Dear Ma,

I have a 20 months old who is not gaining weight well. Doctor has advised me to add nuts to his diet, but he does not like them. Please advise how I can include nuts in my baby’s food.

Anjana

Hi Anjana,

Nuts are very good for kids as fat contained in them is mostly unsaturated fat. Other than fat, they are a good source of protein as well. You can easily include nuts like almonds, walnuts and cashews in your baby’s diet.

Most kids do not like nuts but like raisins. Give raisins to your baby for snacking. Wash few raisins and give in a bowl to him to feed himself. You can powder nuts like almonds, cashews, walnuts and pistachios in a mixer and keep in an air-tight container. Add these to various food items which you make. Easy one are desserts like kheer, halwa, gajar halwa, laddu, cakes, cookies etc. But you can also easily add them to any savory dishes like pulao, khichdi , pancakes etc.

If your toddler likes milk and takes them from a glass, make almond milk and give. He will ask for it again and again.

Your toddler will not come to know that he is eating nuts and gradually will start liking the taste as well.