3 Simple and Healthy Meal Ideas for Children

Eating shouldn’t have to be a troublesome activity.

For adults, it’s all quite simple: If you feel hunger pangs coming on, you should satisfy your body’s needs by having something filling to eat — and thus your body gets the fuel it needs to function throughout the day. It could be something quick, like a sandwich, or a hearty, home-cooked meal like a pot roast or soup.

Other times, you might be craving a particular flavor or food item, so you allow yourself to indulge — it could be a sweet treat like a slice of cake or an ice cream cone. Maybe it’s a glass of wine at the end of a long week, or an expensive (but totally worth it) cut of meat.

In other words, adults can eat for enjoyment or for health, and that’s that. With children (especially younger ones), however, there could be a battle raging on at the dinner table every single night because kids often refuse to eat certain foods.

Some kids only want to eat the exact same thing every single day, and will express disgust at every unfamiliar food item placed on their plate. This can cause parents to worry that their kids aren’t getting the nutrients they need — especially if the kids can only be persuaded to eat processed or fast food, which can be harmful to the body.

Some helpful suggestions
There is good news, however. Children will always have favorite foods and beverages, so parents can use this information to devise a plan to get them to eat healthier, more wholesome fare.

Here are three simple and healthy meal ideas for children for you to try tonight:

Make patties.
Most kids love fried chicken, and many love the taste of cheese. But to steer clear of another fried chicken dinner, try this fun alternative: patties made with ground or chopped chicken, cheese, plus some finely minced or grated vegetables. Kids can easily eat these patties using just their fingers, or put them in a bun for an instant sandwich. And they won’t know that they’re eating vegetables at the same time, so there won’t be any fuss.

Pack mini pizzas for school.
Who doesn’t love pizza? Make smaller versions that can easily fit your child’s lunch box — top sliced muffins with ham, pineapples and cheese. These make a fun and quick lunch for little kids.

Fix up bite-sized fish fillets.
It’s good to get kids eating fish more often. They’ll love fillets of white fish covered in breadcrumbs and served with a tasty dip. You can even encourage the kids to help you bread the fish — helping with meal preparation makes kids more eager to eat and enjoy the food they helped to make. Check this site to know more about healthy meal ideas for children.