepper
1 tablespoon butter
Salt to taste
Method
Smear the fish pieces with lemon juice, black pepper salt and crushed garlic. Keep aside for 10 minutes.
Heat butter and allow the fish cook for 4-5 minutes in a pan.
Sprinkle some lemon juice before serving.
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Serving: Serves 2-3
We hope you try some of these recipes and make your meals more interesting!
Also Read:
Tips to Enjoy Meals with Your Family
Good Table Manners to Teach Your Kids Today
Healthy and Delicious Dinner Recipes for Your Kid
Easy Noodle Recipes for Children Read more
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How to Develop Social Skills in Children
When a child is growing up, they start interacting with you and with a number of people around them. Over time, it becomes evident that they need to communicate in the right manner for others to understand them. This communication, combined with being able to interact with people confidently, is one of the stepping stones in a child’s progress.
What are Social Skills?
On a general overview level, social skills are all tools, methods, and techniques one requires to be able to interact and engage with people in an appropriate manner. These could range from being able to say “Hello” and “Goodbye” in the right context for small kids, to being cooperative while playing with other kids, to understanding when to be grateful and when to apologize, to gradually complex communications of being able to tell a joke and empathizing with someone when they are sad.
Why are Social Skills Important for Kids?
Social skills help your kid to talk appropriately and understand how to interact with a stranger.
They help them to understand when they should listen and when is the right time to speak up.
Kids with good social skills can make friends easily and maintain friendships for a longer period, too.
They understand how to handle awkward and uncomfortable situations as well as how to stand up for themselves if they are bullied or made fun of.
Social skills empower kids to accept compliments gracefully and encourage and motivate others when they come to them with problems.
Signs That Indicate Your Child Has Difficulty with Social Skills
Certain children may not be outspoken or generally be shy in nature. But there are others who have trouble getting along with people or have extreme difficulty in interactions. There are signs that one should look out for.
Hesitates to make eye contact, or barely maintains it for a fleeting moment
Constantly interrupts while talking or fails to complete a conversation
Cannot use the right body gestures or maintain a good distance while talking to someone
Jump to an irrelevant topic in the middle of a themed conversation
Constantly repeat what you’ve just said and then try to change the topic
Have absolutely no interest in what is being said and not begin or end a conversation politely
Have trouble understanding jokes or sarcastic comments or idioms
Take things literally without understanding the underlying intention of it. For example, if you ask “Can you get me a glass of water?” and they reply “Yes” without actually getting up to get you a glass of water
Talk in an arrhythmic fashion without the right voice modulation or intonations for statements and questions
Fail to understand what a person is feeling by looking at their facial expressions
Rarely ask for clarification even when confused and proceed ahead nonetheless
Be excessively open and communicative at times with totally random strangers
Saying the wrong things to the wrong people at the wrong time
Barely use any imagination while talking and talk as if reporting an incident
Struggle with understanding what a person would feel if they were to say something or act in a certain manner
What Can You Do to Improve Social Skills in Your Kids?
There are no specific social skills lessons for kids. However, there are certain activities and tips that can help your kid understand better and be aware of their own behavioural tendencies.
Engage in play
Lack of understanding interpersonal communication usually stems from a lack of time spent interacting with people. Give your child a safe space by playing with them so that they understand the basics of communication such as waiting for your turn to speak or to do an action. Concepts of sharing and cooperation are learnt through this as well.
Understanding emotions
Children who fail to understand the emotions in people usually have trouble expressing their own emotions, too. Help your child express what they are feeling in a more verbose or direct fashion. Interact with them by playing your emotional cues to a high as well, so that they notice them easily. See if their behaviour undergoes a change when your behaviour changes based on your emotions.
Concept of empathy
Kids struggling with social skills fail to see the need to understand what the other person is going through. They need to see that emotions are not an individual concept but a social construct that allows people to come together, help each other, or give each other space and privacy they need. Allow your kids to understand the reason for someone feeling a certain emotion and what makes them feel about it.
