Thick banana & peanut lassi — calories your child can sip for healthy weight gain (1–2 years)
A thick banana-peanut lassi — calories she can sip on the days she won't eat.
Why am I making this?
Some days a child clamps her mouth shut at every plate — and that's not your failure, it's just a hard day. A drink can rescue it. Liquids slip down when chewing won't, and a thick lassi of curd, banana and peanut quietly carries real protein, fat and calories. Keep it thick so it nourishes rather than just fills, and let her sip it like a treat.
Ancient text
Curd and its preparations are nourishing and appetite-supporting when taken rightly.
The classical texts describe curd and its preparations (dadhi, takra) as nourishing and appetite-supporting when taken correctly, and value sweet, strength-giving foods for the thin. A sweet, curd-based drink reflects that pairing of nourishing dairy with a sweet fruit.
Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana — the sections on curd and its preparations (dadhi, takra). Reviewed by the Aayu Ahaar editorial team.
Modern research
Liquids empty from the stomach faster than solids, so a calorie-rich drink can add energy and protein even when appetite for food is low — useful on low-intake days.
ICMR-NIN, Indian Food Composition Tables (IFCT) 2017 — protein and fat values for curd, banana and groundnut. WHO, Complementary feeding guidance — nutrient-dense foods and drinks to support energy intake. Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), Infant & Young Child Feeding guidelines.
How to make it
What you'll need
- 1/2 small ripe banana
- 1/4 cup thick full-fat curd
- 1 tsp smooth peanut butter (unsweetened) or 1 tsp finely ground roasted peanuts
- 2-3 tbsp full-fat milk, to loosen
- A pinch of cinnamon (optional)
- Add the banana, curd and peanut butter (or ground peanuts) to a blender or a deep bowl.
- Blend or whisk until completely smooth and thick.
- Loosen with a little milk to a sippable but creamy consistency — keep it thick, not watery.
- Add a pinch of cinnamon, serve fresh in a cup at room temperature.
How to feed it
| Texture | thick and creamy, sippable from a cup — not watery |
| Portion | about 1/2 cup |
| How often | once a day on slow-appetite days |
| Best time | as a between-meal top-up, not as a meal replacement |
What's inside
Grow this recipe with your child
| 6–12m | offer thicker as a mash with a spoon, not as a drink; tiny amount of smooth peanut once introduced |
| 1–2y | as written, in an open or sippy cup |
| 2–5y | add a date or a few soaked almonds and blend |
| 5y+ | serve as a post-play protein shake |
What every mother asks
Won't a drink fill her up and spoil meals?
Is peanut safe for a toddler?
Is a sweet drink a bad habit?
A few honest notes
- Peanut and dairy are common allergens — introduce each separately first; use only smooth peanut butter or finely ground peanut, never whole nuts (choking).
- Keep it thick; very thin sweet drinks aren't ideal for teeth or appetite.
- Serve fresh and at room temperature.
- A helpful top-up for weight gain, used alongside your paediatrician's guidance, not as a meal replacement.
Storage & make-ahead
Best made fresh and served right away, as banana and curd separate and brown on standing. If needed, refrigerate covered for up to a couple of hours and whisk again before serving.
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.