This ultimate guide is packed with healthy Indian lunch box ideas for school that are vegan, easy to make, and kid-approved. Finding the right healthy snacks for Indian kids’ lunch boxes and main courses can be difficult. That’s why we’ve created this list of tiffin box recipes for school Indian style, focusing on vegetarian options of healthy Indian food for kids’ lunch boxes that are balanced, delicious, and good for traveling. From lunch ideas for kids to classic Indian recipes with some creative twists, we have 30 easy school lunch ideas for vegetarian Indian school lunches to solve your lunch box worries for the whole month!
1.Spinach and Corn Paratha Rolls
Perfect for: Healthy Indian lunch box recipes for school, easy to eat. These vibrant green paranthas are a clever way to hide the greenery. Rolling them makes them less messy and more fun for kids to eat.
Material:
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup blanched and mashed spinach
½ cup sweet corn kernels (boiled)
1 teaspoon carom seeds – Aids digestion
salt to taste
ghee for cooking
Instruction:
Mix wheat flour, spinach puree, carom seeds and salt and knead a soft dough. Rest for 15 minutes.
Divide the dough into balls. Roll out a ball, place some corn kernels in the middle and seal it. Roll the paratha again.
Apply ghee on the pan and cook until golden spots appear on both sides.
Let it cool a little and roll it tightly. Protect with food-safe paper wrap or pack.
2.Mini Moong Dal Chilla (Delicious Pancakes)
Perfect for: Healthy Indian snacks, high protein lunch boxes for kids. These soft, protein-rich pancakes are a great alternative to bread. Making these smaller is perfect for small hands.
Material:
1 cup soaked moong dal (yellow lentils)
1 small piece ginger
salt to taste
finely grated carrots and zucchini
Instruction:
Grind soaked moong dal with ginger and make a smooth paste.
Add salt and grated vegetables.
Drop small silver-dollar sized balls onto the hot pan.
Cook until golden on both sides.
3.Vegetable Casserole with Hidden Vegetables
Perfect for: Healthy Indian food, Vegetarian, One-pot meals for kids’ lunch boxes. An aromatic, light rice dish in which the vegetables are grated or mashed, making them difficult for children to pick up.
Material:
1 cup basmati rice
1 small onion, finely chopped
½ cup mixed vegetables (carrots, beans, peas), pureed
1 bay leaf, 1-2 green cardamom pods
salt to taste
1 tbsp ghee
Instruction:
Heat ghee in a pressure cooker. Fry all the spices and onion until soft.
Add vegetable puree and cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add washed rice, salt and 2 cups of water.
Pressure cook till 2 whistles. Let the pressure release naturally. Fluff with a fork.
4.Paneer Kathi Rolls
Perfect for: Lunch Ideas for Kids – Indian Cuisine, Less Messy! A home-cooked restaurant favorite that’s healthy. Soft rotis are wrapped around a delicious, mild cheese mixture.
Material:
2 whole wheat rotis
1 cup crumbled cheese
1 tablespoon finely chopped capsicum
1 teaspoon light curd
¼ tsp mild Kitchen King Masala (or just turmeric and coriander powder)
salt to taste
Instruction:
To make the filling, mix cheese, capsicum, curd, spices and salt.
Heat the rotis. Place the filling in the centre.
Fold the edges and roll tightly.
You can lightly fry the rolls on a pan for a crispier exterior. Wrap the lunch box in foil.
5.Khichdi Sabudana
Ideal for: easy digestion, nutritious Indian food for kids’ lunchboxes. Because of its mild, nutty flavor and soft texture, this gluten-free, light, and invigorating alternative is frequently a hit with children.
Ingredients:
One cup of soaked sabudana (tapioca pearls)
One cubed boiled potato
2 tablespoons of crushed peanuts
One teaspoon of sugar
Add salt to taste.
Juice from lemons
Instructions:
Make sure the sabudana is soft and not chalky after being well soaked.
Warm up the ghee. Add peanuts, potatoes, and cumin seeds.
Afetr Adding the sugar, salt, and sabudana.
Cook until transparent Keep over low heat.
Add some fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lemon juice to finish.
6.Whole Wheat Wrap with Veggie Frankie
Ideal for: 30 simple, comfortable, and enjoyable Indian vegetarian school lunch ideas! The burrito in Indian style! It is adaptable, and you may include your child’s preferred vegetables in it.
Ingredients:
One roti wrap
Two tablespoons of mashed potatoes
One tablespoon of grated cheese (Optional)
Cucumbers, onions sliced
One tablespoon of tomato Ketchup
Instructions:
Heat the wrap warm And mashed potatoes should be spread in the middle.
Arrange the cucumbers, onions, and ketchup on top.
If using, sprinkle with cheese.
Tuck in the sides of the roll and roll tightly. Cover with foil or parchment paper.
7.Sambar Dip with Mini Idlis
Ideal for: Small-sized, nutritious snacks for Indian kids’ lunchboxes. Kids love every little thing! These pillowy, delicate idlis are incredibly light on the stomach and ideal for dipping.
Material:
one cup idli batter
½ cup thick sambar for dipping, slightly less in consistency for dipping
Instruction:
To cook idlis, grease a mini-idli mold and steam them.
Let them cool completely.
Place the thick sambar dip in a small, leak-proof container and the small idlis in a separate container.
8.Roll-ups with Masala Dosa
Ideal for: Schooly Indian tiffin box recipes with a unique twist! A playful, different take on the traditional dosa that’s easy to eat without falling apart and travels well.
Material:
a big dosa
2 tbsp seasoned potatoes
Instruction:
Cover the newly cooked soft dosa with an even layer of mashed potatoes.
Roll the dosa tightly like a Swiss roll.
Let it cool before packing. You can eat it plain or with a small can of chutney.
9.Homemade Vegetable Nuggets
Ideal for: Nutritious Indian snacks that are baked instead of fried for kids’ lunchboxes! Using Indian ingredients like potatoes, peas and carrots, this is a healthier version of a dish popular around the world.
Material:
two boiled and mashed potatoes
½ cup finely chopped, boiled mixed vegetables (carrots, corn and peas)
two tablespoons bread crumbs
Add salt, pepper and a variety of herbs to taste.
Instruction:
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.
Cut it into small pieces.
Bake at 180°C for 20 to 25 minutes, turning occasionally, until crisp and golden.
10.Thayir Sadam, or Curd Rice
Ideal for: Cool, comforting and nutritious food for kids’ lunchboxes! A traditional South Indian dish that is cool, nutritious and ideal for a hot school day. It’s filling and easy.
Material:
1 cup cooked and cooled rice
half cup thick curd
Milk (if necessary to maintain consistency)
Add salt as per taste.
For masala: one spoon oil, half spoon mustard seeds, one dried red chilli and lots of curry leaves.
Instruction:
When the rice is cooked, mash it. Make a creamy mixture by mixing curd, milk and salt.
Add the tempering ingredients and heat the oil until it starts to spread.
Pour tadka over curd rice and stir. Store in a container that will not leak.
