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Copyright © 2025 Foodies Only
Copyright © 2025 Foodies Only
6 Min
23/01/2026
Festivities extend to every space in India, and when kids go to school during the festivities, they often need something other than roti and sabzi. This article looks at easy lunchbox recipes that can be made for kids during festivities beyond roti sabzi, but not junk food, like paneer rolls, mini uttapams, among others. Dive deeper to know more.
In India, festivals are more than rituals and traditions; they extend to food in every aspect. From Kolkata’s Durga puja pandals to Diwali sweets, all festivals have their unique foods, which are made and distributed. More than adults, the festive season is special for kids because they tend to eat all sorts of things without any warning from parents. However, if this pattern continues, there is a high chance that kids might get used to eating fried foods and sweets for all their meals. Lunch in school is probably the only meal where they can be kept away from the festive food. But giving them sabzi roti is unfair, so this article focuses on some creative dishes that can be given to kids in their lunchbox that are not junk but are fancy. For example, paneer rolls, fruit skewers, or mini uttapams.
These dishes will keep them away from junk, yet continue the festive vibes for kids. Mini uttapam topped with veggies, paneer rolls, cheese rolls, or fruit skewers look appealing but also have the necessary nutritional dose without letting the sweets and fried foods overpower. These recipes are easy to make, which will fit perfectly in the festive schedule without being a burden. Read below to know more.
There is no way there won’t be paneer at home during festivities. It is used in curries during Diwali and even during Navratri fasts. Turning this into a lunchbox dish is easy; all you have to do is sautee paneer lightly with spices and wrap it in parathas or rotis, and slice the roll into tiffin-sized bites. This will be something new for the kids, and also assure parents that the kids are not eating any junk but just protein. You can add cheese or veggies for some extra flavour and colour. These paneer rolls are portable and can easily be carried in a tiffin box without any fuss.
Mini uttapams are a perfect lunchbox idea. They fit easily in tiffins and taste delicious. Top uttapams with grated carrots, capsicum, and corn, and it will look vibrant and colourful, ideal for kids. You can keep the batter ready ahead of time, and make it whenever needed. Whether it is for school or in between events during the festivities. This is a quick and nutritious snack that will be made in under 15 minutes, and its size and colours will make kids gulp it down without making any fuss about it.
Festivals have a lot of sweets in the form of laddoos, barfis and halwas. But more often than not, these sweets cannot be healthy, especially for kids. Fruit skewers are a perfect alternative for this. All you have to do is chop fruits into small pieces, for example, watermelon, apples, bananas, grapes and arrange them on sticks. It will look appealing and also satisfy the sweet cravings of kids. You can drizzle some chaat masala over it to add more flavour. The fruit skewers fit perfectly into the fasting diet as well, which will help you utilise the same fruits for kids’ lunchboxes rather than making something new altogether.
Parathas are made during festive meals, often stuffed with potatoes or paneer; they make for a perfect festive dish. Its mini versions, when cut into small squares or rectangles, are a clever way to utilise them for kids’ tiffins. You can choose to replace the usual stuffings with mashed peas or spiced sweet potatoes that keep the taste and nutrition both in place. Pair these parathas with pickle or yoghurt dip. Kids can eat them as stuffed nachos with dips without complaining!
Many Indian festivals have a special place for sweets, especially made from dry fruits. Parents can make a quick snack or tiffin dish with these dry fruits. All you have to do is grind the dry fruits together and add some cocoa to it, and bind it together with the help of ghee. Do not add refined sugar to it, but use natural sugars like dates. These laddoos can be easily packed into tiffins and taken everywhere. It will give quick energy to kids to hop on to another festive event, with their nutritional requirements being met.
Foods are an integral part of festive celebrations, but that does not mean your kids have to eat the sweets and fried snacks for every meal. With a little creativity, you can use ingredients from the festivities and turn them into delicious and easy dishes like rolls, skewers, and laddoos that will keep the kids excited and also balance taste with health.
