Cooking for children: Kid-friendly recipes to try out

As a parent, you’ve probably tried everything to get your kids to eat fresh, healthy veggies. Whether you’re tired of hiding vegetables under fries or bribing your kids with dessert, our top healthy meals for kids are here to help. From delicious homemade pasta that’ll have them coming back for more, to tasty smoothies packed with fresh fruit, rescue your mealtimes with these kid-friendly recipes! This is healthy eating for children – made easy.

Top tip: If you don’t have time to make pasta from scratch by hand, try the Philips Pasta and Noodle Maker. It mixes, kneads and extrudes dough to your preferred shape automatically in as little as 10 minutes. Better yet, you can easily personalize it with different flours, oils and seasonings for added flavor.

Healthy food for kids: Why is it so important?

Just like adults, it’s really important for kids to get a healthy balanced diet. Plenty of fresh fruit and veggies mean vitamins and nutrients that’ll help their immune system, while dairy products provide vital calcium to help them grow. Add some wholegrain and lean meat into the mix, and you have a well -balanced meal.

But feeding kids healthy food is easier said than done. It’s well known that little ones would choose treats like candy and chips over spinach and broccoli – so how do you get them to eat healthier? Have a look at some of the following favorite healthy dinners for kids.

Easy healthy recipes for kids

Family life is extremely busy, but healthy eating for kids doesn’t have to be complicated. You only need a few healthy ingredients to put together a balanced meal. Have a look at these top recipes and tips to give you a helping hand in the kitchen – and at the dinner table.

Homemade spaghetti with tomato sauce

Making homemade pasta sounds a lot more complicated than it needs to be. With a handy pasta maker, like the Philips Pasta and Noodle Maker, all you need to do is put your ingredients into the machine and you’ll have fresh spaghetti in as little at 10 minutes. This recipe can also be made with dry spaghetti, but it tastes much better when it’s freshly homemade – especially when served with a tasty tomato sauce.

Need a gluten-free recipe for pasta? No problem.

Ingredients

10.5 oz fresh spaghetti

Olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tbsp tomato puree
1 cup sieved tomato sauce

To make the spaghetti:

1. Bring some salted water to a boil

2. In a skillet, heat some oil and then add the onion, celery and carrot. Fry on medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the tomato puree and rosemary.

3. Add the sieved tomato sauce and simmer for 10 minutes until thickened.

4. Cook the pasta for 5-6 minutes. Drain and serve, then add a generous ladle of sauce. Sprinkle with basil and cheese to taste.

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Chicken breast fillet with colorful vegetables

Lean chicken gives your kids vital protein, while the vegetables served alongside it will give them a wide range of nutrients and vitamins. Because this dish is tasty and looks great, your kids will love it.

Ingredients for 2 portions:

2 chicken breast fillets
Olive oil
Mixed vegetables of your choice - preferably seasonal. Try carrots, peas, corn, broccoli, tomatoes or even red pepper

To make the chicken and vegetables:

Cut your chicken breast into thin fillets and season to taste with a little salt and pepper. Wash and chop your vegetables or, if you are short on time, grab a bag of mixed frozen vegetables. Steam the vegetables and chicken together in a pan with a little water or olive oil.

To make this delicious recipe even easier, an air fryer such as the Philips Airfryer XXL can help. It keeps the veggies nice and crispy on the outside and evenly cooked on the inside, while your chicken stays juicy and full of flavor.

Tip: If your child is still refusing to eat their veggies, try making them even more tempting. Use cookie cutters or, if you’re feeling crafty, carve raw vegetables into animal shapes. You could even arrange your salad into a smiley face, with cherry tomato eyes and corn lips. And if your kids love fries and chips, these healthy vegetable chips make the perfect side dish.

More healthy eating tips for children:

It’s rare that children actually like greens, but pairing greens with their favorite food is a great way to gently break them in. Give this tomato and basil pizza a try – but get creative and put a veggie face on your pizza. Slice some cucumbers for eyes, halve a tomato for a nose and use diced onions for eyebrows.

Fruit and veggie smoothies are really easy and quick to prepare. Packed with naturally sweet fruit, they make the perfect drink, dessert or even healthy breakfast for your kids.

Cold-water fatty fish contain high amounts of omega 3.* Why not give these grilled salmon steaks a try? Not only do they look good enough to eat, but the salmon is packed with goodness.

*Source: NIH