Kothimbir-Methi Paratha- Cilantro Fenugreek Flatbread

Hello Dearies!!! I am back today with another kids favorite. Both my boys love taking parathas, as they are easy to eat and filing also. But the main reason for me to make lunch box items that are  kid friendly is to avoid them being teased by their peers. Indian food is spicy, and has a distinct smell. I by no means give them traditional foods or even with strong spices. 

Donut takes food from home mainly because we are vegetarians and the hot lunch option  from school has cheese almost everyday in its menu. Its either cheese toast or cheese quesadilla or buttered noodles with cheese sauce. He prefers home cooked food so its mainly sandwiches, fried rice or noodles. I do not give him tadka rice, tamarind rice or biryani etc which can be difficult to eat for some and the strong spicy aroma difficult for others.

Yet  a few days back, he was mocked and teased over his lunch of fried rice. It was really unfortunate on part of the students to ridicule their peer over lunch/food. We did take it up and discussed the incident with the school authorities. But it has become a matter of concern as  a parent if things are going the way they should be.

I was suggested by some of my very happening friends that we overreacted and teasing was just a boy thing. I should have been more careful in giving the lunch to my kid that he does not get mocked at. 

Is this the way we react and is this the message we want to give our kids? If this is not bullying what is?

Respect is something kids need to learn from the young age and learn to treat others the way they want to be treated themselves. Mocking or teasing is fun only when both parties enjoy the happenings. If one party is getting hurt and offended that amounts to harassment and bullying.

In my never ending effort to give  healthy, easy for me to make and easy for them to eat lunch, I am sticking to  some simple meals. I try adding an egg for the growing boys as  our diet needs some form of protein. However much I try, I cannot guarantee that Donut will not be teased over food, but at least I can try to eliminate/reduce it at my end.

To make the Parathas;

You will need;

2 cup Whole Wheat Flour

1/2 cup Cilantro washed, drained and Finely Chopped

2 Tbspn Kasuri/Dry Methi Leaves-Crushed

Salt to taste

1 tsp Red chili/cayenne powder

1 tspn Haldi/Turmeric

1/2 tsp cumin powder

1/2 tsp coriander powder

1/2 Amchur or dry mango powder

1tsp Sugar

1 tsp Garam masala

2 tbspn oil to knead the dough

Water as needed to make the dough soft.

In a wide bowl, take the cilantro and dry methi leaves and the dry powders and add salt and sugar, add oil and mix well, now start adding the flour and start mixing in the flour. Add teaspoon by tea spoon water till you have a soft pliable dough. Once  the dough is soft enough, cover  and let rest for 15-20 mins.

After the dough is rested, roll out the parathas like you would make roti's( make small balls  of the dough and roll out thin round tortillas dusting flour if the tortillas stick to the surface). Heat a griddle or tawa on medium heat and cook the partahas on one side. Flip the parathas and spray oil and cook the other side. Repeat on side one and cook both sides. Serve hot with some ketchup. or green chutney or any curry of your choice.

Optional: If making it for kids lunch, I usually scramble an egg with milk and make a small frankie of the egg with the paratha, in this way.

Hope that you all have a wonderful time and smile when you see your little one bringing home empty lunch boxes.