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Eating a well-rounded, nutritious diet matters at any age, especially for growing children. But as many parents know, it is not always easy to get kids to eat healthy food on the plate. Little ones still need their daily dose of nutrition, even if they prefer pizza and cookies.
With a few clever (and tasty) tricks, you can find healthy foods that kids will actually eat. Here are seven delicious and nutritious recipe ideas the whole family will enjoy.
Veggie Loaded Pasta Sauce
While some kids will pass up anything green on their plate, parents can use this pasta sauce as a way to hide a blend of fruits and veggies. Swap your jarred sauce for a homemade one that contains tons of vitamin C thanks to the abundance of tomatoes.
This recipe from the blog Baby Foodie blends in hearty vegetables like carrots, zucchini, red pepper, and leeks for an added boost of nutrition.
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Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Some parents might opt for the frozen chicken nuggets at the grocery store, but these are not the healthiest option, according to nutritionists from Eat This. Instead, make your own chicken nuggets using organic meat and homemade batter like this recipe from Skinny Taste. Bake the nuggets to cut out the grease and give your kids a plate they will love.
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Potato and Carrot Mash
Boost the nutrients in mashed potatoes by blending in additional vegetables. This recipe from Healthy Little Foodies adds carrots to mashed potatoes. This dish will keep eyes healthy; one serving offers 170 percent of the daily value of vitamin A. Get creative and add any healthy winter vegetable to blend with your mash, including cauliflower, turnips, and rutabaga.
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Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Kids love a hot bowl of macaroni and cheese, but this favorite does not offer much in terms of nutrition. You can boost the nutritional value of this cheesy dish by adding butternut squash to the sauce, like this five-ingredient recipe from Yummy Toddler Food. You will serve up your kids with a helping of vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, and calcium, according to WebMD.
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Coconut Flour Banana Pancakes
Your standard starch-based pancakes do not pack a lot of nutrients. Instead, try this coconut flour banana pancake recipe from The Big Man’s World. Bananas have lots of nutrients, like potassium and magnesium.
Aside from being delicious, coconut is great for your health. By making pancakes out of coconut flour, your kids will enjoy additional nutritional benefits. WebMD points out that coconut flour contains fiber and protein.
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Healthy Hamburgers
Hamburger patties provide an ideal way to blend in hidden veggies without kids noticing. This recipe from Healthy Little Foodies adds zucchini, onion, and carrots to a ground beef patty. Zucchini contains lots of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
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Kiwi-Lime Pops
Most kids have a sweet tooth. Just because it is a treat does not mean it cannot be nutritious. Try this kiwi-lime pop recipe from allrecipes. Kiwis are packed with antioxidants like vitamin C, choline, lutein, and zeaxanthin.
