3 Easy Kid-Friendly Recipes
In a follow up to our recent blog about encouraging healthy eating habits in children, we share a few simple kid-friendly recipes. You can even invite them to help out in the kitchen!
Looking for an easy recipe to help you power through a busy week? Or perhaps some healthy snack ideas? Look no further! We’ve got you covered with simple and quick recipes like Burrito Bowls, Egg Cups, and Energy Bites. These dishes are not only nutritious and delicious but also perfect for involving little helping hands in the kitchen.
Burrito Bowl Bar
The burrito bowl is a versatile recipe and allows each person to decide if they want a burrito wrap or a bowl and what ingredients will go in. Younger kids can have the ingredients deconstructed on a highchair or plate. Older kids may want to explore flavor combinations and new ingredients.
Ingredients:
- Rice
- Tortillas or crunchy taco shells
- Black beans or refried beans
- Protein such as shredded or cubed chicken (could be leftovers, rotisserie, or chicken covered in salsa in the slow cooker all day), tofu, scrambled burger, steak, or fish
- A selection of veggies like peppers, onion, corn, tomato, lettuce, or cabbage
- A variety of toppings such as salsa, avocado, guacamole, sour cream, cheese, hot sauce, etc.
- Limes or lemons to squeeze on top
Keep ingredient options reasonable in number, especially for the younger crowd. Offer one protein, two to three veggies, and one to two toppings. With older kids, start with offering a “base” of ingredients and have them choose a few to add in to make it their own.
Directions:
- Cook rice
- Cook proteins (add appropriate spices)
- Cook veggies or chop and offer raw
- Setup your dinner bar by using small bowls and lay out the ingredients with utensils that kids can use to serve themselves
- Ingredients can be assembled in a burrito or on top of a bowl of rice
Invite Your Kids to Help
Tasks by Age Group
| Toddler | Young Child | Teens |
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Egg Cups
Love omelets but want something a bit more portable? This recipe is perfect for lunch boxes and little hands.
Ingredients:
- A dozen eggs
- Shredded cheese
- Mix in options: colored peppers, spinach, red onion, potato (any variety) or squash (leftover veggies are a great option as well)
Directions:
- Start by spraying a muffin tin
- Crack eggs first in a small bowl to pick out shells
- Crack the egg until a line can be seen, then pull apart with two thumbs
- Add one egg to each muffin tin either whole or scrambled
- Sprinkle in veggies and cheese as desired
- Mix each muffin to combine the egg with veggies/cheese
- Bake at 400 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes
- Let sit to cool before taking them out
Invite Your Kids to Help
Tasks by Age Group
| Toddler | Young Child | Teens |
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No-Bake Date and Nut Energy Bites
This recipe is perfect for easy mornings and healthy snack times.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup mixed nuts
- 3 tbsp nut butter (such as peanut butter)
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseeds (optional)
- 1 cup dates
Directions:
- A handheld chopper is helpful here or a food processor if you have one.
- Start by chopping the nuts then the dates.
- Mix the dates and nuts in a bowl with the nut butter, oats, and ground flaxseeds, if using.
- The dates and nut butter will help to make the whole mixture sticky to roll into ping pong sized balls.
- Customize the flavor by adding chocolate, cranberry, coconut, or citrus zest.
Invite Your Kids to Help
Tasks by Age Group
| Toddler | Young child | Teens |
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