Are you looking for nutritious meals and healthy recipes for the whole family? Need recipe ideas that are also kid-friendly? Instead of resigning yourself to dinnertime fights or chicken tenders for life, you should take a peek at this list. These seven healthy recipes are adventurous, but still familiar enough that your kids will be willing to give them a try.
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1. Tex Mex Chicken and Zucchini
When taco night begins to lose its appeal, you can turn to this flavorful Tex-Mex chicken and zucchini skillet. The chicken, cheese and taco seasoning act as a familiar base that provides balance to the dish. Zucchini, corn, black beans and tomatoes provide depth and nutrition without compromising the classic Tex-Mex flavors.
You can whip this meal together in less than 45 minutes, and since it makes six servings, you’ll likely have some leftover for lunches the next day. Best of all, you can make everything in one pan so you’ll have less to clean up at the end of the night.
2. Healthy Meatballs With Veggies
If your kids are refusing to eat veggies, it may be time to take the sneaky approach. With this recipe, you can hide carrots, parsley and onion inside savory meatballs. The key is using a food processor to chop the ingredients and mix everything to create a uniform texture. The finished product will have close to a cup of vegetables hidden inside, and your family will be none the wiser.
The original recipe calls for beef, but you can easily substitute ground turkey if you prefer leaner meat. If you choose to make substitutions, you’ll need to adapt the cooking time to ensure they bake to the desired temperature. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends cooking ground beef to 160° F and poultry to 165° F.
3. Broccoli and Pea Fritters
Take a break from potato-rich meals with this vegetarian broccoli and pea fritter recipe. It takes less than 30 minutes to make and is wholesome enough to have as a main meal. After chopping and pulsing your ingredients in the food processor, you’ll be ready to start frying.
This recipe recommends serving the dish with a side of spinach and cottage cheese, but you can try different sauces that may be more to your family’s liking. Ketchup, barbeque sauce and sour cream are all options worth trying.
4. Fridge-Raid Fried Rice
Takeout fried rice may taste good, but you have no control over the ingredients added during the cooking process. For a healthy additive-free meal, turn to your fridge and begin raiding ingredients. This recipe works best with leftover rice because it’s less sticky and has fewer chances of burning in the pan.
This meal is great for beginners because it utilizes household staples and only takes 30 minutes to assemble and prepare. Feel free to experiment with different types of vegetables and proteins based on what you have available. If you’re hoping to teach your kids some new recipes, this is a perfect first lesson because it’s straightforward and requires minimal prep time.
5. Turkey Quinoa Meatloaf
Meatloaf tends to be a controversial dish, but this recipe will wow even those who’ve sworn off the meal. Unlike traditional beef meatloaf, which is often heavy with fat, this turkey quinoa version is lean and healthy without compromising flavor. It also calls for carrots, peppers and onions sauteed and mixed into the meat before it’s baked.
This meal takes close to an hour to bake, and you’ll need to prepare the quinoa in advance. To save yourself time, plan your meals for the week so you can purchase and prep most of your ingredients early. The recipe makes six servings, so you may want to double the ingredients if you have a large family or want leftovers.
6. Shrimp Scampi With Zoodles
Give traditional shrimp scampi a twist with this light and refreshing veggie-inspired recipe. This healthy rendition utilizes vegetable broth instead of wine and zucchini in place of noodles. The result is low in carbs while providing many of the same great flavors. This dish is especially satisfying during the spring and summer months since it will leave you feeling pleasantly full rather than weighed-down.
You’ll want to save the juices created during the cooking process to add to the sauce for a deeper flavor. Ultimately, you’ll gain substantial depth without nearly as many calories.
7. Rustic Italian Tortellini Soup
This tasty recipe is a game-changer for any busy parent. Using sausage links, premade tortellini and pantry staples, you can whip together this hearty soup in less than 45 minutes. Kids will love searching the bowl for more tortellini, and you’ll enjoy seeing them eating spinach and tomatoes without making a fuss.
For convenience, you may also want to freeze servings to consume at a later date. To defrost these portions, simply thaw in the refrigerator and heat in a stovetop pot before serving.
Make Meals Everyone Can Look Forward To
Kids have sensitive palettes, and from birth, prefer sweet-tasting foods and drinks over bitter-tasting vegetables. Adults understand the benefits of eating a balanced diet and prioritize health, but young children can’t fully comprehend nutrition’s importance until they’re older. Therefore, parents need to create a balance with healthy recipes like these to satisfy everyone’s tastes while encouraging their children to try new things.
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