Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for children, but many times children get bored of eating the same things. In such a situation, mothers always face the problem of what new and healthy food should be prepared so that the child can eat it happily. Even though the jam available in the market is tasty, it contains preservatives, artificial colors and high sugar, which is not considered right to be given to the child daily. For this reason, home-made fruit jam can become a healthy option, which is both tasty and nutritious for children.
Homemade jam is ready in just 10-15 minutes and its most important thing is that it does not contain any chemical, preservative or artificial color. If you want, you can make it with any seasonal fruit, like strawberry, mango, apple, pomegranate or mixed fruits. You can increase or decrease the amount of sugar in it as per your choice. Not only this, homemade jam contains fiber, vitamins, antioxidants and natural sweetness, which also help in increasing the immunity of the child, keeping the skin healthy and improving digestion. Therefore, applying it on chapatti and making rolls for breakfast is a balanced and healthy option for children.
Ingredients required to make homemade jam
For this you will need just a few simple things – 1 cup chopped fruits (strawberries/mango/apple), 2–3 tablespoons sugar or jaggery, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and some water. Jam made from strawberry or mango often cooks more quickly, whereas jam made from apple requires a little water and a little time. Lemon juice not only enhances the flavor but also helps the jam to set naturally. If you want to make it more healthy, you can use jaggery, which will add a desi flavor to the taste.
Jam making method
First of all, cut any fruit into small pieces and put it in a pan and add 2–3 tablespoons of sugar or jaggery in it. Now cook it on low flame. Within a short while the fruits will start releasing their water and will melt and become soft. Keep in mind that keep stirring the mixture continuously, so that it does not burn from below. After 8-10 minutes, the fruits will start getting completely mashed, then if you want, you can mash them lightly with a masher. When the mixture starts thickening, add 1 teaspoon lemon juice and cook for 2 more minutes. Your jam is ready when it starts to coat the spoon and looks like a light jelly rather than being runny.
Can store for so many days
Let the jam cool and then fill it in a clean glass jar and store it in the refrigerator. It easily lasts for 10–12 days as it does not contain any preservatives. Now just take a hot roti for breakfast, spread homemade jam on it and make a roll. Children will eat it with love and you will also be able to give them this healthy breakfast without being tension-free. Homemade jam is a perfect combination of taste and health, which every mother can easily prepare in her kitchen.
