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    • Easy Chicken Dinner Recipes -->This collection of easy chicken dinner recipes features some of our favorite family dishes, perfect for making a healthy, delicious home cooked meal on a busy night! Getting a healthy, home cooked meal on the table every night can be challenging. Particularly with the demands of work, school, activities and social obligations, well, it can be the last thing we want to do at the end of the day. So Iโ€™ve got tons of easy chicken recipes at my disposal that I turn to when I need to whip something up for us on one of those busy weeknights. (Or even busy weekends โ€“ dinners can be tough then, too!) And this collection of easy chicken dinner recipes has some that we make over and over again. It includes everything from skillet chicken dinners to slow cooker chicken recipes, one-pot chicken pastas, soups and salads with chicken, chicken burgers and meatballs, sheet pan chicken dinners and easy chicken casseroles. Are you looking for fast as well as easy? Me too. Iโ€™ve got collections of chicken recipes in under 30 minutes and, faster still,ย chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. Or if you want to browse them all, my quick chicken recipesโ€ฆ
      • Easy Chicken Recipes with Few IngredientsThese easy chicken recipes with few ingredients include some great healthy lunch and dinner options, all made with 5 or fewer ingredients! I am all about the EASY when it comes to cooking. I donโ€™t like to fuss much over my food and I certainly donโ€™t like to spend a ton of time in the kitchen at the end of a long day. Easy chicken dinner recipes and healthy lunch recipes with chicken are much more my style. (As are chicken recipes in under 30 minutes and, faster yet, chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. Cause life.) Speaking of life, a million trips to the grocery store also arenโ€™t fun during a busy week. (Especially with little ones in tow!) So Iโ€™ve got these go-toย easy chicken recipes with few ingredients that help me keep dinnertime simple. And my sanity intact. In fact, one of the first cookbooks I bought on my own, at a used bookstore in Washington, D.C., where I lived for a few years after college, was titled 3-ingredient recipes. I was pretty new to cooking and thought, I think I can handle that. My cooking skills have improved, but I still go for the simple chicken recipesโ€ฆ
      • Quick Chicken RecipesThis collection of quick chicken recipes features some of our favorite family dinners and go-to lunches, all ready in 30 minutes or less! From chicken skillet dinners to one-pot pastas, salads to burgers, youโ€™re sure to find some new favorites! If you know me, you know I am ALL about the quick and easy recipes. I love making all of our homemade meals and home cooked dinners, but like you, Iโ€™ve also got a hundred other things to juggle and so keeping things simple in the kitchen is a must. And these quick chicken recipes include all of my chicken recipes in under 30 minutes and, even faster, chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. Sanity savers for sure. Busy weeknights have nothing on us! A few of our favorites from these quick chicken recipes: Healthy chicken Alfredo with broccoli Creamy chipotle chicken 20-minute chicken and tortellini soup with kale Skillet salsa chicken Easy creamy chicken This collection also has some healthy lunch recipes with chicken for mixing up your lunch routine. (It doesnโ€™t include my slow cooker chicken recipes though, since those arenโ€™t ready in 30 minutes. But they can be super quick to prep in the morning and thenโ€ฆ
        • Chicken Recipes in Under 15 MinutesThese easy chicken recipes in under 15 minutes are perfect for dinner on a busy weeknight! From one-pot wonders to salads, chicken skillets to tacos, youโ€™re sure to find some new fast favorites! You know those nights when you walk in the door and need dinner pronto?! Like, 5 minutes ago? Thatโ€™s when I turn to these quick and easy chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. I can make a healthy, home cooked meal for my family and be sitting down to enjoy it in no time. Cause plenty of evenings, 15 minutes is often all the time I have โ€“ or want to spend โ€“ on dinner. Iโ€™m not alone on that, right?! You can browse below but I thought Iโ€™d highlight a couple that I make over and over again. A few of our favorite easy chicken recipes in under 15 minutes: 15-minute honey garlic chicken (gets rave reviews!) Southwest chicken skillet dinner (pile on your favorite toppings!) Quick chicken curry (perfect with rice and peas) One-pot low-carb leftover chicken recipe with spinach (my dadโ€™s go-to recipe) This collection also includes some healthy lunch options that are quick to put together โ€” like the Asian chicken mason jarโ€ฆ
