It can feel like a near impossible task trying to find new meals which are both healthy and loved by your kid(s). This can often times lead you to feel defeated and resort to classic chicken nuggets and chips, but that’s why we’re here to help!
This list will contain a couple recipes for each meal of the day, providing a healthy twist to the usual meals which you and your kid(s) are sure to love.
Breakfast
Healthy French Toast
What you will need:
2 eggs, any milk, vanilla extract, almond extract (not as necessary but recommended), cinnamon, brown sugar or coconut sugar, 6-8 slices of thick cut bread, any toppings you would like (we recommend berries and maple syrup).
Step by step:
- Make the egg mixture, whisk together the eggs and then add the rest of the ingredients (except the bread and toppings). Mix together and add into a large shallow bowl.
- Heat your pan, heat a griddle or skillet over a medium to high heat and add a tablespoon of butter, you can use vegan butter to keep it dairy free if you desire.
- Dip, Fry and eat! Dunk both sides of the bread into the mixture for only a couple of seconds, place into the skillet, cook until golden brown on both sides, add your favourite toppings and enjoy!
Tips for the best French toast!
Don’t leave your bread in the mixture to long, as it will go soggy,
Use butter in the skillet which will brown when cooking the break giving it a delicious flavour.
For more detail visit Ambitious Kitchen
2 Ingredient Pancakes
What you will need:
1 Banana, 2 eggs, your choice of toppings, (optional) cinnamon
Step by step:
- Add your banana into a bowl and using a fork mash it into a paste.
- Whisk your eggs and add them to the banana paste.
- Add cinnamon if you choose.
- Heat your pan to a low to medium heat with a small amount of oil or butter.
- Add your mixture and fry till golden brown on both sides.
- Take out of the pan and add your favourite toppings
- Enjoy!
Lunch
Red Lentil Pasta
What you will need:
Olive oil, fresh veg (we recommend using baby spinach, bell peppers, onion and courgette. You can also use carrots, and any root vegetables if you would like), Lentil Pasta, Tomato Basil Marinara Sauce (you can use any jarred marinara sauce, or crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, or tomato paste mixed with vegetable broth), salt, pepper, garlic and crushed red pepper flakes, parmesan cheese (optional).
Step by step:
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions, cook until al denta, drain and set aside
- In another large pot or skillet/pan add olive oil and add onion and garlic over medium to high heat until caramelized.
- Add the rest of your chopped vegetables and spices and reduce the pan to a medium heat and cook for 5-10 mins
- Combine the cooked vegetable mixture with your jar of sauce and blend until smooth
- Add the sauce mixture to the cooked pasta and simmer for a couple of minutes to let the flavour set.
- Serve, here you can choose to add your parmesan cheese
For more information on this recipe you can visit the Picky Eater Blog
Naan Bread Pizza
What you will need:
Naan bread, marinara sauce (or your favourite brand of tomato sauce), Mozzarella cheese, oregano, fresh or dried basil.
Step by step:
- Preheat your oven to 180 degree Celsius
- Meanwhile lay your naan bread on a baking sheet and spread each with a layer of marinara sauce
- Add your oregano and then top with shredded mozzarella and then your basil. Here you can add your favourite toppings
- Bake your pizza in the oven for roughly 15 minutes, or until the edges are crispy and the cheese has melted.
- Enjoy!
For more information and even variations of this recipe visit the Picky Eater Blog
Dinner
Cornflake Air-Fryer Chicken Nuggets
What you will need:
Cooking spray, ¼ cup corn starch, 1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar, ¼ teaspoon ground pepper, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, 50 grams cornflakes finely crushed, 225 grams boneless, skinless chicken breast cut to 1 inch pieces, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt.
Step by step:
- Put your corn starch, sugar, pepper and garlic powder into a shallow dish
- Place your buttermilk in a separate shallow dish and cornflakes (finely crushed) into a third dish
- Sprinkle your chicken (cut into 1 inch pieces) with salt, then dredge them in the corn starch mixture, then dip into the buttermilk and finally in the cornflakes to coat
- Coat the chicken with cooking spray, and place into your air fryer
- Cook at 200 degree Celsius until golden brown and cooked through, turn halfway, this should take a total of 8-9 minutes
If you would like to view more information about this recipe including its Nutrition facts you can visit, Eating Well for more.
Chicken Korma
What you will need:
1 onion, 2 garlic cloves, thumb-sized piece of ginger, 4 tablespoons of korma paste, 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, 50g ground almonds, 4 tablespoons sultanas, 400ml chicken stock, ¼ teaspoon golden caster sugar, 150g 0% fat Greek yogurt, small bunch coriander.
Step by step:
- Chop your onion and 2 garlic clothes and ginger and put them into a food processor and whiz to a paste
- Put the paste into a high sided frying pan with 3 tablespoons of water and cook for 5 mins, add your korma paste and cook for a further 2 mins
- Cut your chicken breast into bite sized pieces and add hem into the sauce. Add 50g ground almonds, 4 tablespoons of sultanas, 400ml chicken stock and ¼ teaspoon of sugar
- Mix thoroughly, then cover and simmer for 10 mins or until the chicken is cooked through.
- Take the pan of the heat, stir in 150g of Greek yogurt and add your seasoning
- Finally add your chopped coriander and serve with rice of your choice
For more information about this recipe and a video tutorial visit BBC Good Food
These our just a few recipes which we feel will be a hit with kids for the summer break! Do you have any favourite you cook at home? Share them with us below!