Healthy Eating Habits For Kids
There are a few reasons why I always encourage parents to make one meal for the whole family the top reason is that a variety of foods establishes healthy eating habits in our kids.
Mealtimes are not about pleasing our kids, they are about helping them get the nutrition their bodies need from a variety of foods and that can only happen when they get on our adult food plan, not the ready-made freezer meal and drive-through plan.
Speaking of plans, if you just dont have it in you to think about putting together a meal plan youre also not alone. Many of the families in our community .
A weeks worth of family-friendly recipes, a completed shopping list, and a done-for-you meal prep sheet to help you make it happen! Boom! The Classic Meal Plan might be exactly what you need to establish healthy eating habits on your kids too! Its what I use.
Strawberry And Cantaloupe Yogurt Pops
Most kids love fruit, which is why strawberry and cantaloupe yogurt pops make a perfect snack.
Strawberries and cantaloupe are both loaded with fiber, vitamin C, and folate, a B vitamin thats important for growth and development .
Dipping fruit in protein-packed yogurt ups its nutrient content and boosts feelings of fullness.
This easy recipe is appropriate for children of all ages. Kids can cut the fruit, dip it in the yogurt, and slide the fruit onto popsicle sticks, depending on their age.
Many banana bread recipes require multiple steps that can leave your kitchen a mess.
Notably, this healthy recipe requires just one bowl and is kid-friendly.
Its high in protein, fiber, and healthy fats thanks to its almond flour, eggs, and flax meal. As such, its sure to keep your little ones satisfied between meals.
Plus, the dark chocolate chips and banana give this bread a hint of sweetness.
Have your children mash the bananas, measure ingredients, and fold the chocolate chips into the batter. Once its out of the oven, they can top their slices with nut butter for a boost of protein.
Ants on a log, which combines crunchy celery, smooth or chunky nut butter, and sweet, chewy raisins, is a classic snack for many kids.
If your child has a nut allergy, you can fill the celery with cottage cheese, cream cheese, or even mashed avocado for a more savory twist.
This recipe offers many variations of ants on a log sure to please even the pickiest of eaters.
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Is Healthy Eating For Kids Even Possible
Yes and no. Healthy eating for kids is possible when we stop pleasing our kids and instead think of mealtimes as an opportunity to introduce foods and find the next favorite thing.
I tell my kids this might not be your favorite meal but it sure will help you grow. Tomorrows might be it! Of course, theres always one element in the meal that each person will eat so that youre not getting up to make something else.
When is healthy eating for kids not possible? When they eat the same foods repeatedly and little variety is added to their meals.
Experts refer to healthy eating as a childs willingness to eat a variety of foods, not the types of foods they eat.
Of course, its always a great idea to eliminate processed foods and sugars from the familys diet since they only generate a dependency for more of those types of foods.
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Our Most Popular Family
We can all use a win in the kitchen every now and then, especially when it comes to being able to quickly prepare meals that our whole family will enjoy. With that in mind, weve taken the liberty of rounding up our top 30 kid-friendly recipes that will have everyone leaving the dinner table happy, healthy, and full-bellied. What more could you ask for?
Easy Black Bean Chili
This black bean chili is a big hit with our 4 year old son and many of his friends. Its beyond simple to make, and the flavor is outstanding. Its got a hint of smokiness to highlight the tangy tomatoes and savory black beans. Top it with your favorite toppings, and its so hearty and savory, youll forget its healthy, too.
Also Check: Ocean Spray Cranberry Apple Pie Recipe
Tips For Making Easy Toddler Recipes
- Freezer-Friendly: a great way to make feeding your toddler super easy is always to have a stash of toddler-approved meals in the freezer. If there are any leftovers, I will place them in the freezer for a later meal. This works great for muffins, waffles, meatballs, chicken nuggets, etc. Basically, anything you can find in the grocery stores frozen section can be frozen with your own homemade recipes. You can also make a double batch of your kiddos favorite recipes so you can have a backup plan when life gets crazy .
- Make Once Serve Again: if you are making a bigger or more time-consuming meal , its a great idea to save the leftovers and use those in another toddler meal. You can serve the same meal or use parts of the meal in another meal altogether chicken can be added into cheese quesadillas, pasta can be served with a different sauce, soup can be served with different sides like grilled cheese or turkey sandwich or used as a sauce for pasta or rice.
- Quick Toddler Meals: a key way to not lose your mind is to always have a list for a quick meal for toddlers. Print out or make a list of these easy breakfast, lunch, and dinner ideas and keep them on hand for when life is super crazy and your toddler needed to eat 10 minutes ago.
Final Thoughts On Healthy Recipes To Make With The Kids
Your kids will love this bonding time spent making meals with the family. To make cooking together even more fun, personalize cutting boards with your family name on them or design custom aprons for everyone in the household. To preserve these special moments in the kitchen together, customize a recipe photo book with photos of your favorite family recipes.