        • Chicken Recipes in Under 30 MinutesThese easy chicken recipes in under 30 minutes are perfect for dinner on a busy weeknight! From one-pan meals to burgers, one-pot pastas to healthy salads, youโ€™re sure to find some new favorites! Quick, easy and mostly healthy is pretty much the name of the game for dinner at my house. I love a home cooked meal and we eat a ton of chicken, which means Iโ€™ve come up with and found a lot of easy chicken recipes over the years. And this collection highlights some of my easy chicken recipes in under 30 minutes, when you want something delicious but need it on the table pretty quickly. Is that every single night for you too? Weโ€™ve got everything from skillet chicken dishes to chicken pasta and from soups and salads with chicken to chicken meatballs and burgers. All the chicken love! Many of these recipes use boneless, skinless chicken breasts (though you could substitute chicken thighs if you prefer) while others use ground chicken and some rely on pre-cooked chicken, such as a rotisserie chicken you pick up at the store or some leftover grilled or baked chicken. Lots of these 30 minute chicken dinners are complete meals butโ€ฆ
      • Healthy One-Pot Chicken DinnersHealthy one-pot chicken dinners are such a help on busy days! This collection includes everything from one-pot pastas and skillets to easy slow cooker and sheet pan recipes to help you get an easy, healthy and delicious dinner on the table any night! I am ALL about quick and easy meals. I cook our dinner 99% of the time, including on days when work has blown up in my face, or the kids have decided to coordinate their melt-downs, or weโ€™re all just wiped out and hungry. And even though I love to cook, I definitely have those days when Iโ€™m just not feeling it. Enter some quick and easy one-pot chicken dinners for the win! These are great to have in your back pocket for busy days, busy weeks or in case of a โ€œkids-are-making-me-crazyโ€ kinda moment. (My husband also loves these meals because heโ€™s on clean-up duty and itโ€™s nice not to have a huge pile of dishes staring you down after dinner!) Many of these dishes are complete meals on their own. Others are low-carb as written, but can easily be paired with some rice, pasta, bread or potatoes to bulk them up a bit. Here areโ€ฆ
      • Slow Cooker Chicken RecipesThese hands-off slow cooker chicken recipes will put your slow cooker to work and have you coming home to a delicious, healthy dinner thatโ€™s ready to go! Some days, you just need someone else to make you dinner. Iโ€™m not talking takeout or delivery or a restaurant dinner. Iโ€™m talking about your crock pot or slow cooker. I find it supremely satisfying to go about my day, knowing that a delicious home cooked dinner is cooking up at home for me. I can play with the kids, take them to practices, run errands or just relax with a book and breathe easy. These slow cooker chicken recipes mean there is just one less thing to do in the evening and thatโ€™s a great thing on a busy day! This collection includes slow cooker recipes for boneless, skinless chicken breasts as well as chicken thighs (though you can usually sub either one). And many of these take just minutes to prep in the morning! ๐Ÿ‘ Hereโ€™s a few of our favorite slow cooker chicken recipes: Slow cooker balsamic chicken Slow cooker bistro chicken thighs Slow cooker apricot chicken Crock pot Mediterranean chicken Slow cooker teriyaki chicken And be sure to checkโ€ฆ
    • Easy Vegetarian RecipesEasy vegetarian recipes include main-dish meals that are hearty and satisfying and can stand alone for lunch or dinner (with a few savory breakfast options as well). Everything from one-pot veggie pastas to stuffed squash to chili to veggie burgers and hearty grain bowls and salads, there are meatless options here for everyone! I am a veggie lover through and through. ๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’š I adore getting in as many vegetables as I can, throughout the day really, and I often make easy vegetarian dinners a couple of times a week. (Hello meatless Monday, Iโ€™m looking at you!) So over the years, Iโ€™ve created tons of great veggie-based meals that can stand on their own for lunch or dinner and be hearty and satisfying. And that are also mostlyย quick and easy, because I work as a health and nutrition editor and weโ€™ve got a busy family so cooking on a weeknight needs to be low-key. My one-pot vegetarian spaghetti has been a hugely popular recipe here on the blog and you guys canโ€™t seem to get enough of my grain bowls and salads. I know the feeling. ๐Ÿ˜‰ I wanted to round up some of these in an easy-to-browse category that featuresโ€ฆ
