Dressing up Diwali sweets for kids

Modaks can be given a twist by stuffing them with crushed sweetened sesame seeds or chocochips; fruit crisps can be made more appealing with icecream or custard, and carrot or zucchini cupcakes are more fun when decorated with icing or sprinkles

This time of the year is chock-a-block with festivals and holiday cheer lasting all the way up to the New Year celebrations. With food occupying centre-stage at these times, most of us like to give our dietary restrictions a long rest during the festive season. Understandable, as refusing to eat sweets or such calorie-rich items at a relative's place can sometimes lead to a family feud!
When it comes to the kids, their regular meals go for a toss with people constantly dropping in, or you having to visit family and friends with kids in tow. They tend to eat a lot of junk food, snacks and sweets that they can lay their hands on, when you are cleaning, cooking and entertaining.
With a little bit of planning and thought, you can make sure your kids' nutrition is not compromised in the hustle bustle of the festivities. This is the time to allow them their indulgences, but always with a little moderation
Before you take them out to a party make sure you feed them a balanced meal at home so their main meal is not compromised. Also, you don't have to worry about when the food will be served by your hosts, less chances of your kids getting cranky and snacking overly on junk food as hunger pangs set in. When you are sipping on your drinks, get them a glass of fresh fruit juice or milk shake instead of aerated drinks.
 
Here are some ideas for kid friendly festival treats:
Easy pizzas can be made on whole wheat bread slices using homemade pizza sauce (can be made days ahead and stored in refrigerator). Top with sliced coloured bell peppers and cheese, bake in the oven, sprinkle fresh herbs and cut into manageable pieces — sure to be a hit with the kids.
Anything made in bite sized pieces that the kids can pick up and eat while running around the house, is sure to keep them and you happy.
Do a twist on the traditional festival treats to make them more appealing to kids. For eg: Karanji / somasi filled with coconut, chopped dried fruits, chocochips and nuts. Kozhakattai (steamed modaks) with cooked chana-dal both savoury and sweet, or stuffed with crushed sweetened sesame seeds, or even a large chocochip with the traditional coconut filling. You could even skewer the sweet modaks and partly or wholly cover them with chocolate ganache, chill and serve and watch the joy on the faces of chocoholic kids. Halwas made using seasonal vegetables like carrots, beets, bottle gourd can be used as a filling for mini-tarts. Chikki (praline) made using a variety of nuts and natural jaggery can be served as it is as a snack or as a crunchy topping over ice cream. Fruit crisps can be made by slicing fruits like banana, pineapple, apple, pears, dipping them in sugar syrup and baking at a very low temperature for a few hours. These crisps will be a welcome addition to ice creams or custard. Jelly made using real fruit juices can be set in moulds of fun shapes.
Pancakes and muffins are great ways to please kids and also for sneaking in fruits in the form of diced fruit or preserves. Whole wheat chocolate pancakes with chocochips and a light dusting of sugar is a kid's delight that you'd love to polish off yourself. Fruits like grapes, berries or small chunks of apple, pear or pieces of whole wheat bread or sponge cake can be skewered and dipped in chocolate sauce, custard or shrikhand — a fun activity dessert for kids.

Baking little cupcakes with carrot cake or chocolate zucchini cake batter and allowing the kids to decorate them with chocolate or coloured sprinkles over chocolate ganache or icing can be fun to do as well as eat and share with friends. Red velvet like cupcakes can be made using beetroot puree, incorporating the goodness of beets to get a brilliant colour.
Use your imagination and a little consideration of what your kid loves and you can come up with some amazing eats to make the festive season special for the young ones.