30 Healthy Recipes That Your Kids Will Love to Eat
Family-friendly desserts included.
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Getting everyone to agree on a family meal isn't always easy, especially if you want to get a healthy dinner on the table. Between picky eaters and different food preferences, you might feel like all hope is lost for serving up a nutritious meal that everyone will love. Don't fret! You'll find some of the best healthy recipes for kids and even grownup picky eaters right here.
Whether you're looking for a healthy chicken recipe like chicken tenders made in an air fryer or a smoothie recipe that's colorful and sweet, this list has healthy recipes for any time of day. There's no better way to wake up a snoozing house than with a healthy breakfast like yogurt parfaits, overnight oats, or protein-packed egg bites. And if you're packing lunch boxes, there are plenty of healthy snacks and school lunches that won't come back home uneaten.
Oh, and you can't forget after-school snacks to keep the kids full until dinnertime! Homemade granola bars or from-scratch fig bars would make a great alternative and rival any boxed cookie or snack cake. Of course, you'll still find melty cheese and crispy breadcrumbs in plenty of these kid-friendly recipes. You'll also find plenty of healthy desserts to finish the day off strong. Because if it's not as delicious as it is good for you, what's the point? 😉
Healthy Blueberry Muffins
Combining good-for-you ingredients (oats, whole wheat flour, Greek yogurt, honey, and of course, blueberries) will make you feel great about giving your kids a quick breakfast. They'll just think it's a sweet treat!
Get Ree's Healthy Blueberry Muffins.
Roasted Carrots with Honey Herb Butter
A great way to make sure they get their vitamins is giving them a sweeter veggie like carrots. Roasting them and adding a little bit of honey to the herb butter will make them extra tasty!
Turkey Meatballs
Who doesn't love meatballs? Using ground turkey lightens them up but still keeps them protein-packed. They're so versatile, too! Serve them with dipping sauces and their favorite veggies for a quick dinner.
Get Ree's Turkey Meatballs recipe.
Fig Bars
Fig Newtons are a lunchbox staple. But did you know you can easily make them from scratch? They're much healthier (and tastier!) that way with less processing.
Get the Fig Bars recipe.
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Homemade chicken tenders just got healthier with this version that still has plenty of crunch from the air fryer. Serve them up with honey mustard, BBQ sauce, ranch dressing, or even ketchup.
Get the Air Fryer Chicken Tenders recipe.
Baked Oatmeal With Berries
A breakfast that tastes like dessert? Kids will definitely want that! Hearty oats, sweet berries, and crunchy almonds will keep them fueled for the day ahead.
Get the Baked Oatmeal With Berries recipe.
Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds
Rather than giving them chips or cookies, treat them to something seasonal that's just as fun to snack on! Pepitas are full of protein and fiber, but all they'll taste is a crunchy cinnamon-sugar treat.
Get the Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds recipe.
Individual Sausage Casseroles
Whether you call them sausage casseroles or egg bites, this grab-and-go meal is sure to keep your little ones fueled up for the day. You can stash them in the freezer and reheat in the microwave to make them even easier!
Get Ree's Individual Sausage Casseroles recipe.
Watermelon Smoothie
If your family is big on watermelon, they'll love this cool and refreshing smoothie in the summertime! It has frozen strawberries for sweetness and Greek vanilla yogurt for protein.
Get the Watermelon Smoothie recipe.
Rainbow Skewers
Here's a fun way to get your kiddos to eat a variety of healthy fruits: serve them on a stick! You can even serve them with a vanilla yogurt dip for a fun breakfast or dessert.
Get the Rainbow Skewers recipe.
Homemade Chicken Burgers
Lean ground chicken is the base for these homemade burger patties. You can stack them with any of your favorite toppings: buffalo sauce and blue cheese, BBQ sauce and pickles, or marinara sauce and part-skim mozzarella cheese.
Get the Homemade Chicken Burgers recipe.
Shrimp and Veggie Quesadillas
Quesadillas in any variety are a good choice for kids. Here, Ree likes to fill them with shrimp, spinach, and bell peppers. Oh, and lots of melty cheese, of course!
Get Ree's Shrimp and Veggie Quesadillas recipe.
Homemade Dole Whip
No need to make a trip to Disney when you have have this sweet treat right at home! The frozen pineapple soft serve is a dessert that everyone will feel good about eating.
Get the Homemade Dole Whip recipe.
Dill Dip with Vegetables
This herby dip gets its fluffy texture and rich, tangy flavor from mayo, sour cream, and a dash of pickle juice. It's the perfect creamy condiment to dunk fresh cucumbers, carrots, and sweet bell peppers.
Get the Dill Dip recipe.
Butternut Squash Lasagna
Sweet butternut squash is a vitamin-packed twist on classic layered lasagna. This recipe is also boosted by plenty of spinach and Italian sausage for extra protein that's totally kid-approved.
Get the Butternut Squash Lasagna recipe.
Homemade Granola Bars
Your kids will be the envy of the lunch room with these chewy homemade granola bars. They're loaded with old-fashioned oats, pumpkin seeds, and dried cranberries for lots of fiber, plus they're flavored with cinnamon (a spice that's full of antioxidants).
Get the recipe for Homemade Granola Bars.
Chickpea Salad
This chopped salad is a kid-friendly way to sneak in tons of colorful vegetables, plant-based protein, and healthy fats from avocado. It also packs up well for school lunch.
Get the Chickpea Salad recipe.
Pumpkin Smoothies
These creamy shakes are an excellent morning meal or healthy dessert that kids will slurp up in record time. Yogurt adds protein and gut-friendly probiotics and a sprinkling of crushed graham crackers on top adds just the crunch little ones are looking for.
Get the Pumpkin Smoothie recipe.
Breakfast Pizza
Fuel kids for an active day with this fun breakfast pizza made with Crescent rolls. It's loaded with crispy bacon, shredded hash browns, and soft-scrambled eggs to satisfy everyone's taste buds.
Get the Breakfast Pizza recipe.
Eggplant Lasagna
Adding tender, savory eggplant to your lasagna is a great way to lighten things up and add extra nutrients. Don't worry, this version doesn't skimp on cheese or delicious, herby tomato sauce.
Get the Eggplant Lasagna recipe.
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