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Nutrition is important at any age, especially for little ones as they grow. Feeding children nutritious meals helps establish a foundation for healthy eating habits that they can apply throughout life. Yet, any parent with a fussy eater knows the challenge of finding healthy recipes that kids will actually eat. Nutritious can also mean delicious! If you have picky eaters, try out these kid-friendly recipes, full of flavor and nutrients.
Frozen banana ice cream
I scream, you scream, your kids will scream for ice cream with this tasty, nutritious dessert.
Ditch the sugary ice cream made of dairy. Instead, use frozen bananas, a healthier alternative. Add peanut butter, vanilla, or cocoa powder to turn this into a tasty treat your kids will love, like this recipe for frozen banana ice cream by Tasty.
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Veggie sauce
Even the tiniest hint of a green vegetable will make a picky eater turn down a nutritious meal. Sauces are a great way to hide those veggies. Take a few cues from this tomato sauce recipe from My Fussy Eater. Cook down vegetables, like tomatoes, carrots, celery, and spinach, before blending. Then add the sauce to any kid-friendly recipe, like pizza or pasta, so children get an ample serving of fruits and vegetables.
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Greek yogurt and fruit parfait
Children love sugar. Instead of feeding them with processed foods, like candy bars, go for naturally sweet treats. Combine crunchy granola with greek yogurt, honey, and berries for a hearty meal packed with proteins and vitamins, like this recipe from Simply Home Cooked. Go for probiotic yogurt to boost gut health.
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A hearty bowl of chicken noodle soup provides the ideal meal to soothe an upset tummy. Chicken broth is infused with healthy ingredients to build strong bones and boost immunity, according to a study published in Harvard Health. Follow this recipe published in Taste of Home, and boil chicken bones, herbs, and veggies to create the broth. If you have a picky eater, you can drain and remove veggies before serving. Then add chicken and noodles
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Homemade applesauce
For a healthy, homemade snack, cook up a batch of applesauce. This fruity, naturally sweet recipe contains cinnamon, a spice loaded with antioxidants that reduce inflammation. Meanwhile, apples are rich in vitamins and fiber. This recipe from AllRecipes shows how to make jars of sauce, by cooking down apples and adding sugar and cinnamon. You can add in other fruits, like pears, to mix things up.
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Coconut flour pancakes
Coconut flour is a great alternative to grain-based flour because it is gluten free and full of nutrients like protein, fiber, iron, and healthy fats, according to Healthline. Create a batch of apple pancakes made with coconut flour, like this recipe from Wellness Mama. You can also use coconut flour for healthy cakes and donuts.
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Oatmeal raisin cookies
Cooking brings people together. Teaching your children to cook, not only passes down a valuable life skill, but also provides a chance to share an experience. Look for kid-safe cooking activities, like this oatmeal raisin recipe from the Food Network made with healthy oats, raisins, cinnamon, and honey. Measure the dough together. Then enjoy the warm, baked dessert (or breakfast).
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