Anyone have a good meal kids will actually eat?

My kids are picky too. They are 5 and 9. We don't have peanut allergies so I don't have to avoid things like that, but sometimes I deconstruct dinner. If I'm having pasta with a sauce and veggies I know they won't eat, then I dish out that pasta first so their stuff is plain with light butter and parmesan cheese. Same with chicken, I just leave off the sauce. Or I put the sauce or gravy on the side and they can decide if they want to try dipping it in.

When I make fish with rice and veggies. My kids won't eat fish, so they get nuggets with rice and maybe strawberries if they won't eat the veggie I'm making.

For those that don't have kids, it is hard to just say tough you eat what I eat. They won't! It's a fight with crying and yelling and not worth it in my opinion. I slowly try to offer them new things and at least ask that they try it. Both of my kids won't eat potatoes unless it's french fries, but it hasn't stopped me from making and offering mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, or roasted potatoes. They usually gag though.

I do that crockpot pulled pork too with the coke and bbq sauce, except I use a leaner cut - the pork tenderloin. It isn't as flavorful as the pork shoulder but it's still fine. They will eat tacos as long as I don't make it too spicy and give them plenty of cheese with it. I also make lean boneless thin cut pork chops. Cooking Light has a great recipe with a country gravy and sage seasonings that my family enjoys. I leave the gravy off for them. Sometimes if I make shrimp tacos then I'll just make them a cheese quesadilla.

Spaghetti and Meatballs is a hit especially if I don't give them a lot of sauce. They like Turkey Kielbasa sausage or the chicken sausages. I cook those up quick with pasta or rice. We get Papa Murphy's thin crust pizza with half or 2/3 with veggies I like and the other half with just cheese or pepperoni that they like.

We also like Chick-fil-a. They make grilled chicken nuggets now and the kids can get a fruit cup instead of fries. Not sure if the grilled nuggets have peanut oil?

I agree it's hard making a meal you can eat as well as accomodate picky eaters. I'm always looking for new ideas to try on them. They do like grilled corn on the cob, grilled steak, hamburgers and hotdogs.

zucchini pizza bites, like a pizza but with zucchini bottoms.

My kids eat everything I eat. They absolutely love fruits and veggies. One snack they enjoy in particular is a bit of vanilla yogurt with frozen mixed berries mixed in, topped with fiber cereal or granola. It's really delicious!

If you're looking for grill recipes, you can grill just about anything from meat to veggies to fruits. My kids really enjoy lean chicken, beef, pork chops, etc. grilled, and they love yellow squash & zucchini, cut into rounds, sprinkled with some cajun seasoning and grilled. Even pineapple is delicious fresh off the grill. When we grill meat & veggies for dinner we usually make a tossed salad and some steamed rice with soy sauce to go with it.

One "fun" dinner we do is over the firepit. I take onion and red and green peppers and cut them into strips. Wrap them in individual foil packets, then throw them right into the ashes of the firepit. Throw some hot links on a skewer for each of us, we all get to toast our own sausage. Then I put a little grate over part of the grill and toast a bun to put the links/veggies on. It may not be the healthiest dinner but we're ok with fun stuff in moderation, and it's so nice just to hang around the firepit chatting on a nice evening as we roast our dinner.

Nice, convenient things to keep on hand for between meals would be carrot/celery sticks with pb and raisings, handfuls of nuts, homemade granola. A bowl of fresh fruit on the dining table always goes quickly around here, too.

For those that don't have kids, it is hard to just say tough you eat what I eat. They won't! It's a fight with crying and yelling and not worth it in my opinion. I slowly try to offer them new things and at least ask that they try it. Both of my kids won't eat potatoes unless it's french fries, but it hasn't stopped me from making and offering mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, or roasted potatoes. They usually gag though.

"For those who don't have kids" please read this post if you ever plan on having them. It will save you a world of frustration when it comes to your child's eating habits.

I have 5 kids-ages 7,9,10,16 and 17. I raised them to eat healthfully from the start. I say they eat what I eat, and they do. If they were to "cry and yell" I would make sure they know that type of behavior is not acceptable in our home. It is *absolutely* worth it to teach our children to eat healthy. I'm not unreasonable, if a child seriously has one or two foods they really do not like, I will have them just eat a few bites of that food on the nights I make it-but if my child were to throw temper tantrums and was just being picky, i'd definitely consider it a discipline issue and not a dietary one. Giving a child their way because they throw a fit is a huge mistake and the parent will regret it later. Sometimes it is difficult to be a diligent parent, but it is never "not worth it".

Thanks for the great ideas people. I especially liked the one with the octopus hot dogs. I will use that with my grandkids.

One of my kids all time favorites it to cut boneless, skinless chicken breast into strips and coat with a little shake and bake. Bake at 400 for about 20 minutes. On the side we have mountains of their favorite veggies (no butter and a bit of salt/pepper) and a little bit of roasted seasoned potatoes drizzled with olive oil. Very tasty, satisfying, and healthy.

