Dinner ideas needed that my kids will eat too!

kim_mc

Can anybody help with recipes that kids will eat too?? They just want taocs, pizz, spaghetti, and pretty much anything else unhealthy. We have adapted these foods to be healthier but I am so sick of eating the same thing! Any ideas anyone??

Melis25Fit

make ur own pizzas on english muffins (whole wheat) with red. fat cheese and veggies.
Whole grain pasta or spaghetti squash for regular spag. noodles.

Taco's are fine. Just limit your shells, and use ground turkey or 93% ground beef.

Melis25Fit

Try a chicken broccoli and brown rice cassarole-- add a lil cheese and some cream of ckn soup. A lil high on sodium, but it'll work out.

Also " breakfasts" can make great dinners to!

brneydgrlie

Currently one of my favorite soups. I can tell you it is awesome even without both the chips and cheese...

Tortilla Soup

2 Tbl canola oil
15 oz can diced tomatoes
15 oz can dark red kidney beans
4 oz can diced green chilies
½ large onion, chopped
1-2 cups carrots, diced
1-2 zucchini, diced
1 cup frozen corn (optional)
1 Tbl garlic, chopped
1 large handful cilantro, chopped
4 chicken breasts
juice of 1 orange, 1 grapefruit, and 1 lime (or approx 1/4 cup each)
6-8 cups chicken stock
4 dashes hot sauce (approximately)
2 cups rice (dry), cooked separately
8 oz cheddar-jack cheese, shredded
adobo seasoning and black pepper, to taste
tortilla chips

This looks like a lot of stuff, but the recipe goes quickly, and is ready in about half an hour.
Makes approximately 8 servings, with enough for seconds.

* Open up and drain all the canned vegetables - keep to the side.
* Juice the fruits - keep to the side.
* In a large stock pot, over medium-high heat, saute the onions and carrots
using canola oil until the onions begin to get soft.
* Add in the zucchini, garlic, kidney beans, chilies and tomatoes. Stir
together, and let cook for about 5 minutes.
* While that's cooking, cut the chicken breasts into small, bite-sized pieces.
It's actually easier to do if the chicken is partially frozen.
* Add the stock to the vegetables, and bring to a boil.
* Once boiling, add in the chicken, and turn the soup down to simmer. Simmer
5-10 minutes.
* Add in the frozen corn.
* Turn off the heat, and add the hot sauce, fruit juice, and cilantro.
* Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
* Put the cooked rice into each person's bowl, pour the soup over it, and top
with broken up tortilla chips and shredded cheddar-jack cheese.

jenni0728

I have 3 kids who like to eat all that stuff too. I let them eat it, but always have a supply of fresh fruit to be eaten with them. For myself and my husband, I will prepare something else. A little more work, yes, but I'd rather eat something I like than not. Something we will all eat though, is a whole baked chicken, baked potatos, and corn or baked salmon and rice.

SheilaSisco

I've heard a lot of raving over the cauliflower pizza recipe... I'm about to try it out on my kids in a few days...

BeachLife76

Good idea for the english muffins! I've done that and they are great! Plus if you get the kids to help you make them, they are more likely to eat it! Also, we do wraps sometimes. Get big tortilla's and spread some cream cheese spread on them, add sliced deli meat, some tomatoe or cucumber or both, roll them up and cut them in pieces. My kids like those.

I have another quick meal. Get a jar of Garlic Parmesan sauce (will be by spaghetti sauce). Cut up some chicken and brown in skillet. Boil some whole grain noodles and drain them and add the chicken to noodles. Add the sauce. Cut up a fresh tomatoe and add that in as well. Then serve! It's fast and easy, not that fattening and my kids love that too! Hope these help

Juliebean_1027

Sloppy joes on wheat hamburger buns and made with ground turkey. Or baked potato bar. That way you can load yours with veggies and grilled chicken.

amyrc12

bump.... i need these ideas!

Our favorite right now is quesadillas... My son (he's 2) calls it pizza. He loves pizza - so it works for everyone!

6Janelle13

my husband is like your kids... ways around it. I bake chicken nuggets for him and cook a few un breaded chicken for me and toss it over a salad.
i make enchiladas and use la tortilla factory tortillas (low cal, low carb, high fiber) and shredded chicken and use reduced fat cheese.
I make pizza on pita bread or when we eat out he gets the pizza, I start with my salad and have a single slice.
Also try making taco's using mission extra thin corn tortillas. dice chicken, or ground turkey, or tilapia, or even steak. keep it lean and measure your portions while letting them enjoy what they love.
I make spaghetti with the only change is whole wheat pasta. I watch my portion and have a large salad on the side and he eats what he wants. If you make it health for you but still fun and familiar they will adjust.

If you get a kitchen scale (mine was 5 bucks) you can cook similar to as you were and still feed your family what they love with some changes. Just watch portion.

swest222

my kids LOVE chili, sheppards pie and homemade soups to name a few ... all can be made low cal

BeckyKSmith

Chicken Fajita's: Marinate 4 chicken breasts in the following for 2 to up to 24 hours:
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup vinegar
4 cloves minced garlic
1 fresh chopped jalepeno pepper (scrap out seeds so fajitas are not hot)
2tsp dried oregano
2 tsp seasoned salt
1 tsp cumin

Stir Fry with a few sliced green, red, yellow, orange peppers + red onion - any combination will work. (cut in strips)

serve on light tortillas with some fresh salsa and light cheese/sour cream
My kids usually pick out the peppers, but hey, more for me that way
I get rave reviews with this recipe I got from Cabo San Lucus!

kim_mc

Thanks everyone- some really great ideas to try out!!

finallylean

Bump, wow, these are really good ideas. Need to implement these on my own menu. Thanks everyone.

aubraann03

Bump. Some great ideas here!

calliope_music

i'm a big kid at heart, sooooo this is my fave thing to make:

chicken nuggets - cut up chicken into chunks, then roll in breadcrumbs. you can dip in egg white to help crumbs stick. bake them and serve! i sometimes eat it with ketchup.

annie's mac and cheese...i'm kinda obsessed but don't eat it often. you can get bunny shapes, i think.

homemade fries made from butternut squash or sweet potatoes, rolled in cinnamon and sugar or sprinkled with it for a sweet treat.

breakfast for dinner - have your kids decorate pancakes, or make silver dollar pancakes? i like breakfast for dinner with scrambled eggs or egg whites and some protein, bacon or sausage (turkey of course)

oooh and ants on a log! my mom would do celery with a bit of cream cheese (or pb) and let me put raisins on it