Healthy Dinner Ideas

kaystone3
kaystone3 Posts: 30 Member
edited December 24 in Health and Weight Loss
Hey everyone,

Looking for friends who would want to swap recipe ideas? Add me!
I have two small children and need to make sure dinner is kid friendly, yet healthy.
Obviously I am a mamma on a budget so i don't want to get crazy with these dinner ideas.

Thanks in advance

Replies

  • ElizabethKalmbach
    ElizabethKalmbach Posts: 1,415 Member
    What does "kid friendly" mean to you? To my kid that means plenty of raw fruit and veggies and processed meats instead of like... a slab of pork chop... She's pretty flexible and loves brussels sprouts, and all kinds of healthy things, AS LONG AS NO TWO INGREDIENTS ARE TOUCHING.

    If they touch, EVERYTHING IS RUINED.

    She used to eat her sandwiches from the top down, starting with the bread.

    Kids are weirdos, but they learn a lot from watching what you eat. So... How old are your kids and what are their food quirks?
  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
    When I cook for my sister's family(2 young boys) I usually base it around a protein and veggies and then add whatever starch goes well or they choose. So, beef patty and broccoli(maybe add rice or noodles), chicken with pasta and sauce, they like cheese quesadillas with beans...then I put out some extra raw veg(broccoli, cucumber, carrots, red pepper) with hummus/ranch. They also like fruits, but tend to eat those at breakfast and lunch.
  • aayudinova
    aayudinova Posts: 15 Member
    You know there is a website I absolutely love that has so many delicious, healthy, vegetarian or vegan recipes ( if you prefer meat, just add it to any recipe) called minimalistbaker.com . You will undoubtedly find something you and your family will love on there. The search function makes it easy to search for key words. 🙂
  • lauragreenbaum
    lauragreenbaum Posts: 1,017 Member
    One of my favorite side dishes (and kids usually like it too) is steamed broccoli...and before your kid says YUCK, sprinkle parmesan cheese on it. It doesn't add too many calories and is delish and filling.
  • Strudders67
    Strudders67 Posts: 989 Member
    Not sure they'd appeal to young children but I do a lot of stirfries - mostly veg, some protein (or topped with a baked salmon fillet) and usually find I then don't need any rice.

    Bolognese made with low fat mince or even turkey mince (contains tomatoes, celery and carrots) with courgetti instead of pasta (or half and half). I make big batches of bolognese and freeze most of it in portion sizes.

    Mild curried vegetables on a small portion of rice or on cauliflower rice (or half and half), topped with grilled chicken breast. Again, I do big batches and freeze. If I fancy any flatbread to go with it, I make my own.

    Take a look at the bbcgoodfood website for some great, easy ideas.

    I also got a lovely chicken recipe from an MFP blog post a while ago; although I don't follow it precisely, I like the taste that the herby coating gives the chicken. Google Smoky tomato baked chicken (CleanEating / Mastercook websites) for details. I tend to buy boneless, skinless thighs but I also chop them in to pieces - if you do that, prepare more herby flour as there's then more chicken surface to coat. I also add more veg (onion, courgette, cherry tomatoes and mushrooms) and not so many potatoes. I then divide it in to more portions than the recipe says, so my calories per portion tends to be lower than what's stated. Again, it freezes well. Serve with broccoli.
  • Vune
    Vune Posts: 674 Member
    You'd be surprised the combinations of protein and veggies you can stuff in a taco shell. You and the kids can personalize according to wants and needs. Mostbodies love tacos.

    I use soft corn tortillas that you can buy cheap in bulk for a couple bucks. Don't be afraid to try unusual combinations like barbecue chicken and sweet potatoes or veggie crumbles and kim chi (maybe just kim chi for yourself!) or tuna salad with greens.
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