Kids' Healthy Dinner Ideas

It can be difficult as a parent to come up with healthy meal ideas that your children will actually eat—looking to shake things up this summer? Here are some inventive dishes that your children will enjoy.

Getting Your Children Excited About Healthy Eating

Making mealtime exciting is one of the best ways to get your kids excited about healthy eating. You can also incorporate healthy ingredients into their favorite dishes.

1. Carrot Dogs on the BBQ

We all know that kids adore hot dogs, especially when they're smothered in ketchup. If hotdogs have become a nightly staple in your house and you want to try something different, try a grilled carrot instead.

Boiling carrots take on the taste and texture of the real thing after being marinated in a mixture of vinegar, broth, soy sauce, garlic powder, mustard, and paprika for at least three hours. Cook the carrots for about five minutes over a flame, then place them in buns and top with your favorite toppings for a veggie dog that is sure to please.

2. Chili with Sweet Potatoes and Black Beans

This recipe can't go wrong with black beans and sweet potato, two healthy foods that most kids enjoy. If your kids' taste buds are still sensitive, skip the extra seasoning and enjoy this naturally flavorful meal with ground chipotle. To take it to the next level, serve it with cornbread, tortilla chips, or crackers. Make a double batch and freeze half of it for a quick weekday meal later.

3. Quinoa Salads

If your children enjoy rice (as many do), try substituting quinoa. This simple substitution, which is only slightly smaller but not much different in taste, can boost the nutrition level of any rice-based meal without raising any red flags with your children. For a Tex-Mex-inspired meal, combine the grains with chipotle chicken, pinto beans, and fresh salsa. Tangy lemon tahini sauce, cucumber, and cherry tomatoes add a Mediterranean touch, while pickled carrots, radishes, green beans, and gochujang — or Korean chili paste — transport you East.

4. Baked Fish and Chips

You might be able to serve fish and chips while convincing your kids they're eating chicken tenders if the outside is crunchy and the inside isn't so fishy. While traditional fish and chips are fried in oil and soaked in grease, you can make them healthier by frying them in an oven or air fryer. Voila! All of the health benefits of fish in a familiar flavor that your kids will love.

5. Goulash

Something about goulash appeals to everyone, including your picky two-year-old. When quinoa, oven-fried fish, and carrot dogs aren't cutting it, make this American classic for a meal the whole family will enjoy. To make this savory dish healthier, use lean beef or ground chicken, low-sodium broth, and whole wheat noodles.

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