    • Healthy Oatmeal RecipesA collection of healthy oatmeal recipes, including sweet and savory breakfast and brunch options as well as delicious, wholesome snacks and desserts. We are pretty much oatmeal fanatics in my house. ALL of us adore oatmeal and itโ€™s a rare day that weโ€™re not making or eating something with oats or oatmeal in it at some point during the day. And I mean all four of us โ€“ my husband, myself and our kids (currently ages 6 and 4). Our go-to 3-minute microwave oatmeal is a morning staple for my husband and a weekly staple for the kids and me. My kids eat overnight oatmeal jars at least twice a week for breakfast and we often have baked oatmeal another morning of the week. For school lunches or afternoon snack, we can be found munching on some no-bake cookie or energy balls with oats, oatmeal cookies of some variety or if theyโ€™ve asked nicely, Iโ€™ll make a batch of granola and we all just shovel handful after handful until itโ€™s gone. Want to know some of our very favorites of the group below? OK, Iโ€™ll share! Our familyโ€™s favorite healthy oatmeal recipes: Healthy chocolate chip muffins Overnight oatmeal jars, 3โ€ฆ
    • Healthy Muffin RecipesA collection of easy, kid-friendly healthy muffin recipes for all times of day: breakfast, school lunch, snacking, dinner and dessert! We are BIG muffin lovers in this house, at all times of day! My kiddos love them for breakfast, brunch, school lunch, afternoon snack and sometimes even savory muffins at dinner. Muffins all the time! Iโ€™ve made thousands of healthy muffin recipes over the years and I love sharing them with you! There are plenty to browse below and plenty more I plan to add! (You can sign up for my newsletter so you never miss a recipe. Youโ€™ll also get my FREE e-book of easy weeknight dinners.) Wondering where to start? Spinach banana mini muffins and whole wheat pumpkin muffins are some of our constant favorites. Healthy peanut butter and jelly muffins are fun for lunch and easy cheesy cornbread muffins are great for a quick + easy dinner side, especially with soup or chili! And if youโ€™re in the mood for a little chocolate (I know I always am!) you canโ€™t go wrong with my healthy chocolate chip muffins. Hope you find some new favorite healthy muffin recipes! XO, Kathryn
    • Healthy DessertsThis collection of healthy desserts features everything from lightened up cookie bars and brownies to cakes, muffins and breads to no-bake energy bites. Itโ€™s the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth while staying on track with healthy choices! Healthy desserts are kind-of my jam. I like a dessert that gives back. One that has redeeming qualities. A sweet treat thatโ€™s going to treat me right. But of course, it also needs to be delicious so I actually satisfy those sweet cravings! The healthier dessert recipes youโ€™ll find below are some of our go-to treats that are perfect for a healthier late-night option and many of which are great for offering kids a wholesome, but fun, treat for an after-school snack or tucked in their lunch box. Most of these recipes are whole grain and naturally sweetened, others are recipe makeovers that are lower in sugar and/or butter. A majority of them contain chocolate. ๐Ÿซโค๏ธ And ALL are easy to make. (You can also check out my healthy muffin recipes and my entire category of sweets & desserts if you want more.) Hereโ€™s a few of our favorite healthy desserts: Healthy chocolate chip muffins Healthier no bake cookie bars Noโ€ฆ
    • Healthy Fall BakingThese healthy fall baking favorites include everything from muffins and baked oatmeal to snacks to cookies and cakes. These fall recipes are whole grain and most are naturally sweetened for a wholesome, delicious treat at breakfast, snack, school lunch or dessert! Does anyone else get the baking bug when the cooler weather starts to roll in during autumn? I know I do! I get excited for all the apple baking projects, pumpkin baking projects and even getting ready for all the holiday baking to come! ๐ŸŽ๐ŸŽƒ The spices, the warmth, the aroma of having something in the oven is just part of the season for me. Plus the love that comes from a homemade baked good โ€“ it just canโ€™t be beat! โค๏ธ And yโ€™all know my style is definitely a healthier version of baking. I use whole grains and most of my recipes are naturally sweetened. I try to lighten things up where possible and keep to mostly wholesome treats, maybe with a little indulgence here and there! ๐Ÿ˜‰ Wondering where to start? Here are some of our healthy fall baking favorites: Chocolate chip apple cake Pumpkin baked oatmeal with chocolate chips Whole wheat pumpkin applesauce bread Easy healthyโ€ฆ
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Healthy, quick kid friendly meals

