Wishing you had more meal options your kids would eat? You’re not alone. One of the most common complaints from parents is that their kids only eat a handful of foods. You’re tired of making the same thing every day and stuck in a dinner rut. It would be nice to not have to make both an “adult meal” and a “kid meal” every night.
Check out these meals (loved by both grown-ups and kids!) to transition your child out of their dinner rut.
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Meal
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Ingredients
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Why this works
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Tacos
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Hard and/or soft taco shells
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Your choice: lettuce, tomato, diced avocado, diced red pepper, shredded cheddar cheese, ground beef, black beans, salsa, sour cream
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Kids love choices! “Hard or soft taco? What fillings do you want?”
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Your kids get used to seeing veggies on their plate in an unusual way
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Let your child help: depending on his age, he can grate the cheese, dice the avocado or tomato, or set the table
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Make-your-own pita sandwiches
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Whole wheat pita pockets (like Joseph’s brand)
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Your choice: lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, tuna, sliced deli ham or turkey (we like Boar’s Head), sliced cucumber, shredded cheddar cheese with mustard, mayo, or ranch dressing
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Your child is in command of his own meal
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Provides a balanced meal with whole grains, healthy protein, and a variety of veggies
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Quesadillas
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Whole grain tortillas
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For the filling: Use up leftovers like grilled chicken, or try sauteed green pepper and onions; frozen corn and black beans; or just cheddar cheese and salsa
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Guacamole, sour cream, and salsa or pico de gallo for dipping
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Who doesn’t love a handheld meal with a dip?
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Make an assembly line with your kids – each person adds a different topping on top of a tortilla, finish with a second tortilla on top, then a grown-up places them in a skillet until each side is golden brown and the cheese is melted
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Quiche or frittata
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This is not as complicated as it sounds! You can make or buy a crust to make quiche, or look up a quick frittata recipe online
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Add virtually any variety of ingredients or veggies (ham and swiss cheese; steamed broccoli and cheddar cheese; sauteed zucchini and mushrooms with feta cheese)
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It feels like breakfast, but it’s for dinner!
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Serve sweet potato fries on the side for an extra kid-friendly veggie
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Now you’ve got one less meal to make – and more time to set aside leftovers for tomorrow’s healthy lunches!
Ever been in a dinner rut and found easy and creative solutions? Share your ideas in the comments below!
