Kid Friendly Meal ideas

Witchy_Mortician

Our family is doing better to get healthier, I just wanted to get more ideas on some kid friendly meals. The hardest thing is finding meals to make that my kids will actually enjoy. I have looked online and in books but thought I would ask here.
Thanks!!!

pinuplove

How old are your kids and what are they accustomed to eating? Try to incorporate healthier versions of stuff they already eat. Gradually. Most kids are creatures of habit and don't take right away to new foods.

I have two of my own, older now (12 and 15). My husband does a lot of the cooking since I work long hours. I eat the same things they do, just in smaller portions and with adjustments like extra veggies or less oil/butter (not that I'm opposed to butter, it's awesome!)

I'm jealous sometimes of the folks here who are obviously only cooking for themselves and have these amazing tailor fit diaries but I wouldn't trade our family dinnertimes for anything. I realize I could plan and prepare specific meals for myself and still eat with the family but 1. My husband is a wonderful chef and I don't want to miss out on that. 2. I want to model a normal healthy balance of food and lifestyle for my kids. 3. I'm lazy. There I said it!

lilithsrose

My best suggestion for kids would be to start doing simple swaps and add-ins.

1. Exchange rice for cauliflower rice
2. Exchange burger buns for lettuce wraps
3. Add shredded zucchini or carrots into ground meat (burgers, meatloaf, etc.)
4. Replace ground beef with ground venison, turkey or chicken (or do half beef/half other meat if you don't like them by themselves)
5. Exchange french fries for sweet potato fries
6. Chicken Sausage instead of regular sausage (Trader Joe's Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage is my favorite)

Some food suggestions for kids:

1. Cauliflower or Broccoli Tots (Green Giant now sells them pre-made in the frozen aisle, but they are easy to make)
2. Veggie Stir Fry with Fried Cauliflower Rice
3. Morning Star brand Chik'n Nuggets and Patties (The texture and taste are almost the same as regular chicken)
4. Vegan Mac & Cheese made with Cashew Cheese
5. Soups (use low sodium broth, whole grain noodles, and add veggies)

mir1104

How about you make a big baking dish of mixed cut up veggies like peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, cauliflower...and whatever your kids will eat. Drizzle of olive oil and bake. The tomatoes will coat the other veggies for flavour too.
Can be used as a side for meat/fish or you could add cold pasta to it for a salad.

jjpptt2

That's an impossible question for us to answer... we don't know what your kids like or don't like, or what healthier means to you and your family.

My suggestion would be to go to a site like allrecipes.com where you can search by ingredient, not just by meal. If chicken is a family favorite, than you can search for chicken dishes. Maybe everyone likes burgers you want a way to change them up... then you can search for burgers. I've done it this way with pretty good success.

Lounmoun

VetTech1374 wrote: »

Our family is doing better to get healthier, I just wanted to get more ideas on some kid friendly meals. The hardest thing is finding meals to make that my kids will actually enjoy. I have looked online and in books but thought I would ask here.
Thanks!!!

My dd likes roasted potato slices, minestrone, pasta with marinara sauce, bean and cheese burritos, chili, macaroni and cheese, almost all fruit, spinach, cheeseburgers, hard boiled eggs, oatmeal, gyros, lentil soup, rice, chicken fajitas, etc.
She likes many Mexican, Chinese or Italian dishes.



Budget bytes and Skinnytaste have tasty recipes.

AndOne8675

My kids enjoy build your own tacos or stuff your own baked potatoes...I offer lots of tasty toppings... like corn, plain to or cottage cheese, avocado, beans, meat, olives etc.
We eat homemade soup or stews or chili at least 2x and week for dinner and once for lunch. The other ultimate is vegetable fried rice with bacon...My kids will eat anything with a little liquid aminos (soy sauce) and a sprinkle of brown sugar.
I serve the veggies they like cooked in different ways, adding in a new veg here and there. Roast, steam, stir them into homemade mac and cheese, serve favorites raw with dip flavors they like.

The kids love smoothies (me not so much) and I make extra to freeze in popsicle molds.
The biggest thing (for us) is less sugary drinks and more water and when shopping let them pick out a few things in the fruits and vegetables and recipes they wanna try. Also letting them cook is huge and we have a one bite rule. Everyone has to try one bite and if they don't like it OK. I serve things over and over even when they don't like it, one bite rule still applies. They have come to like new foods this way.

We still have our regular rotation of homemade burgers and fries, pizza because yum. I focus on variety and portions instead of "bad or unhealthy".

Also, we didn't get to this point overnight. Small changes add up over time. Tweek your families standard recipes, serve with an extra veg, try a new fruit and go from there.

Witchy_Mortician

Thank you for the good advice!!

courtneylykins5

Don't forget to ask the kids. You can miss important opportunities. I hate beets. The kids asked to try them and eat them roasted all the time now. Plus they love being asked for input on how to "health up" a dish.

Witchy_Mortician

I am in the process now of making a "Family Menu" and everyone gives ideas and I figure out how to make them healthier!!