Published on July 12, 2016 Last Modified: September 20, 2021 By Kathryn Doherty

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A round-up of healthy, easy and quick kid friendly meals and recipes you can throw together at the last minute on busy days.Easy quick kid friendly meals - lots of last-minute breakfast, lunch and dinner ideas for toddlers, preschoolers and young kids

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So I’m a planner. I have monthly meal plans for my husband and I for dinner and a separate meal plan that includes breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner for our little ones.

Can you say Type A? Completely guilty.

But, as any parent knows, life happens, days get turned on their heads, plans get abandoned, and yet, we still must eat.

Especially those kids. I mean, really, it’s an endless demand for food!

Easy quick kid friendly meals - lots of last-minute breakfast, lunch and dinner ideas for toddlers, preschoolers and young kids

And as I mentioned last week with my zucchini cheddar whole wheat waffles, my kids have never had fast food or take out (unless the grandparents are keeping something from me!) so I’ve got lots of tricks up my sleeve to throw something together at the last minute.

(I also keep our freezer stocked and that’s really helpful! Everything from muffins to taco meat gets stashed away. But for the ideas here, I’ve assumed you don’t have a stash to draw on.)

Having some easy, quick kid friendly meals at the ready has been helpful this summer, giving us a bit more flexibility to stay longer at the pool, take an impromptu day trip, go for a picnic and more.

And I think it will be even more useful when the back-to-school season starts and life goes into overdrive again.

Easy quick kid friendly meals - lots of last-minute breakfast, lunch and dinner ideas for toddlers, preschoolers and young kids

(By the way, I put together all 5 of these plates in less than 25 minutes. Not bad!)

So without further ado, here are some easy, healthy, quick kid friendly meals that you can whip up with on-hand basics.

(I made an easy printable as well so you can have these ideas at your fingertips.)

Easy Kid Breakfast Ideas

  • Whole wheat toast or bagels with plain cream cheese and jam
  • Scrambled eggs, whole wheat toast and fresh fruit
  • Scrambled eggs with veggies (wrap into a burrito or fill a taco shell), served with fresh fruit
  • 5-minute copycat egg McMuffin
  • Egg in a hole, served with fresh fruit
  • 3-minute oatmeal, served with your favorite toppings
  • Raisin bread topped with peanut butter and served with fresh fruit
  • Toast topped with peanut butter and banana slices or raisins (make a face!)
  • Toast with smashed avocado and a fried egg
  • Sweet potato toast with sweet or savory toppings!
  • Rainbow toast
  • Banana wrap – whole wheat wrap spread with peanut butter, topped with a whole banana and rolled up (also good with raisins or granola for some extra texture)
  • Yogurt bowl – plain Greek yogurt with honey, fresh fruit, and crumbled cereal or granola (add chia seeds as sprinkles!)
  • Smoothie or smoothie bowl – just blend up some fruits (with or without yogurt or milk) and add your favorite toppings (here’s my peach-raspberry smoothie bowl for reference)
  • Sausage, toast and veggie kabobs, served with fresh fruit

