Creating Healthy Recipes For Kids

Healthy living starts with healthy recipes for kids and adults. Exercising, getting enough sleep and taking care of yourself physically will be more effective when combined with a healthy diet that's rich in nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Healthy meals should also feature some lean meats and other proteins while minimizing fats.

Kids usually have very set tastes and tend to be picky eaters, particularly as you phase out some of their favorite junk foods or rich, fatty treats. In order to phase in some healthy recipes for kids without facing a pint-sized mutiny in the kitchen, try adjusting some of their favorite meals, turning them into healthy recipes for kids.

Substitutions Can Transform High Calorie Foods Into Healthy Recipes For Kids

One of the simplest substitutions you can make is applesauce for oil. This works particularly well in baked goods such as muffins, cakes, and quick breads. Simply replace the vegetable oil with unsweetened applesauce in the same amount. If you can't find unsweetened applesauce, you may want to reduce the amount of sugars in the recipe. This doesn't work as well for cookies because the texture tends to be firm and moist, and most cookies normally have a bit of crunch to them.

Using whole wheat bread crumbs combined with bulgur or crushed nuts can transform staples such as chicken tenders or fried chicken. Simply crush the bulgur or some almonds, then mix them with whole wheat bread crumbs. Dredge the chicken pieces in the mixture, then oven bake them rather than frying. You'll still get the crispy, crunchy texture kids love without all the white flour and without using oil. You can use this substitution for lots of dishes that call for bread crumbs, including meatloaf and meatballs.

Getting The Family Involved

Fresh ingredients and minimal use of processed or boxed foods is a great way to create healthy recipes for kids. You'll get more nutrients out of fresh peas from the garden that you'll find in canned peas. Over time, your kids will grow to appreciate the taste of freshly prepared fruits and vegetables, but it may take a few meals.

To increase your child's interest in freshly prepared foods, let him or her help you prepare the meals. Better yet, put in a small garden and grow lettuce, tomatoes, peas, and beans. Children love to watch "their" garden grow in the summer months and will look forward to tasting all the foods they've grown. In the kitchen, put the kids to work shelling peas or rinsing the lettuce while you chop up tomatoes for a tossed salad.

Finding Healthy Dishes Online

There are dozens of websites on the Internet that feature healthy, wholesome meals everyone in your family will love. Visit popular recipe sites for more great ideas, but do be aware of the quality of the ingredients as well as how much fat and calories there are in the meals (most recipe sites list the nutritional information). Sites focusing on good parenting and children's health are also great sources for healthy recipes for kids.