The Literature Times: Could you please share what inspired you to write Yummy Eats for Little Ones?
Pallavi Kumari: When I started solids for my daughter, I was struggling with not only a fussy eater but also a limited menu. Internet searches are restricted to only purees and mashed food for 6–8-months-old babies which became monotonous for my daughter after a few months. Her paediatrician too suggested changing the menu every three days which meant creating a diverse and long list of food items. Till the time my daughter started pre-school, her menu included around forty items. The idea for this book emerged during a conversation with a small group of parents of preschoolers. They were all concerned about their children’s lack of interest in food, let alone enjoying it. What struck me most was the limited variety of meals these parents were offering their kids. The struggle only grows when kids start school and parents have to think about lunchbox recipes also. That’s when I realized there was a real need for a resource that could make mealtimes easier, healthier, and more enjoyable for both parents and children.
The Literature Times: How did your personal journey as a mother influence the recipes and ideas in your book?
Pallavi Kumari: This book wouldn’t have been possible without my journey as a mother. While I have been cooking for over twenty years, cooking for toddlers and kids is a completely different experience. The real challenge lies in creating meals that are not only nutritious but also appealing to little ones—especially fussy eaters. Every recipe and idea in this book has been shaped by my own experience of feeding my daughter, while facing the difficulty of creating kid-friendly recipes.
The Literature Times: What do you feel makes this cookbook different from other children’s recipe books available today?
Pallavi Kumari: What makes this cookbook different is that it goes beyond the usual purees and mashed foods typically suggested for young children. The recipes are designed to grow with kids – from their first bites to school lunchboxes – offering both variety and nutrition. Every dish is practical, tested at home, and created with a mother’s perspective and keeping in mind the issues parents face while feeding to kids. It’s less about fancy meals and more about real food children can enjoy every day.
Most of the recipes in the book include two versions – one for toddlers and another for preschoolers. To make life easier for busy parents, the recipes in this book have been grouped by preparation time – perfect for busy mornings or relaxed weekends.
The cookbook also revives some of the traditional recipes our mothers once prepared for us and are slowly disappearing from our children’s menus. In addition, many of these recipes can be enjoyed by parents too, eliminating the need to prepare separate meals for kids.
The Literature Times: Which recipe from your book is your personal favourite, and why?
Pallavi Kumari: My personal favourite recipes from the book are – the ragi-banana pancake, which is a staple breakfast at our home, and the avocado shake. For the past three years, I’ve been regularly making these for my daughter, and she never gets bored of them. They’re not only nutritious, quick, and easy to prepare, but also enjoyed by the other adults in the family.
The Literature Times: Many parents struggle with picky eaters — what advice would you like to give them?
Pallavi Kumari: The first 1–2 years after starting solids can be very challenging for both parents and children. Some days, the delicious meal parents lovingly prepare might end up in the sink, and on others, they may spend hours just to feed a few spoons to the little ones. This can feel frustrating, but my biggest advice is to be patient and hang in there. Keep offering a variety of foods, switch up the menu, and don’t feel disheartened if your child refuses to eat on certain days. For children, this is a whole new journey of exploring textures, flavours, and routines which may take time. Avoid force-feeding, and remember that repeated exposure often helps kids accept new foods.
The Literature Times: How did you go about testing and developing the 60 recipes included in the book?
Pallavi Kumari: I have been testing and developing these recipes over the past four years, ever since my daughter started eating solids. Every recipe has been tried multiple times in my kitchen to ensure taste, nutrition and measurement. Some of the recipes, included in the cookbook, were already enjoyed by adults in the family. I customized the texture and spiciness of those recipes to suit a toddler’s palate. Over time, I kept refining the recipes based on my daughter’s preferences. The goal was to create meals that are not only easy to cook for busy parents but also enjoyable for kids to eat.
The Literature Times: What was the most enjoyable part of the writing and publishing process for you?
Pallavi Kumari: The most enjoyable part of the writing and publishing process was seeing my ideas take the shape of a structured book. It was deeply satisfying and a moment of pure joy to hold the first copy in my hands. Another aspect I truly cherished was reliving my daughter’s growing years by documenting the recipes I prepared for her. I savoured all those little moments — her first bite, the dishes she asked me to cook again, and struggles with fussy eating.
The Literature Times: As a content creator, how did your writing background help you in shaping this cookbook?
Pallavi Kumari: My background as a content creator immensely helped in creating this cookbook. Over the years, I honed the skills of presenting information in a clear, engaging and relatable way which helped me offer simple, practical and easy to follow instructions in the cookbook. Above all, my writing experience gave me the confidence to document recipes and bring it to life through publishing.
The Literature Times: How do you balance the need for nutrition with the need for taste when creating recipes for children?
Pallavi Kumari: Balancing nutrition with taste has always been the core of my cooking process. Children need nutrition to grow but also flavours to enjoy, so blending taste and health is the key. In my recipe book, I have used nutrient-dense ingredients, like ragi, oats, wheat pasta, avocados, daliya, paneer, sago, fruits and seasonal vegetables. I kept the dishes simple yet flavourful, while introducing variations to suit the palate of different kids. In addition, I avoid making meals overly fancy – the goal is to create wholesome food kids can look forward to eating, while ensuring parents don’t feel overwhelmed when preparing them.
The Literature Times: Are you working on any future writing or cooking projects that you’d like to share with your readers?
Pallavi Kumari: Yes, I am currently working on another cookbook which will bring together all the traditional recipes cooked in my home. From unique breakfast items to vegetable curries – this detailed book will contain more than hundred recipes. My aim is to preserve the flavours I grew up with and share them with families who wish to add authentic, comforting meals to their everyday menus.
The Literature Times: Are you active on social media, and how can readers or fellow authors connect with you?
Pallavi Kumari: Yes, I’d love to hear what readers think about my book. I look forward to their valuable feedback. They can reach me at Instagram or Facebook or through email – contentpallavi@gmail.com.