Easy Kid Lunch Ideas

  • Sandwiches: peanut butter (or almond butter) and jelly, ham and cheddar, turkey or chicken, etc., served with applesauce
  • Hummus and chicken or turkey as a sandwich or wrap, served with carrot sticks and fresh or dried fruit
  • Egg salad, tuna salad or chicken salad sandwich, served with fresh or dried fruit
  • Ham and cheese melt (just broil open-faced for a couple of minutes to get it warm and melted)
  • Veggie and cream cheese roll-up, served with fresh or dried fruit
  • Cheese slices with crackers and homemade deli meat or store-bought (they can make Lunchable-like stacks), served with fresh or dried fruit
  • Hummus with veggie sticks, crackers or pretzels, served with cheese and fresh or dried fruit
  • Apple slices sandwich with peanut or almond butter and raisins
  • Muffins (if you have some in the freezer or on hand), plus yogurt with honey or fruit mixes stirred in, served with fresh or dried fruit
  • Canned beans (black or cannellini are my kids’ favorites and they just eat them plain) served with cheese, veggie chips, and fresh or dried fruit

Easy Kid Dinner Ideas (Mains)

  • Rotisserie chicken shredded, mixed with BBQ sauce (or honey mustard) and made into sliders
  • Leftover or rotisserie chicken mixed with salsa, warmed in skillet and loaded into a taco shell with shredded cheese
  • Deli or leftover meat, cream cheese and spinach wrap (with optional salsa in the wrap or on the side for dipping)
  • Whole wheat pasta with tomato sauce, peas and extra meat (such as rotisserie chicken) mixed in
  • Couscous with chicken and frozen mixed veggies (just add them in and stir to heat through once the couscous is cooked)
  • Tapas plate: chicken or meatballs, cheese, crackers/pretzels/rice cake/quinoa/rice, hummus, carrot and celery sticks, fresh or dried fruit and nuts
  • Quesadillas: chicken and cheese, refried beans and cheese, black bean and veggie, etc.
  • English muffin or flatbread pizzas – spread sauce on English muffin halves, top with cheese and pepperoni and broil for 2-3 minutes
  • Grilled cheese
  • Panini – Make a sandwich and heat it in a saute pan (put another pan on top and add a couple of cans to help weigh it down)
  • Nitrate and nitrite-free hot dogs or cooked sausages
  • Minute or microwave rice (or grain blend) with beans and cheese mixed in
  • 10-minute “baked” potato with rotisserie chicken and cheese mixed in
  • Hard-boiled eggs
  • A dipping dinner: A plate of chicken strips or rolled up deli meat, baby carrots, cucumber and bell pepper strips and bakery bread or toast sticks with some small containers of your favorite dips: hummus, pesto, honey mustard, ranch, ketchup
  • Pasta or bean salad: Mix whatever fresh or frozen veggies you have on hand with some beans and/or whole wheat pasta, add a favorite cheese and some dressing and serve

Coming soon: Three of my kids’ favorite broiler sandwiches. I love making these for a quick dinner.

Sign up for my free weekly e-newsletter and never miss a recipe. (You’ll also get my free e-cookbook, Easy Weeknight Dinners, as a thank you!)

Easy Dinner Side Dishes

  • Raw baby carrots, cucumber, bell peppers, broccoli or celery and a dipping sauce (Ranch, honey mustard, BBQ sauce, peanut butter, hummus)
  • Cherry tomatoes or sliced tomatoes
  • Steamed vegetable: Broccoli, cauliflower or green beans
  • Sauteed zucchini, squash, corn, Brussels sprouts, okra or spinach
  • 10-minute “baked” potato with your favorite toppings
  • Microwave sweet potato chips
  • Microwave or Minute-style rice or grain mix
  • Shortcut grains and veggies
  • Frozen peas, thawed (served warm or cold)
  • Frozen mixed veggies, cooked and topped with butter
  • Crunchy lettuce pieces (such as romaine), with dressing or dip

There you have it – plenty of mix-and-match ideas to choose from.

