Keerai (spinach) Vadai

A lot of parents today are faced with the unfamiliar task of having to cut down the calorie intake of their young child…the reasons being many…the staggering variety of eats from all over the world, available at your neighbourhood store,which was never so easily accessible before…the awareness of children,today,who at a very young age know what flavour of cupcake they want and where to get it from…and the exposure to a huge array of flavours,that in turn make ,eating simple food,a rather herculean task !

This simple recipe which can be served at lunch or as a snack is very tasty and is eaten without a grumble…the fact that ,in my home,they have to eat it,grumble or not ,is a different matter altogether !!!! That’s what we were taught as children and I pass the very same lesson on ,to my own…and have been quite successful,thankfully !In our Indian homes, in the South,it’s not uncommon to find families relishing these vadais with a hot cup of tea :))

My friend,asked if I could suggest a few easy options for healthy after school snacks,that required no cheese,butter,sugar…keeping in mind the calorie count.As harsh as that may seem,for a child…it’s wise to do so,especially when they are at the age of 9 /10 years old, because that paves the way for healthy eating habits from then on ! Popcorn (not the packaged kind), tempered puffed rice , roasted nuts…I taught ,along with my kids,myself as well, to relish dried fruits like figs,raisins and dates…boiled /roasted corn on the cob,boiled peanuts,banana and yoghurt smoothie,whole grain crackers with a hung curd topping,sprouts made tangy with lime and chilli…all yummy options which don’t leave you feeling deprived.

These are suggestions only for the concerned parent who need to help their child with attaining an overall wellness…children who are otherwise of normal health should eat everything in moderation but in my opinion still be aware of the quality of food that they fill their stomachs with ! That I think is the only way to prevent the diseases that suddenly seem to have become common around us,today !Also I believe that if we eat healthy ,by example,the kids are bound to do so too…so…no need to obsess about it but if we can take the healthier alternative,why not ?!!!

These fresh purple spinach leaves seemed to be calling out to the ‘mom’ in me to cook up something wholesome and appealing…”keerai vadai” is one option to use up a whole lot of spinach (keerai) and is also far more interesting than a simple keerai poriyal(stir fry),which might not be eaten in the same quantity !!!

These vadais are a great low carb option and very nutritious with the addition of channa dhal (bengal gram)and they aren’t deep fried !

.

.