Banana & almond sheera in ghee — a warm bowl for healthy weight gain (1–2 years)
For the toddler who just won't gain — a ghee-rich bowl that adds wholesome calories the gentle way, with no empty sugar.
Why am I making this?
Around the first birthday, growth naturally slows and appetite dips — and that is exactly when many parents start to worry the scale has stalled. The answer is rarely more food; it is more nourishment in every spoonful. Ghee, banana and almond pack wholesome calories and healthy fats into a small, warm bowl most toddlers happily finish — gentle, traditional weight gain without forcing and without empty sugar.
Ancient text
Ghee and milk-based dishes are described as strengthening, weight-building foods for growing children.
Ghee and milk-based preparations have a long place in Indian tradition as strengthening, weight-building foods for growing children — warm, deeply nourishing, and easy to digest.
Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana — the chapters on nourishing fats (Sneha) and on wheat (Annapana). Reviewed by the Aayu Ahaar editorial team.
Modern research
Ghee is highly energy-dense (about 900 kcal per 100 g), and paediatric guidance for underweight children favours raising a meal's energy density with added healthy fats over larger portions or sugar; almonds add protein, healthy fat and vitamin E, and banana adds easily digested energy.
Indian Food Composition Tables, National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR), 2017 — energy density of ghee, almond and banana. World Health Organization — complementary feeding: energy-dense foods for healthy weight gain in young children. Indian Academy of Pediatrics — guidance on raising dietary energy density for underweight children.
How to make it
What you'll need
- 1 small ripe banana, mashed
- 1 tbsp fine sooji (semolina)
- 5–6 almonds, soaked, peeled and ground fine
- 1 tsp ghee
- ¼ cup full-fat milk (or water)
- A pinch of cardamom
- Warm the ghee in a small pan and roast the sooji on low heat for 2–3 minutes, until it smells nutty.
- Add the ground almonds and stir for a few seconds.
- Pour in the milk slowly, whisking so no lumps form. Cook 2–3 minutes until thick.
- Turn off the heat, fold in the mashed banana and cardamom. The banana sweetens it naturally — no sugar needed.
- Cool to warm (not hot), check the temperature on your wrist, and serve soft and smooth.
How to feed it
| Texture | Soft, smooth mash — no whole nut pieces |
| Quantity | 3–5 tablespoons as a snack or breakfast |
| Frequency | Daily, as one nourishing meal within a varied diet |
| Best time | Mid-morning or evening, between main meals |
What's inside
Grow this recipe with your child
| 1–2 years | Smooth and soft; almonds ground fine, banana well mashed |
| 2–3 years | A little chunkier; add a few finely chopped soft dates |
| 3 years+ | Stir in mixed ground nuts and serve warm as a comfort food |
What every mother asks
Isn't ghee fattening in a bad way?
Will this actually help my child gain weight?
My toddler refuses new foods.
Can I add sugar to make it sweeter?
A few honest notes
- Grind almonds finely — no whole nuts for a toddler, to avoid choking.
- Introduce almonds in a small amount first to rule out a nut allergy; with a family history of nut allergy, check with your paediatrician.
- Serve warm, not hot, and always seated and supervised.
- If your child is persistently not gaining weight, see your paediatrician — food helps, but growth concerns deserve a check-up.
Storage & make-ahead
Best made fresh and served warm. If needed, keep covered in the fridge for a few hours and warm gently with a splash of milk before serving; don't store overnight to reheat.
A gentle, honest note — this is one nourishing food among many, not a complete meal on its own. Aayu Ahaar walks beside the doctor's care, never in its place.