Storytelling
Stories that are heavily governed by emotions and their actions may get confusing and weird for a kid with weak social skills. Walk them through the story and ask them what their response would be to a particular situation. Help them understand the needs and responses of other people in the story and advise them on what an appropriate response in such a situation could be.
Speaking groups
Enlist your kid in a speaking club or a group that help improve and master the skillset required for social interactions. Such groups are expert in breaking down the motivations and reasons behind each emotion. This can help your kid understand the cause and response to actions and emotions and, consequently, learn to express and interact better.
Activities to Develop Your Child’s Social Skills
There are a bunch of social skills activities for kids that can help your kid understand social interactions in an interesting way.
Staring contest – By continuously staring at each other, your kid will begin to observe facial cues in a focused manner. This is precisely what makes people laugh out uncontrollably or struggle to keep their face straight in a staring match.
Using idioms – Make a list of the most popular idioms and use them yourself in the right situation. Ask your kid whether they understand the reason behind using it and then break it down for them.
Dumb charades – Playing a game that makes extensive use of body language and facial expressions are the best tool to learn. Allow your kid to make their guesses as well as express them in the right way so as to learn better what people understand and how best to convey it to them.
Topic tag – Pick a theme for a conversation and ask your child to talk about it. Have a discussion where you make one sentence and your child has to finish that sentence around the same theme. This will help them keep a conversation going.
Fictional conversations – Have your kid talk to your pet or a toy of their liking or even a tree in the garden. Ask them to check with the object if they’re feeling good or not. Observe how they communicate with them or what they talk about when they are seemingly in private.
Team games – Engage in sports where a team needs to work together and see how your kid interacts with them. Try doing it with your family to give your kid a safe space to be themselves.
Stage plays – Take your kid to a theatrical play and let them see how people express emotions on stage. Enrol them in a primary workshop so they have a chance to learn the basics of expression. Acting exercises are helpful in breaking the mould and being comfortable with reading emotions and expressing them.
Volunteering – Allow your kid to work with organizations that serve and help other people. By seeing how their work directly impacts the well-being of other people, your kid will feel more connected to them and learn to empathize with them.
Exhibitions – Take your kid to science expos or other exhibitions. These are spaces for discussions where multiple questions are asked and answered. Encourage your child to ask questions and ask them to explain the answer to you in their own words.
Mimicry – Cartoons and funny characters are the best deal for this. Ask your child to mimic a particular character exactly the way they do. You can even tell them to mimic your own self of how you get ready for the day or how you behave.
There are tons of social skills games for kids that can be interesting as well as a learning experience for them. Most of all, they need a lot of motivation and encouragement from you to keep moving ahead in it. With enough practice and interactions, your kid will start being able to hold conversations all by themselves in no time.
Also Read: Basic Life Skills for Children Read more
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Importance of basic prenatal tests and their significance in the pregnancy and childbirth
I enjoyed my first pregnancy journey and blessed with healthy baby boy. After 5 years I was pregnant again and started enjoying my pregnancy initially. I was enjoying baby movements in my womb, my nausea also was reduced. When I went to get TIFFA scan at 6 th month start, doctor asked me the test reports of NT scan and dual marker tests offered to predict some genetic disorders of the fetus. I said I skipped those.
They finished my scan and found EIF (echogenic cardiac foci) a calcium deposi on the babies heart. Then whole my story got changed, my happiness vanished and doctor said it is ok because it has only minor relation with genetic desorders and to rule out the problem NT scan and dual marker test reports should be there, as I skipped those tests it is difficult to say anything. But there was no peace in my heart, spent in fear and restlessness, knelt in praying Jesus my god, only thing I can do at this stage.
Then I reached 9 th month then again went through anomaly scan in which they said they have doubt on babies brain development, this time I am completely lost and cried onto lord till my delivery. I went for second consultation to fetal medicine expert and they also said we can't predict outcome at this stage be prepar for safe delivery at complete term.
But god made miracle and blessed us with healthy baby boy. I would like to emphasise that, please don't ignore any basic prenatal test at early stages of pregnancy. I don't want any other woman to suffer like me during their pregnancy and may be this story will be helpful and create hope to the ones with same journey. And, finally I thank firstcry for the opportunity given to post my story. Read more
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One fine day , when everything is going well , you miss your periods, or you just hope that you have missed your period date! So this mood of hopefulness keeps on rising day by day until you finally take a urine pregnancy test!
