The Best and Most Easy Healthy Recipes for Kids to Make

Having kids help with cooking is not only educational and fun but allows them to gain hands on experience in the kitchen while making and experimenting with new foods.  Although it can often be difficult for kids to lend a hand in the kitchen due to hot stoves and sharp objects and no previous hands on experience in the kitchen, getting them started and interested should be a fun and exciting first experience. Get them interested in healthy eating and cooking at a young age with these easy healthy recipes for kids. Not only will the results be a good home cooked meal but you will also be spending more time with the kids!

Below we list some recipes for the whole family and even some easy healthy recipes for kids to snack on.

Roasted Veggies

Your kids may not like the look but the recipe and meal itself is absolutely delicious. You can serve this with a main dish on the side or even a healthy between the meal snack and appetizer.

Ingredients:

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

3 medium carrots (about 3/4 pound), cut into 1 1/2-inch thick circles

1 1/2 cups Brussels sprouts (about 1/2 pound), halved

4 cups red bliss potatoes (about 1 pound), cut into 1 1/2-inch thick slices

3 medium parsnips (about1 pound), cut into 1 1/2-inch thick slices

1 cup sweet potatoes (about 1 pound), cut into 1 1/2-inch thick slices

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1 tablespoon dried rosemary

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Grease an 11 by 17-inch baking sheet pan with extra-virgin olive oil. Pour and align vegetables in a large bowl and add the dried herbs, salt and pepper. Toss well, evenly coating all the vegetables with the seasonings and oil. Add more oil if the vegetables seem dry
3. Spread the vegetables evenly on a large baking sheet. Place on middle rack in oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes.

This next easy healthy recipes for kids is so easy that kids could even make it themselves!  This recipe can be made ahead and taken to sports practices or even a lazy day around the house snack. It’s not only healthy but also very refreshing  during the summer!

Yogurt Berry Parfait 

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups plain fat-free yogurt
½ cup blueberries
½ cup sliced strawberries
½ cup crunchy whole grain cereal (or granola)

Instructions:  In two tall glasses, alternate layers of yogurt, berries and cereal.

Kid’s Tasks:

• Gathering ingredients
• Washing berries
• Measuring berries and cereal
• Layering the ingredients

There is almost always something a kid can do in the kitchen, such as peel vegetables, pull out ingredients and put them away! It’s a great way to spend quality time with the kids and stir up a conversation! Just be sure to keep them away from sharp objects and knives.

Easy and Quick Vegetable Recipes for Kids

Are you having trouble getting your kids to eat veggies?  Getting kids to like vegetables can be somewhat challenging and involve some strategy. One way is to offer a large variety of vegetables and incorporate them into some of their favorite foods such a cheese or pasta. For example, many kids love cheese so you could make one of these quick vegetable recipes for kids by incorporating some broccoli as in the following recipe:

 Baked Broccoli with Cheddar Cheese

1 head fresh broccoli (or 1 lb precut florets)

2 oz water

3 Tbs butter

1⁄4 tsp salt, or to taste

1 cup grated cheddar (or more if you like it cheesy)

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Wash broccoli and cut into bite-size florets. Place into a steaming basket. Add water, and steam until broccoli is tender but still slightly firm. Drain well. Rinse and dry the baking dish, then lightly butter it with 1 tablespoon of the butter. Arrange broccoli in a single layer in the baking dish.

2. Sprinkle the broccoli with salt, and top with the cheese and remaining butter.

4. Bake about 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Most kids have never tasted zucchini, so you might try and turn this easy vegetable recipe for kids into a fun way to eat their veggies by making zucchini chips. They are crisp and you can serve them with some ranch dressing for dipping.

Zucchini Oven Chips

1/4 cup dry breadcrumbs

1/4 cup (1 ounce) grated fresh Parmesan cheese

1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons fat-free milk

2 1/2 cups (1/4-inch-thick) slices zucchini (about 2 small)

Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 425°. Combine the first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl, stirring well. Place the milk in a shallow bowl. Dip zucchini slices in milk, and dredge in breadcrumb mixture. Place coated slices on an ovenproof wire rack coated with cooking spray Place the rack on a baking sheet. Bake at 425° for 30 minutes or until browned and crisp. Serve immediately with your favorite dressing or store bought marinara sauce.

With so many vegetable recipes for kids available and a little creativity, kids will learn to love eating their veggies and will start to develop a taste for them. Give these few recipes a try and see which one works best for them. Who knows, you might even be surprised when serving something as simple as a plate of some raw vegetables with your favorite vegetable dip.