My kids are out of school for the summer, so I'm feeding them all day long. Do you have any kid-friendly recipes that my husband and I will like too?
Hungry Mom
Hi Hungry Mom,
I always joke that I have the taste buds of a twelve-year-old, so YES, I have plenty of recipes your kids will enjoy! Here are eight great ones to whip up this summer...
Cheesy Cauliflower Tater Tots
1/4th of recipe (7 tater tots): 68 calories, 2g total fat (1g sat. fat), 291mg sodium, 6.5g carbs, 2g fiber, 2g sugars, 6g protein
SmartPoints® value 2*
Since it debuted in , this recipe has become an HG classic! There aren't any actual potatoes in these tots, but your kids will never know. (Unless you ask for their help... These are pretty fun to make!)
Entire recipe: 197 calories, 5g total fat (1g sat. fat), 402mg sodium, 25g carbs, 2g fiber, 3.5g sugars, 11.5g protein
SmartPoints® value 6*
Nugget-shaped food is just more appealing to little ones! This French toast is actually made from a hot dog bun, which you just might have sitting around your kitchen thanks to summer cookouts. Perfect. Check out too!
Spaghetti Squash Pizza Pie
1/4th of recipe: 211 calories, 5.5g total fat (2.5g sat. fat), 709mg sodium, 27g carbs, 6g fiber, 11.5g sugars, 14.5g protein
SmartPoints® value 3*
Spaghetti and pizza in one -- it doesn't get any more kid friendly! This dish has all the cheesy, saucy goodness you'd expect from a pizza-pasta mash-up. Plus, it's loaded with veggies like mushrooms, bell pepper, and (instead of actual pasta) spaghetti squash. It's a total win-win.
Turkey Meatloaf Cupcakes
1/12th of recipe (1 meatloaf cupcake): 150 calories, 4.5g total fat (1.5g sat. fat), 280mg sodium, 15g carbs, 2g fiber, 3g sugars, 12.5g protein
SmartPoints® value 4*
Why will kids love these miniature meatloaves? 1. They're made in a muffin pan, so each serving is the perfect size for little hands. 2. They're topped with mashed potatoes. 3. They're adorable (check out the pea'n carrotsprinkles)! And you'll love 'em because they're loaded with protein and make a great mid-day snack.
Rockin' Rainbow Grilled Cheese
Entire recipe: 270 calories, 13g total fat (6.5g sat. fat), 733mg sodium, 21.5g carbs, 5g fiber, 4.5g sugars, 19.5g protein
SmartPoints® value 9*
Multi-colored grilled cheese? Heck, yes! Give your kids a summertime treat by adding rainbow shades of food coloring (there are all-natural versions available!) to their grilled-cheese sandwiches. So pretty, and it tastes amazing... Watch how it's made!
1/2 of recipe (5 nuggets): 179 calories, 3g total fat (0.5g sat. fat), 377mg sodium, 7.5g carbs, 1g fiber, 1g sugars, 28g protein
SmartPoints® value 3*
Ah, chicken nuggets. The only way to improve on this kid classic is to make it healthier! These all-natural nuggets are coated with egg whites and a mix of whole-wheat breadcrumbs and tasty seasonings before being baked in the oven. Crispy, delicious, and totally good for you.
Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese
1/5th of recipe (about 1 1/2 cups): 255 calories, 5.5g total fat (3g sat. fat), 549mg sodium, 39g carbs, 6.5g fiber, 8.5g sugars, 13.5g protein
SmartPoints® value 6*
This recipe for a childhood favorite is pumped up with cauliflower and butternut squash, and the veggies blend in seamlessly. Plus, it's made in a slow cooker, so you can set it and forget it while you do more important things... like keep your kids out of trouble!
Chocolate Banana Nachos
Entire recipe: 191 calories, 4g total fat (2g sat. fat), 13mg sodium, 37.5g carbs, 4g fiber, 12.5g sugars, 3g protein
SmartPoints® value 5*
Let's bring it home with dessert. You'd think dessert nachos would be a nutritional disaster, but not if you make 'em the Hungry Girl way. These nachos are baked and made with just three ingredients: corn tortillas, banana, and mini chocolate chips. Fun to assemble, too!
Chew on this:
Speaking of kid-friendly food, today, July 6th, is National Fried Chicken Day. Check out this Gaga for Fried Chicken Swap for a low-calorie fix...
You're not the only one with hungry girls (and boys) running around... Click "Send to a Friend" ASAP.
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Even though picky eating is a common problem, research suggests that it's usually a temporary and normal part of development. However, children with autism often have more chronic feeding problems that go beyond picky eating. This may mean the child won't eat an entire category of food such as proteins or vegetables.
With an adult supervising, a 10-year old should be able to scramble eggs, stir fry vegetables or flip a pancake on an electric stovetop (you may want to wait longer if you have a gas range). Safety tip: Be sure to teach them to tie back long hair and never wear loose clothing around the stove. Prepare a sandwich.
Emphasize items that are easy for small fingers to pick up and hold, like sliders and other mini-sandwiches. Older kids might enjoy a shrimp kebab or even sushi made with cooked protein and veggies. Add whole grains in the form of side dishes and mains, as well as bread, cereal, and so on.
Recent medical studies have shown that eating between the hours of 12pm-11pm resulted in higher levels of blood glucose, insulin and cholesterol, than eating between the hours of 8am-7pm. So, if your goal is to reduce your body fat or your cholesterol, it may be beneficial to try curbing your late night eating habits.
Experts commonly use the word toddler when babies turn 1 year of age. The toddler age range usually runs from 1 year to 3 years of age, and before you know it, your little one will be a preschooler! Each of these stages brings its own exciting developmental milestones and learning curves for your child.
Your child may not eat evry time you do. Letting kids skip a meal is tough for many parents because they were raised to clean their plates and not waste food. But kids should be allowed to respond to their own hunger cues, a vital skill when it comes to keeping a healthy weight.
A survey of nearly 500 picky-eating adults found that bitter and sour foods are especially unpopular. So are slippery or slimy foods, like eggs. Picky eaters tend to skip vegetables. They're also not fans of foods with "lumps," like stew.
Do remember that picky eating is often “developmentally normal.” Children across the globe go through a picky eating phase from about age 2 to about age 4.
Introduction: My name is Wyatt Volkman LLD, I am a handsome, rich, comfortable, lively, zealous, graceful, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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Hi Hungry Girl,
Hi Hungry Mom,