And if you’re looking for some quick and easy snack ideas for kids, I’ve done a round-up of some of our faves. (There’s a free printable for that one too!)

Quick Kids Meals Ideas PrintableAnd in case you missed it earlier, here’s the free 2-page printable again for this round-up of meal ideas.

What are your go-to ideas for last-minute meals? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Easy quick kid friendly meals - lots of last-minute breakfast, lunch and dinner ideas for toddlers, preschoolers and young kids

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Filed Under: Back to School, Breakfast & Brunch, Cooking resources, Main dishes, Resources, Side dishes, Toddler and kid food

« Quick Kid Friendly Meals Printable
Spicy pork burgers with mango salsa »

Comments

  1. Laura says

    July 12, 2016 at 12:43 PM

    Love these ideas! Most of the time we just feed the kids what we eat for dinner…but I always let them choose their own breakfasts and lunches so this will give us some more ideas that they will love! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      July 12, 2016 at 8:30 PM

      Thanks Laura! Mine eat our dinner for the most part too, but it seems like there’s always times when something comes up and I need to feed them pronto! Hope this is a good resource for you ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  2. Dawn at Girl Heart Food says

    July 12, 2016 at 2:18 PM

    Kathryn, that is soooo awesome that your kids have never had fast food! Big applause for that ๐Ÿ™‚ !! All of these ideas are so great and love that you pulled them together so quickly. My sister in law would love these for my niece and nephew. Then again, I would also love them for myself ๐Ÿ˜€ Great post, girl! xo

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      July 12, 2016 at 8:30 PM

      Aww, thanks Dawn! Haha, yes, it’s true – these are great go-to meals for kids of all ages when you’re just too tired to fuss over something ๐Ÿ˜‰ XO

      Reply
  3. Jessica @ Nutritioulicious says

    July 12, 2016 at 7:32 PM

    Wow Kathryn, this is such a fantastic resource! I’m big on meal planning too – only way I can ensure I get healthy, balanced meals on the table every night! Sometimes I want to just be lazy, but I rarely do. I’ll have to take a cue or two from these lists to finally give in to that desire!

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      July 12, 2016 at 8:32 PM

      Thanks so much Jessica! It’s nice to have a few ideas on hand in case something comes up! Or on days when my husband and I are having dinner later after the kids go down and I need to go ahead and feed them something else. Hope you find this helpful!

      Reply
  4. GiGi Eats says

    July 13, 2016 at 1:05 AM

    I think plate colors are a totally lure for kids!!! Put broccoli on a purple plate and they’ll eat it – haha!

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      July 16, 2016 at 4:06 PM

      Right?! Who can resist a colorful meal?!

      Reply
  5. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says

    July 13, 2016 at 4:37 PM

    Your kids have never had fast food or take out?!! Holy moly, gurl I bow down to your domesticated goddessness!! Boy and I don’t have kids (well, ones that don’t walk on 4 legs), but I personally would eat every single one of these healthy, quick and kid friendly meals! I guess it’s the little kid in me… or the fact that all of these options look delish!! You wanna adopt a 33 year old?? ๐Ÿ˜‰ Cheers, girlfriend!

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      July 13, 2016 at 10:20 PM

      All of these quick + easy meals apply to any kid at heart Cheyanne ๐Ÿ™‚ XO

      Reply
  6. Camille says

    July 14, 2016 at 9:12 PM

    I love the place color idea. and thanks for the recipe ideas. i will print this and post it on my fridge.

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      July 16, 2016 at 4:07 PM

      Excellent! I hope it’s helpful!

      Reply
  7. Anita says

    July 14, 2016 at 9:21 PM

    These are fantastic recipe ideas! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      July 16, 2016 at 4:08 PM

      Absolutely, I hope it’s helpful!