I haven't had kids but when I was a kid I ate whatever my parents made me eat. Kids don't have money and they won't starve to death. Feed them like adults (minus the allergens) and if they complain then tell them they can eat when they're hungry. Eventually they'll come around.

News... kids don't always do what you tell them to.

I have three. My youngest will eat whatever's on the table. The two oldest are picky, and will gladly skip dinner and double up on breakfast the next day, if it means never eating something they don't like. My oldest is 10, and despite putting food on his plate for 10 years straight, he really has not changed in his tastes (he won't even eat hamburgers).

The only thing we can really do is put the right food in the house in aggregate.

Kids like simple things, so fancyish recipes are usually out. One recent surprise was grilled salmon. They all love it.

I don't think there is anything wrong with skipping dinner and doubling up on breakfast. If their dinner options are healthy, but so are the breakfast options and lunch options, they'll be eating healthy meals regardless of how they go about it.

As for simple things, maybe it's about expectations. My kid eats Indian food - because that's pretty much all she'll get at home. She also eats Thai food, and Vietnamese food, and Chinese food, and ... You get the picture. And she's not a particularly robust eater or anything.

I didn't read any of the responses. But I will throw in my two cents.

Your question was: A good meal for the kids to eat?

Answer: WHATEVER I PUT ON THE TABLE. If you don't like this meal, Breakfast is at 7 am. And you're not gonna like that meal either. Why? Because it is what you wouldn't eat for dinner.

Worked well in my house. My 3 kids are 18 twins and one 19. They only draw back is: Now I can't stop them from eating.

My kids get two choices at every meal - take it or leave it. With a chef for a daddy they've eaten things some adults will never get the chance to try. The Boy is a human garbage can. His favorites are lamb and caviar. It's cool, but so not in the budget! My daughter is a tad pickier, but she will at least try things. If she truly doesn't like it, she just makes herself cereal or a sandwich. I let them put their 2 cents in when I go to the market and they will also help in the kitchen. They are quite aware of what is healthy and we have treats now and then, too. It's all about balance.

For those that don't have kids, it is hard to just say tough you eat what I eat. They won't! It's a fight with crying and yelling and not worth it in my opinion. I slowly try to offer them new things and at least ask that they try it. Both of my kids won't eat potatoes unless it's french fries, but it hasn't stopped me from making and offering mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, or roasted potatoes. They usually gag though.

"For those who don't have kids" please read this post if you ever plan on having them. It will save you a world of frustration when it comes to your child's eating habits.

I have 5 kids-ages 7,9,10,16 and 17. I raised them to eat healthfully from the start. I say they eat what I eat, and they do. If they were to "cry and yell" I would make sure they know that type of behavior is not acceptable in our home. It is *absolutely* worth it to teach our children to eat healthy. I'm not unreasonable, if a child seriously has one or two foods they really do not like, I will have them just eat a few bites of that food on the nights I make it-but if my child were to throw temper tantrums and was just being picky, i'd definitely consider it a discipline issue and not a dietary one. Giving a child their way because they throw a fit is a huge mistake and the parent will regret it later. Sometimes it is difficult to be a diligent parent, but it is never "not worth it".

I have to disagree with you on this point. I was raised to eat what's in front of me, and when my first child was born, that was absolutely my philosophy. As a baby he ate all kinds of veggies, fruit, tofu, veggie burgers, whatever. A few years later, he suddenly decided he didn't like milk, then veggies, then anything that was new or unfamiliar... I still only cook one meal, and the choice is take it or leave it, but I cannot make him eat. For drinks, he is offered milk or water, and always chooses water. I used to think of this as a discipline issue, but I have used every discipline method recommended by his pediatrician and therapists, and nothing can change this behavior, despite the success we have seen with improving other undesirable behaviors. I guess he gets full enough on breakfast & lunch that he is okay with skipping dinner. I am working with his occupational therapists to see if there is some kind of sensory issue that we can address with more therapy. And please don't be condescending to parents whose kids throw temper tantrums - you have no idea what is going on in that family.

I do personal pizzas with the kids on our family nights. I buy whole wheat pitas and a bunch of nutritious toppings for them to choose from. They each make their own pizza. They get a kick out of it.

Anything good for the grill or crockpot?

Yes!! Pioneer Woman's Dr Pepper Pork.
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/03/spicy-dr-pepper-shredded-pork/

I did this in the crockpot and substituted pork for boneless skinless chicken thighs. 4-6 hours
My kids and husband LOVED it! Serve it on bun or small baked potato or in taco form. So many possibilities!
Tips: Use 1/2 of the can of peppers IF you like less spice and I suggest cutting the onions small so they are not seen once its all cooked for the picky ones.

Yes! I was just going to also say, have the kids pick a recipe and make or help make dinner. They tend to eat better if they helped or made it themselves.
My husband, the kids and I all take turns making dinner...round robin thing. Last night my younger daughter, 16, is not really a fan of cooking put out items for sandwiches... cold cuts, lettuce, tomato mustard, mayo all of that. She cooked turkey bacon too. She cut up peaches and nectarines for us.
It was delicious!