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Grilled Cheese In The Oven
Here’s a way to make grilled cheese seem like a fancier dinner idea…try Grilled Cheese in the Oven! Its never fun to babysit a skillet while you make grilled cheese to order. Fire up your oven! Baked grilled cheese comes out melty and golden brown. Some ideas for kids? Add some thin sliced apples inside for a fun sweet and savory spin, or add a dollop of pesto.
My Kid Still Wont Eatis This Normal
Remember that kids go through stages. There will be days when your child barely eats, and there will be days when the hunger seems nonstop.
Focus on the big picture and ask yourself these questions:
- Is my child eating a variety of healthy foods over the course of the week?
- Is my child undernourished or growing normally?
- Is food interfering with my childs quality of life?
It might be time to see a doctor if you see signs of health problems due to pickiness or lack of eating. The problem may go beyond stubbornness and be a symptom of a medical issue.
Also Check: The Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Chicken Recipe Dehydrated Dog Food
Healthy Homemade Fruit Popsicles
Homemade fruit popsicles are the perfect healthy after-school snack. Theyre easy to make, and kids and adults alike will love them. These fruit popsicles are made with only five wholesome ingredients, including fresh fruit and yogurt or pure fruit juice. Enjoy these with the kids on a warm day or for a healthy dessert.
Source: JoyFoodSunshine
Homemade Cough Syrup For Kids
Homemade cough syrup recipe for kids using only a few simple ingredients. This cold remedy is a great way to soothe your childs sore throat and stuffy nose naturally with honey, lemon, ginger, olive oil and cinnamon.
With 7 kids in our family, someone always seems to have a runny nose as soon as cold season hits. We used to take cough drops like candy. But after doing some research into the side effects of the most common ingredient found in over the counter cold medicines, we started trying natural cough remedies instead.
Have you tried making apple cider vinegar gummies yet?
Growing up, my mom would always fix us a cup of warm lemon water with honey when my siblings and I started having cold symptoms. It definitely seemed to work because I remember feeling so much relief, especially when she gave it to me before bed.
Since Ive been making my own cough syrup, Ive added a few more ingredients along with lemon and honey that are known for their health benefits and antiviral properties. Ginger and cinnamon have been used in folk medicine for centuriesand really make this cough remedy extra powerful.
So the first thing I do when any of my kids start complaining of a scratchy throat is to give them a spoonful of this homemade cough syrup and plug a cool-mist humidifier in near their bed so that they can get a good nights sleep. Because at the end of the day, a good rest is the best medicine for your childs cough.
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Healthy Recipes You Can Cook With Your Kids
With many schools now closed due to the current COVID-19 outbreak, you may be looking for activities to keep your children active, engaged, and entertained.
Although numerous activities can keep kids busy, cooking is one of the best choices, as its both fun and educational.
Cooking may help develop their problem-solving and hand-eye coordination skills, increase confidence, and even improve diet quality by encouraging fruit and veggie intake .
Yet, its important to choose age-appropriate recipes and assign kitchen tasks that are safe for your child to tackle.
For example, very young children can help by washing vegetables, stirring ingredients, and cutting out shapes with cookie cutters while older children can take on more complex tasks, such as chopping and peeling.
Here are 15 healthy recipes that you can make with your kids.
The Best Of The Bowls
These bowls get lots of really good stuff into one compact little package, and are one of our simple weeknight dinner staples. A lot of them can be prepped ahead making for some quick dinner ideas for kids!
- Were obsessed with this Chicken Teriyaki Sushi Bowl. Shredded seaweed, thinly sliced cucumber, creamy chunks of avocado, and of course that sriracha mayo all add up to one incredibly tasty take on dinner. We serve all the deconstructed parts to our kids and they love it!
- Brown rice and black beans kick of this loaded Chicken Fajita Burrito Bowl thats topped with our Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas and alllll the toppings for a completely customizable dish even picky eaters will chow.
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Family Dinner Menu Ideas
There are some simple family dinner menu ideas throughout this website in our recipe index. But before you get lost in the world of too many recipes, youll find some great recipes below that are easy to make, have simple and fresh ingredients, and family-friendly.
Youll find lots of dinner recipes to create your own family dinner menu in this video playlist:
If you are working with a specific list of kid-approved ingredients for dinner try one of these posts where I pull some family favorites which each feature a star ingredient:
Sheet Pan Veggie Fajitas
You’ll notice lots of Tex Mex and Mexican recipes in this list: because they’re always a hit with our kid! Try these Vegetarian Faijtas! These are so full flavored and satisfying, they please everyone around the table: even the meat lovers! This fajita recipe stars our favorite fajita veggies, roasted up on a sheet pan and served with refried beans and guacamole.
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Easy Recipes To Make With Your Kids
More time inside means more opportunities to make some fun recipes with your kids! These are 20 of my favorites.