      Reply
  8. Ronda says

    August 6, 2018 at 5:42 AM

    I love Costco as well I just wish they had an even bigger selection of organic! Like in your article I wish the sweet potatoes, mushrooms, peppers, cheese etc. were organic and even in my Costco

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      August 6, 2018 at 8:18 AM

      That’s true – different stores have different produce and not all have organic varieties. Trader Joe’s and ALDI are both great options (if you have one near you) for great produce, including lots of organic options, at a lower price. ๐Ÿ‘

      Reply
      • Samantha says

        June 29, 2019 at 12:10 AM

        Publix is also great for organic produce and products

        Reply
  9. Samantha says

    June 29, 2019 at 12:08 AM

    Hi,
    I love all of these ideas except I have 2 of the most picky eaters in the entire world! I try so hard to meal plan, to help with the budget as well as help make my life a little easier, but itโ€™s sooooo hard with my children. They will not eat vegetables AT ALL! Iโ€™ve tried everything from cooked to raw to hiding them in things and they still will not eat it. My 5yr old will not even eat pizza without scraping off the sauce and cheese. They are so stubborn that they will go to bed hungry rather than eat the food I make. Thatโ€™s why meals are such a headache for me. If you have any advice or plan on making a thread for extremely picky eaters I would love to hear them.

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      July 1, 2019 at 10:30 AM

      I know that’s so frustrating! Mine have gone through various stages and levels of picky eating over the years as well. You are doing the right thing by trying cooked and raw and trying to add them to different dishes. Keep trying (it can take a long time for a kid to try and then like a veggie). One other thing that really helps me, especially when I’m at the pulling hair out stage of frustration, is to remember one of the main tips nutrition experts offer which is about the division of responsibility when it comes to mealtime: Adults choose what foods and when, kids choose whether and how much to eat. It’s so hard, but if you can just offer what you want to offer and let them decide, then there’s no battle. They can eat it or not, they can go to bed hungry, but you only have to worry about what to provide on their plates and what time to give it to them.
      Also, smoothies are a great way to sneak in some veggies. Fresh spinach blends in well and doesn’t affect the taste at all (and if you use a darker fruit mix, like a berry mix from the freezer section), you can’t see it either. Also, I keep a bag of frozen cauliflower on hand and defrost a few the night before I’m going to make a smoothie and toss those in too. Chia seeds are also a nutrition powerhouse and can be thrown into any smoothie too.
      Some kids also respond well to “cute food,” where you make little animals and scenes with the food. I’m not creative or patient enough to go that route, but you could give it a try. Or just go the route of coming up with fun names for foods – super vision sweet potatoes, big muscle spinach – or playing games, like who can crunch the carrot the loudest?
      You may also want to check out this post, where I talked with some pros and pulled together some research and tips about how to raise healthy eaters. https://www.familyfoodonthetable.com/raising-healthy-eaters/
      I hope that helps a little. Hang in there and good luck!!

      Reply

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Hi there! I’m Kathryn Doherty, a cookbook author, mom of two kids, and devoted food and home cooking nut. I’ve got lots of easy recipes and resources to help you get delicious food on the table for your family! More about me

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Curry ground turkey with rice and peas is full of warm, rich flavors but is super quick and easy to make! This 20-minute recipe is great for a weeknight dinner! #curry #turkeycurry #groundturkey #easydinners #quickdinners
Crock pot honey garlic chicken served in a bowl with green onions sprinkled on top
This quick and easy Southwest chicken skillet dinner uses rotisserie chicken, fresh veggies, canned beans and simple spices for a delicious meal thatโ€™s ready in just 15 minutes! #easychickendinner #onepotrecipe | www.familyfoodonthetable.com
A skillet with a saucy chicken curry and bowls of rice and peas behind it
A 5-ingredient, 15-minute honey garlic chicken with an addictively delicious sauce - a perfect weeknight dinner recipe!

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