Healthy Kid Friendly Recipes or Meal Ideas

All kinds of grilled stuff! Also, I make everything I used to make, I just add a salad with Italian dressing. Chicken tacos, BBQ chicken in the crockpot.

I am no help, I end up making something different for my picky kid.

Yeah that is what I was going to say, the only time I will do mine something different is when we eat salad. Otherwise he eats whatever I am making for DH and myself. I want him to join in with me on my new better eating choices, so he doesn't struggle with it as an adult as it will be more normal for him. The only thing extra I do for him is get him full fat yogurt and milk rather than eating the 1%, low fat stuff. Sometimes he is not too keen on certain things - I have never liked any kind of beans so it was not in our diet till recently, I have found black beans are ok and so include them in our chili and chicken and black bean bake. He is not a huge fan so I pick out some of them from his bowl, but leave some too. And I explain that everyone's tastes buds change, sometimes we used to not like something and then we might change our mind so that is why we should keep trying new foods and foods we might think we don't like. Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose lol.

Anyway typical meals for us are still the meals we had before, but with certain changes. Spaghetti now has spaghetti squash and less spaghetti, the spaghetti is wholewheat, the sauce has more veges in it, sometimes I use ground chicken/turkey instead of beef. Ground beef is always extra lean. Meals come with at least 2 portions of veg. I add other root veg to mashed potatoes like rutabaga, carrot, sweet potatoes. If your kid will only eat chicken nuggets, try various recipes to make them yourself so they suit your health requirements and their fussiness. If they love pizza make your own flatbread base and let them make their own but insist on them having at least 1 veg on them. Mine will accept mushrooms. There are many dessert recipes out there that hide veges in cakes and cookies. I am lucky at the moment in that I dont have to go that far, although he is starting to resist onion and red peppers which is annoying as I use them in tons of things! I have just started chopping them really small hoping half the time he doesn't notice!

I've found that sometimes your kids will enjoy foods you've never thought to give them. I would offer them what you're eating first just in case. My 4 yr old LOVES tilapia cooked on the Foreman grill with a little lemon juice. He's also started requesting salads just because we are eating them more often!

I personally keep fresh veggies cut up in the fridge and fresh fruit like berries and tangerines. These are easy snacks that my children automatically go to 1st now because they are convenient. I also use the cauliflower "potatoes" a lot, as well as things like baked sweet potato fries. Those are things my kids enjoy, but they are healthier than the regular versions. Most often, though, for simple dinners, I make whatever protein and veggies I want and add a side of mac-n-cheese. That way we're all happy!

Most often, though, for simple dinners, I make whatever protein and veggies I want and add a side of mac-n-cheese. That way we're all happy!

THIS! I was the pickiest eater in the world as a child but I never turned down a plain simple grilled pork chop or lean cut of steak, a vegetable and mac n' cheese or potatoes for the starch.