Banana Sushi has endless possibilities of combinations and is super fun for kids!
Vegetarian Sandwiches are simple and only require 2 ingredients. See if you can come up with any other fun combinations with your kids!
Frozen Yogurt Fruit Bites can be made into any shape you want! How cute are these unicorns?
Strawberry SunButter Bites are great for working on fine motor skills by rolling them up after you spread the ingredients.
Yellow Rice Cakes are fun for my kids to help mix up the ingredients before we cook them!
Make these Arepas with Pulled Poblano Chicken with my kids is one of my favorite things to do. Patting out the dough is so relaxing and fun!
Any time my kids get to choose topping they are 100% game so these Whole Wheat Pizza Bagels are always a hit!
Rolling these Protein Balls into their shape is a fun activity for little ones! It’s a win-win that they’re also packed with healthy ingredients for their bodies!
Let your little ones choose fruit goes into these homemade Fruit Pop Tarts!
I mean, these No Bake Cookie Dough Balls need no introduction. It’s like sneaking raw cookie dough without the risks!
Who doesn’t love making cookies? Try these Vegan Cowgirl Cookies and thank me later.
Stack you and your kids favorite nacho toppings on these Nacho Scoopers!
Use your cutest cookie cutters to make fun shaped Uncrustables!
Easy Lunches For Kids To Make
You’ll find a couple of recipes for easy lunches for kids to make below, but also several mix and match options. As I mentioned above, snack plates can make excellent, nutritious lunches. Just combine a couple of the snack options above, adding fruits and veggies for a balanced meal. I included a couple of options for inspiration, but invite your child to mix and match to their heart’s content!
- Peanut Butter & Jelly Variations: It doesn’t get any more classic than this. I wanted to note though that you can really amp up the nutrition by using a low sugar or homemade jam and sprinkling hemp seeds, chia seeds or flax seeds on top of the nut butter.
- Tuna Salad: If you want to keep this totally no-chop for the kiddos, omit the grapes. Kids can enjoy this tuna salad on a sandwich or with crackers and veggies.
- Caprese Skewers: Kids can use toothpicks to make little skewers of mini mozzarella balls, basil and cherry tomatoes, drizzling with balsamic if they like. To round out the lunch, serve with crackers and fruit.
- Guacamole Stuffed Mini Peppers: Omit the fine diced red onion to make the guacamole even easier. These make a great appetizer but can also be a base for a lunch, served with black beans, cheese cubes and fresh fruit.
- Pita Pockets: Pita pockets are a fun alternative to sandwiches. Kids can add anything they enjoy on a sandwich . Or, give it a Mediterranean flare with chickpeas, lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, kalamata olives and hummus or tzatziki.
Also Check: Top Shelf Frozen Margarita Recipe
Creamy Broccoli Potato Soup
Heres a creamy broccoli potato soup that will blow your mind. Its impossibly creamy, plant-based, and it tastes like the coziest bowl of comfort. And its 100% made of veggies! Hows that for amazing? This easy and healthy soup is vegan and gluten-free, so it works for a variety of diets. It tastes like an elevated version of broccoli cheese soup from a can, and kids love it.
How To Get Kids To Eat Healthier
Parents always want to know how to get kids to eat healthier. Ive already mentioned that if you want your kids to eat healthier, youll actually have to cook a variety of foods all the time -not just get kids to try something once.
Here are some helpful tips to get kids to eat healthier:
- Set and keep a mealtime schedule
While my family and I love snacks, I limit them to once a day and no less than 2 hours before a meal. Constant snacking depletes the appetite, and your child can miss out on quality nutrition in eating a well-balanced meal at dinner which usually results on battles at the table.
- Clean the pantry
Out of sight, out of mind. If you keep chips, sodas, snack bars, and candy in the house, thats exactly what theyll reach for. The best way to avoid this? Get rid of it. Stop buying it.
Many parents tell me that all their kid eats is cereal, pb& j, mac and cheese, and chicken nuggets. I always reply with what would happen if you stopped buying those things? I assure you that their world will not end.
Many of these foods have added sugars which create a craving for more sugar! If you want to kid to eat healthier, get rid of it.
- Restock your pantry and fridge with better ingredients.
Replace items like chips with whole-grain crackers, banana chips, or plantain chips to serve with hummus or guacamole.
Items like sliced apples, bananas, oranges are easy items to grab and replace convenient processed foods.
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Healthy Recipes To Make With The Kids
Written by Shutterfly Community Last Updated: May 29, 2020
Sometimes the trick to getting your kids to eat healthy food is to have them cook it themselves. Get your whole family involved in the kitchen with simple, healthy recipes that everyone will enjoy. Your kids will love the adventure of trying something new, especially if it tastes delicious. Weve compiled ten easy healthy recipes kids will be excited to make along with you, including breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks.