A collection of nutrition packed healthy kid-friendly recipes that your kids will love and you’ll feel great about giving them!
What I haven’t had a chance to tell you about is the little project I picked up. I call it my community service project but, in reality, it is just fun. I’m teaching kids, ages 3-12 at the local recreation center cooking classes. If we are friends on Pinterest you may have realized I started frantically pinning to my new kids cooking board trying to catalog ideas.
It is challenging because there are three classes in a row, it starts with little kids 5 years old, then all boys ages 5-7, then almost all girls ages 9-12. Sometimes I’ve made super healthy things with them and sometimes I’ve gone with easy, not so healthy ideas.
What I’ve learned? Kids, well at least these kids enrolled in cooking class, can be pretty adventurous when it comes to taste as long as you start with something they already know and like.
I’ve also learned that kids absolutely know what healthy is and are proud to show their parents when they made something healthy. As opposed to when we make cookies, then they run out of the class right past their parents with their cookie like they have stolen a pot of gold. Cracks. Me. Up.
Now I am currently only a parent of the furry variety of children. In fact, we are making some real progress in that area in our house recently. Missy comes downstairs for dinner every night to meow in our faces while we eat and tease the dog in her kennel. I’ve snapped this scene a few times (hungryhobbyrd), somebody healp me.
Also, we are trying to train Nala to sleep downstairs by herself, not in the kennel. She can’t sleep upstairs with us because she will want to chase the cat all night. However, she is a Rhodesian Ridgeback, in theory, she should be a relatively effective guard dog.
I mean they are bred to guard against lions but, she can’t really do much guarding against anything her kennel, though. When we left her out she got freaked out and confused, kept banging the baby gate on the stairs.
So, last night I slept downstairs on the couch for an hour until she fell fast asleep and then snuck upstairs. I feel like this is not the best plan, but it’s what is currently happening.
Wish me luck, while I’m dealing with my furbabies, definitely, make your human children these recipes to celebrate National Kids Eat Right Month!
Healthy Kid-Friendly Recipes
Click any recipe title to get the recipe!
Blueberry Snack Smoothie
This two ingredient smoothie would be a delicious breakfast or snack! If isn’t sweet enough you could always add a little honey for your little honey. Gluten Free & Vegetarian
Tropical Oatmeal Smoothie
A simple smoothie packed with the flavor of the tropics with the nutrition of oats, fruit and greek yogurt. Gluten Free & Vegetarian
Peanut Butter Breakfast Swirl Brownies
What kid doesn’t want brownies for breakfast? Unless they see you make them they will never know that they are mostly made from fiber and nutrient rich white beans! Gluten Free & Vegetarian
Chocolate Sunbutter Chia Pudding
If you can sell them on rice pudding like texture, they will love the chocolatey creamy taste of pudding! Gluten Free, Paleo & Vegan
Ultimate Superfood Breakfast Bars
Packed with all superfood ingredients your kids will never know they are getting way more nutrition than a store bought granola bar! Gluten Free & Vegan
Vegan Pear Breakfast Bars
These bars are packed with fruit and yummy chewy bread made from quinoa, delicious topped with honey. Vegan & Gluten Free
Paleo Cinnamon Raisin Bread
Do your kids love cinnamon raise bread? This version is made without refined flour. Instead, almond flour supplies healthy fats and protein to help keep their little bellies full! (Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Paleo)
Oven Baked Pancakes
Tip! You can bake this batter in mini muffin tins for healthy mini pancakes!!!! You can also replace egg whites with full eggs for the kiddos or have them top with nut butter to add healthy fats.
Oatmeal Crust Breakfast Pizzas
Need a fun spin on your typical bowl of oats? Try topping their favorite oatmeal toppings one of these oatmeal crust breakfast pizzas!
Reverse Oatmeal Parfaits
These make-ahead parfaits are perfect for busy mornings. Swap the greek yogurt with full fat since little kids need more healthy fats and little less protein than adults. Vegetarian
Blueberry Zucchini Muffins
These muffins are bursting with sweet flavorful blueberries, they won’t even notice the zucchini and you’ll sneak more veggies in for the win! Vegetarian
Coconut Oil Banana Muffins
Soft and moist whole wheat banana muffins made with coconut oil and coconut sugar! Vegetarian
Whole Wheat Greek Yogurt Pancakes
These are delicious for the whole family, bursting with sweet blueberries they are sure to satisfy a call for pancakes! Vegetarian
Banana Walnut Quinoa Bars
Another bake ahead version perfect for those hectic, grab and go mornings! You can also try the pumpkin-apple, apple-cinnamon or cranberry-date versions! Vegetarian and Gluten Free Option
Taco Tuna Quinoa Sliders
Don’t let the classy picture fool you, these are perfect for kids! Kid size portions and minimal tuna flavor for the tuna/fish haters out there. Serve with salsa for kids to dip them in! Gluten Free
Grilled Turkey Roll Ups
Perfect serving and packed with cheese kids are sure to love these! Tell them it’s like a turkey stuffed mozzarella stick! Gluten Free
Black Forest Egg Turkey Cups
Another perfect serving with a few veggies but not an overwhelming amount. Perfect to dip in ketchup or their favorite condiment. Gluten Free, Grain Free, Dairy Free
Turkey Apple Roll-Ups
Simple and delicious perfect to include in your little one’s bento box! Gluten Free
Peanut Butter Yogurt Dip
A quick and easy peanut butter yogurt dip that you can eat the whole batch of! A delicious way to get in your veggies or eat it off a spoon!
Gluten Free Mini Corn Dogs
Every kid loves corn dogs! I made these with the kids cooking class I’m teaching right now and the kids LOVED them and had fun making them. Gluten Free
Polenta Pizza Bites
I don’t think you have to try very hard to convince kids that pizza anything tastes good. Gluten Free
Oven Fried Taquitos (with VIDEO)
An old hungry hobby recipe but a favorite! Skip the deep-fried store bought taquitos and have the kids help you make this healthy version at home.
Healthy Homemade Baked Corn Dogs (with VIDEO)
Another hungry hobby old time favorite. I know the photos are terrible but it continues to be one of my most viewed hungry hobby posts. I receive comments from readers all the time thanking me for the recipe and telling me how their kids, family, elderly parents, literally everyone loves it!
Zucchini Nachos
Kids also love nachos, have them experiment with using zucchini as chips!
Broccoli Cheddar Oatmeal Bake
A healthier (and easier) mac and cheese that sneaks in some dreaded broccoli.
Mini Pizza Quinoa Quiches
Pizza Stuffed Peppers
Got a craving for pizza? These bell peppers serve as flavor vehicle for all the pizza greatness you need. Stuffed with Italian chicken sausage, pizza sauce, and topped with melty fresh mozzarella you can have pizza anytime you want it!
One Pan Pizza Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
Craving pizza? This pizza stuffed spaghetti squash is full of all the pizza flavor & made in ONE PAN! Gluten Free, Low Carb, & High Pro
Cauliflower Pizza Casserole
August is Kids Eat Right Month™, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Academy Foundation’s chance to highlight the fight for our children’s healthy future. Find out how you can get involved!
