We obsess about how important healthy eating is for us, but there are a few other people who rely on us to keep them eating well, too… our children! Making sure kids eat what's good for them can be difficult since foods packed with nutrition don't always please their tastebuds. But teaching kids healthy habits early on will make them want to eat healthy food later, which is a win for everyone. Here are 12 fabulous recipes to keep your kids happy and eating what is good, not just what tastes good.
Vegan BBQ Pulled Jackfruit Sandwiches
This sandwich is a great dupe for the real deal in a handheld vegan package. (via Brit + Co)
Apple Cheddar Waffles
Take sweet and savory to a whole new level with these apple cheddar waffles; we promise your kiddos will love every bite. (via Brit + Co)
Vegetarian Pigs in a Blanket
This base of crescent rolls, cheese, and breakfast sausages are so yummy that your kids won’t even notice they’re eating veggie links. (via Brit + Co)
Whole30 Animal-Style Burgers
Make sure to use high quality minced meat for healthier burgers. You can also substitute beef for chicken or lamb. (via Brit + Co)
Paleo Air Fried Chicken Tenders
Less oil and no frying means your kids can eat as many of their favorite chicken nuggets as they want. Well, sort of. (via Brit + Co)
Thick Cut Oven Fries
Here’s another no-fry situation that leaves everyone, and their stomachs, happy. (via Brit + Co/America’s Test Kitchen)
5-Ingredient Bean Burgers
Beans are a good source of protein, and mixed with walnuts and cilantro they create a consistency that’s a perfect substitute for burger meat. (via Brit + Co)
Chicken Pineapple Skewers
Yawn, chicken can get oh-so-boring. Add some pineapple and a coconut peanut sauce to add some flare. (via Brit + Co)
This recipe turns a grilled cheese sandwich into a filling meal with its nutritious ingredients like vegetables, instead of leaving your kids to fill up on cheese. (via Cooking Classy)
Wondering how to introduce different vegetables to your kids? Like this! (via Damn Delicious)
If you can sneak all these healthy seeds and fruit in into yogurt, you rule. (via Fit Foodie Finds)
Superfood Egg Sandwich
Boiled eggs are a handy thing to keep available in the fridge. You can pull 'em out and whip up this yummy dish in just a matter of minutes. (via Brit + Co)
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Isara Krieger
Isara is a photographer who loves words, and a writer who sees the world as a series of photographs. She's an East-to-West-Coast transplant who eats a lot. You can find her foodie insights on her blog Alone With A Cupcake, where she shares her thoughts on the best restaurants in Boston, San Francisco and places in between.
FAQs
Serve lean meats and other good sources of protein, such as fish, eggs, beans, and nuts. Choose whole-grain breads and cereals so kids get more fiber. Limit fat intake by avoiding fried foods and choosing healthier cooking methods, such as broiling, grilling, roasting, and steaming.
What are some good meals for children? ›
Top kids' dinner ideas
- 2) Easy salmon curry. ...
- 3) Swedish meatball burgers. ...
- 5) Chicken pasta bake. ...
- 6) Homemade fish fingers. ...
- 7) Air-fryer jacket potatoes. ...
- 8) Creamy chicken stew. ...
- 9) Veggie toad-in-the-hole. ...
- 11) Fish pie mac 'n' cheese.
19 Ideas For Easy Meals For Large Groups
- Taco Bar. A taco bar is one of the best inexpensive meals for large groups. ...
- Meatballs. ...
- Butter Chicken. ...
- Lasagna. ...
- Chili. ...
- Homemade Pizza. ...
- Baked Pasta. ...
- Skewers.
Here are the top 15 foods you should be eating according to our experts:
- Fish. ...
- Broccoli or any of the cruciferous vegetables. ...
- Beets. ...
- Spinach and other leafy green vegetables. ...
- Kale. ...
- Peanut butter. ...
- Almonds. ...
- Mangos.
Did you know?
| Grain | Vegetable | Dairy |
|---|
| Cereal | Fresh veggies with low-fat dip | Yogurt |
| Wheat crackers with cheese | Celery with peanut butter* | String cheese |
| Rice cakes | Baby carrots | Pudding |
| Trail mix (cereal, nuts*, dried fruit) | 100% vegetable juice | Flavored low-fat milk |
2 more rowsWhat to eat
- fruit and vegetables.
- starchy foods, such as potatoes, bread, rice, pasta and other starchy carbohydrates.
- beans and pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins.
- dairy and alternatives.
- oils and spreads.
Using Harvard's Healthy Eating Plate as a guide, we recommend eating mostly vegetables, fruit, and whole grains, healthy fats, and healthy proteins. We suggest drinking water instead of sugary beverages, and we also address common dietary concerns such as salt and sodium, vitamins, and alcohol.
What are 5 healthy eating habits for kids? ›
10 Good Eating Habits to Teach Kids
- Eat breakfast daily. Breakfast is essential for giving children energy and focus. ...
- Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. ...
- Eat snacks in moderation. ...
- Drink plenty of water. ...
- Listen to your body's hunger cues. ...
- Avoid overeating. ...
- Eat meals together as a family. ...
- Avoid eating in front of screens.
Breakfast Ideas
French toast, waffles, or pancakes (try wheat or whole-grain varieties) cold cereal and milk. hot cereal, such as oatmeal or cream of wheat (try some dried fruit or nuts on top) whole-grain toast, bagel, or English muffin with cheese.
What is a kiddie meal? ›
The kids' meal or children's meal is a fast food combination meal tailored to and marketed to children. Most kids' meals come in colorful bags or cardboard boxes with depictions of activities/games on the bag or box and a toy inside.
Speaking of cheese and tortillas, or any form of bread, quesadillas and grilled cheese sandwiches are no-brainers. Graham's son was 9 when he started making his own quesadillas. It's still his go-to meal.
How to feed 100 people cheap? ›
Serving budget-friendly cuisines like salads, sandwiches and pasta dishes can be a very cost-effective choice. Or, if you're looking for a more casual option, how about a barbeque? Burgers, hot dogs and other grill-oriented foods are sure to be crowd favorites, and they won't rack up a big bill.
How to feed 12 people cheaply? ›
Create a “Bar” and feed everyone cafeteria-style
There are lots of bar ideas out there, such as the Nacho bar, Baked potato bar, Burrito bar, Hot dog bar, Root Beer float bar, Hawaiian Haystacks bar, Sandwich bar, etc. All of these can be done on the cheap, and links to all these ideas can be found below.
What to feed 100 people? ›
Have a look at the following inexpensive snacks for large groups:
- Vegetables with dips. Serve vegetables like celery sticks with feta dip comprising feta cheese, olives, lemon juice, and a few olives. ...
- Burritos. ...
- French toast. ...
- Eggplant casserole. ...
- Crackers, cheese, and beef jerky platters. ...
- Muffins. ...
- S'mores. ...
- Fruit salad.
Our 20 best healthy recipes
- Garlic Chicken Stir Fry. ...
- Lemon-Pepper Salmon. ...
- Spiralized Cucumber and Jicama Tostada Salad with Avocado. ...
- Claire's Curried Butternut Squash Soup. ...
- Mediterranean Chicken. ...
- Vermicelli Noodle Bowl. ...
- Chicken Fiesta Salad. ...
- Grilled Salmon Steaks with Savory Blueberry Sauce.
Here are some snacks that school-age kids might enjoy:
- home-made trail mix with whole-grain breakfast cereal and nuts and raisins.
- string cheese with grapes or other fruit.
- fruit smoothies made with yogurt, milk, or a dairy-free milk-alternative.
GAIN defines a “nu*tritious” food as a food that in the context where it is consumed and by the individual that consumes it, provides beneficial nutrients (e.g. vitamins, major and trace minerals, essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, dietary fibre) and minimises potentially harmful elements (e.g. antinutrients, ...
This sandwich is a great dupe for the real deal in a handheld vegan package. (via Brit + Co)
Take sweet and savory to a whole new level with these apple cheddar waffles; we promise your kiddos will love every bite. (via Brit + Co)
This base of crescent rolls, cheese, and breakfast sausages are so yummy that your kids won’t even notice they’re eating veggie links. (via Brit + Co)
Less oil and no frying means your kids can eat as many of their favorite chicken nuggets as they want. Well, sort of. (via Brit + Co)
Here’s another no-fry situation that leaves everyone, and their stomachs, happy. (via Brit + Co/America’s Test Kitchen)
Beans are a good source of protein, and mixed with walnuts and cilantro they create a consistency that’s a perfect substitute for burger meat. (via Brit + Co)
Yawn, chicken can get oh-so-boring. Add some pineapple and a coconut peanut sauce to add some flare. (via Brit + Co)
This recipe turns a grilled cheese sandwich into a filling meal with its nutritious ingredients like vegetables, instead of leaving your kids to fill up on cheese. (via Cooking Classy)
Wondering how to introduce different vegetables to your kids? Like this! (via Damn Delicious)
If you can sneak all these healthy seeds and fruit in into yogurt, you rule. (via Fit Foodie Finds)
