Kids’ favorite recipes may be mac and cheese and chicken nuggets: delicious but not always nutritious. Here are some healthy recipes that your kids will love – filled with the nutrients you’ll love.
Cauliflower “Mac” and Cheese
For this cheesy recipe you’ll need 1 head of cauliflower (cut into small florets), ½ cup of heavy cream, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1 tsp minced garlic and 1 tbsp of butter.
Begin boiling a pot of water and preheat the oven to 375F. Put cauliflower florets into boiling water. In a small saucepan, melt butter and add the minced garlic. Cook until fragrant. Add the whipping cream to the saucepan and cook on medium heat until bubbling. Slowly add cheese and continuously stir. Once the cauliflower is tender, remove from water, drain and pat dry. Add the cauliflower and cheese sauce to a casserole dish and bake for 10 minutes. Enjoy!
Hidden Vegetable Mac & Cheese
This kid favorite is a little different than the Cauliflower Mac and Cheese, because this time the vegetables are hidden in the cheese! You’ll need elbow pasta noodles, 1 cup cauliflower, 1 cup butternut squash, 1 cup carrot, milk of choice, 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, and ½ cup of cream cheese.
To begin, boil your pasta. Then, in another pot, boil or steam vegetables until softened. Add softened vegetables to a blender with 1 cup of milk and puree. For the sauce, take the blended mixture and pour back into the pot, add in shredded cheese and cream cheese. Stir on medium heat until melted. Pour over cooked pasta and enjoy!
Chickpea “Chicken” Nuggets
This chickpea nuggets are great to sneak more protein and vegetables into your kid’s diet. They are great for adults who want a comforting vegetarian option too. What you’ll need: 15 oz chickpeas cooked and drained, ½ cup grated zucchini, ½ cup grated carrot, ¼ cup minced onion, 1 tbsp Italian seasoning, 1 tsp sea salt, 1 glove garlic, black pepper to taste, ½ tsp paprika, 2 eggs, 1 tsp olive oil, and ½ cup oat flour or breadcrumbs.
Add all these ingredients into a blender or food processor. Pulse a few times, but don’t over mix. You can fry the mixture in a pan, cooking for 3-5 minutes on each side. Serve with your kid’s favorite dipping sauce!
Banana Pancakes
For this recipe all you’ll need is four ingredients: 2 ripe and peeled bananas, 2 eggs, ½ cup of oats and ½ tsp vanilla
Mash the banana in a mixing bowl, then add eggs, oats and vanilla. Lightly grease pan or griddle, add 1-2 tbsp of batter and cook 1-2 minutes on each side. Enjoy with syrup or fruit toppings!