CHENNAI: With the brutal onslaught of summer, engage your kids in making simple and delicious cool drinks — from fruit punches to chilled shakes — making the holidays fruitful and the kitchen experience enjoyable
As the mercury levels rise up every day, finding ways to cool off this summer seems to be a horrifying affair for many parents. But worry not, there are a few ways we can beat the heat. With easy DIY popsicles and cool drinks, and some water fruits and vegetables, summer can be less excruciating.
With kids staying indoors, a bit of time in the kitchen is good for them, many parents report. Homemade juices, fruit punches, ice lollies... options are infinite. Experts also suggest that DIY cooking is the healthiest option, as along with summer comes waterborne diseases.
Ernakulam-based cooking trainer, Mahima Simon emphasises the importance of inculcating cooking habits in children. “It is a life skill. And summer vacation is the perfect time to hone this skill. It will help children be independent in future,” says Mahima, who has been rendering summer cooking classes since 2012.
Also, doing no-fire cooking on weekends is a perfect way to calm down and spend a chill time. Cook burgers, sandwiches, cookies, cakes and especially drinks. Priya Kolassery, a home chef in Thiruvananthapuram, says the habit of cooking one’s food gives children awareness about respecting food too.
“Cooking together with your children is the perfect time to strike up conversations and guide them through life. Parents can teach them what is good for the body, how to avoid food wastage, how much effort is put into making food, sharing food with others and so on. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, start with just lime juice,” Priya insists.
By making fresh lime juice with them, parents can inspire them to reduce the use of soft drinks. “Also while cooking, let them suggest ingredients. Maybe they will come up with a tasty recipe,” she shares.
Non-fire cooking recipes will be an added advantage in future too, says the home chef. “As many parents are working, these easy and small recipes like baking will enable children to prepare their food when hungry rather than ordering from outside. Sandwiches, cookies and fruit punches are all easy to make,” she elaborates.
“Also it will reduce screen time too, you know,” adds Priya. Thiruvananthapuram-based chef Arun Vijayakumar, who is the father of a toddler, says, it generates a spirit of togetherness, too. From understanding food adulteration to becoming creative, kitchen bonding can create wonders.
“Preparing summer drinks will help them learn food hygiene. Also doing DIY recipes gives kids hands-on experience. They learn to respect food even if it is just a glass of orange juice. They will understand how to avoid wastage if they are taught about the proportion of ingredients. Also, activities like choosing vegetables, cutting, slicing, seasoning, plating etc, increase their motor skills, too,” he says.
Arun adds that parents can use vegetables and fruits as colouring agents to recreate fancy foods. “We can make it at home itself. Saffron, turmeric, tomato, watermelon, orange, pomegranate, beetroot, carrot, maccha, cocoa, and coffee can be used as colouring agents,” he adds.
Oreo Chocolate Pops
by Priya Kolassery, home chef
Ingredients
Oreo biscuits
Choco bar sticks
Melted white/ milk/ dark chocolate
Gems or sprinkles
Method
Fix the choco bar sticks in between the Oreo biscuits. Dip them in melted chocolate solution. Stick the gems or put the sprinkles on top of it. Keep them in the refrigerator for five minutes
Lime-watermelon fruit punch
Ingredients
Watermelon juice cubes
Lemon slices
Water
Pudina leaves
Soaked chia seeds
Method
In a bowl, squeeze lemon slices, add sugar and water and mix well. Watermelon juice cubes should be made without adding sugar. Put the soaked chia seeds and watermelon cubes in the solution and mix well.
OR: Take a glass, put the watermelon cubes in it and pour the lime juice over them. Garnish with pudina leaves.
Pulpy grape juice
by Sajna Riju, food blogger from Kannur
Ingredients
Black grapes: 1/2 kg
Water: 1 litre
Sugar: 1 cup
Soaked chia seeds: one teaspoon
Method
In a pan pour water and add grapes. Let it boil till the skin of the grapes peels off. Remove the pan from the fire. Once cooled, remove the skin and seeds. Cut a few grape pulps and keep them aside. Take the rest of the grape pulp, and reboil them in the same water again. Put sugar and boil it at a simmer for 10 minutes. Strain the solution in a clean bowl. Take a juice glass, put a teaspoon of the grape pulp kept aside and pour the strained juice into it. Put the soaked chia seeds on top of it and serve.
By Chef Arun Vijayakumar
Yogurt Parfait
Ingredients
Yogurt: 1/2 cup
Granola: 1/4 cup
Sliced fruit (berries, banana, mango): 1/4 cup
Honey: 1 tablespoon
Method
Layer yogurt, granola, and fruit in a glass. Drizzle honey over the top and serve.
Ingredients
Ripened banana (frozen): 1
Chocolate syrup: 2 tbsp
Vanilla ice cream:1 scoop
Grated coconut: 1 tbsp
Method
Add a scoop of ice cream to a bowl. Peel and cut bananas into thin slices. Put the sliced bananas on top of the ice cream. Drizzle generously with chocolate syrup, and garnish with grated coconut.
Chocolate banana splits
Ingredients
Ripened banana (frozen): 1
Chocolate syrup: 2 tbsp
Vanilla ice cream:1 scoop
Grated coconut: 1 tbsp
Method
Add a scoop of ice cream to a bowl. Peel and cut bananas into thin slices. Put the sliced bananas on top of the ice cream. Drizzle generously with chocolate syrup, and garnish with grated coconut.
Kitkat shake
Ingredients
Vanilla ice cream: 2 scoops
Milk: 100 ml
Kit Kat chocolate bars: 4
Chocolate sauce: 2 tbsp
Whipped cream: For topping
Method
In a blender, grind all ingredients except whipping cream. Pour the mix into a glass. Spread whipping cream on top of the shake. Garnish with a few pieces of chocolate.