Popularly known as Chef Chinu Vaze on Instagram, Shilarna Vaze shares her expert tips to help mums prepare nutrient-dense food that their kids will enjoy. Here are 11 simple hacks to boost your children's nutrition.

1. Superfoods galore Incorporate spirulina, moringa, maca root powder, bee pollen, and amla powder into juices, smoothies, soups, and thepla dough for a nutrient-packed boost.

2. Nut and seed butters Nut and seed butters are fantastic for baking, but they also make great pancake toppings, spreads for toast or rice crackers, and can be turned into dips or dressings.

3. Flaxseed powder Flaxseed powder can be added to chapati dough, batters, muesli, and even used as an egg substitute for eggless baking. It’s also perfect for sprinkling over fruit or mixing into breadcrumbs.

4. Nuts and seeds These are fantastic as a snack or as toppings for salads, smoothies, and porridge. Be sure to soak them beforehand to activate their nutrients.

5. Dried fruits and berries These energy-packed wonders are perfect for chia puddings, oats, ragi porridge, snack boxes, or smoothies. They’re a great way to increase the energy content of any meal.

6. Coconut Fresh coconut sprinkled on salads, koshimbir (Maharashtrian salad), and bhajis (curries) add a wonderful flavour. You can also replace dairy with coconut milk in smoothies or hot chocolate.

7. Soaking, fermenting, and sprouting Soak grains like ragi, legumes such as moong, matki, and channa, and even beans. Ferment rice, grains, dairy, and vegetables, and soak nuts, dals, and seeds to enhance their digestibility and nutritional value.

8. Chicken stock or bone broth Swap water for chicken stock or bone broth in khichdi, purées, soups, and sauces. It’s a fantastic way to enrich the flavour and nutritional value of meals.

9. Eggs Eggs are an excellent source of protein. Add them to fried rice, noodles, avocado toast, or even pancake and chilla (crepe) batter. They also work wonderfully in custards.

10. Popped or toasted grains and millet Toasted grains and millets make a crunchy, nutrient-rich addition to snack mixes, energy bars, chikkis, laddoos, or even homemade muesli. They also work well as toppings for toast, salads, and puddings.

11. Sneak in nutrients Sneak vegetables into doughs, seeds into porridges, or fermented foods into bhajis (curries). These small changes are an easy way to boost the nutritional content of meals without anyone noticing.