Describing your thoughts, feelings when you actually take a pregnancy test is beyond all the words! There is hope, there is a surprise, an uncertainty, waiting time of a few seconds that feels like hours! And Yesssss it finally shows as positive!!!!! 2 dark lines in your hands!!
And there it starts. From getting happy, emotional, overwhelmed, teary to what not! It is the time when you expect the unexpected! Life is never gonna be the same again for the would be mommies out there ;)
Rather than a mood swing, I will call all this affair a mood roller coaster in which the entire family sits together.
1 St trimester goes off by just deciding how to tell the near and dear ones, how would they react, Should I eat this, should I exercise and so many things alike. New doctor visits, new uncertainties, plenty of advice , tips, restrictions are mind boggling. To top it off , if you do have morning sickness, then nothing feels more miserable.
Then comes the second trimester which is a joy ride! Morning sickness goes off ( usually) , you are more up and about , happy! Baby bump starts showing this time around so it's all happiness with delicious cravings, baby name finding activity, some rest, travelling (as it's the safest in second trimester), and just relaxing.
As third trimester ticks in , again the discomfort, misfitting clothes, increasing weight, increased bathroom trips, midnight eating, baby n mommy bag packing, anticipation, fear regarding delivery start appearing. The more you try to be calm, the more you become anxious, impatient.
So to avoid the mood swings, anxiety in pregnancy one needs to meditate, exercise, be calm, think about one day at a time and go with the flow! After all it's the most natural and the most beautiful thing in the world! Enjoy it to the fullest! Read more
Dr Disha Patel has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 6 months
17 hours ago
Q. can I take medicine pcm n citrazene in pregnancy fir sore throats n fever
Dr Disha Patel
Ayurvedic Physician
11 hours ago
A. dear mom.
better to take tab pcm for time being n do take steam inhakation couple of tines a day, follpw good home renedies for cold, taje more rest .
Swati Kar Samanta has added a new answer
Mom of a 9 m old child
10 hours ago
Q. hi everyone good morning,
sorghum can I give to my 10 month baby is it safe or not please revert I waiting for your reply
Swati Kar Samanta
Mom of a 2 m old girl
8 hours ago
A. Yes but first give in very small quantity to judge the reaction of your baby.
Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
8 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts is it okay that the baby is kicking less than usual?
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
8 hours ago
A. Yes it is the what part is that your child is kicking if you feel that there is a movement of your child whether it is a cake or slight movement also you know that your child is doing fine so there is no problem in that if the movement is less it’s completely alright
Dr Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
7 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts what to do if the baby’s nose is blovked
Dr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
7 hours ago
A. Nasal blockage is very common, specially in small children because of the narrow nasal cavity. Any kind of saline drops like nasal clear will be helpful in dissolving the stuffy secretions, which can be taken out by vnasal aspirator gently also steam inhalation will be helpful also, try to avoid keeping the child directly under the fan.
Ankita Mehta has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 4 months
5 hours ago
Q. 22 week pregnant,baby konse month me or din me kitni baar move kartaa he ,pls bataye abhi sirf 2, 3 baar hi hota he
Ankita Mehta
Mom of a 8 yr 7 m old girl
2 hours ago
A. hi
yes it's enough
and the frequency and timing may vary as we all are different
but yes, the frequency of feeling baby movements will increase now
please go for regular check-up to your gynecologist
and follow his or her suggestions
Rashmi has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
4 hours ago
Q. hi
need help and advice
my RT 18x16mm and LT 10x16mm ET 6.59
and did ovulation rest also showing fertility test C as if now , pls advice if we intercourse tomorrow then when will be my ovulation start.
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
3 hours ago
A. You can check with an ovulation kit if it is positive then you can certainly go ahead with the conception because ovulation kit is going to give you 100% clarity whether you are ovulating or not with that you can try practising if you can conceive the same time
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