15 Healthy Dinner Ideas for Picky Eaters

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Do you have picky eaters at home that you struggle to feed with healthy meals? Coming up with exciting meals using new foods is a great way to entice even the pickiest eaters. In this blog post, we share 15 healthy dinner ideas for picky eaters that can be enjoyed by the whole family and picky kids.

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Healthy Dinner Ideas for Picky Eaters

If you’ve got fussy eaters, you’ve come to the right place — below are healthy recipes and go-to meals that can provide you with the easiest ways to create busy weeknight dinners for the family.

1. Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

If you’re looking for kid-friendly meals, this simple recipe is a great way to introduce children to Asian flavors and brown rice. Full of nutrients and high in fiber, it can provide a healthy family meal while a tasty flavor profile will appeal to young kids. With sticky, sweet, and sour nutritious chicken thighs, this high-protein and delicious meal uses honey, which is antioxidant-rich, making it a healthier substitute for sugar.

2. Cornflake Chicken Tenders

Healthy foods for kids can be hard to come by, especially if you’re working with a picky toddler. Luckily, you can prepare easy meals like this crispy, oven-backed treat which is a low-calorie, healthy, and quick option. All you need to do is coat your chicken tenders in cornflakes to add crunch while using different spices that can provide great flavors that little kids will love.

Once it’s baked to perfection, serve it with some honey dijon sauce, and you’ll find that the entire family will soon add this to your list of favorite foods.

3. Sheet Pan Pizza

This recipe can be as healthy as you want — you may opt to use whole wheat flour for a low-carb option and you can use as many vegetables as you want for the toppings. You can also add tomato sauce and a drizzle of olive oil to finish off your pizza. If you’re in a hurry, you can look for whole wheat pizza dough to make the process much faster and to quickly get food onto the dinner table.

Here are just a few things you may want to use for the ultimate sheet pan dinner:

Mushrooms
Zucchini
Onion
Red or green pepper
Mozzarella cheese
Meats
And more

4. Italian Dressing Chicken

You can now make easy meals thanks to this recipe — offers a simple way to serve tender and juicy chicken using just four ingredients, you’ll love how quickly and easily this comes together. This zesty Italian chicken recipe only uses chicken thighs, Italian dressing, salt, and pepper; just put it in the grill or oven and watch as these flavors blend in the best way possible. To get the best results, marinate your chicken for more than two hours which will ensure that all the delicious flavors are absorbed.

This recipe guarantees easy dinners and healthy eating, providing an outstanding balance between the oil and acidity of the dressing. You can also add herbs to bring out more flavors.

5. Easy Fish Sticks

When it comes to easy recipes, nothing can beat a good fish meal for kids — with this, you can create separate meals for everyone in the family and still have time left over for other errands. These are crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside, making them a great option for kids with tricky eating habits. Pair them with roasted veggies or oven-baked fries along with tartar sauce and you’ll have a great meal for both dinner and lunchtime.

6. Black Bean Burritos

If you’re looking to try different foods and want to add something new to your list of nutritious foods, give this low-fat burrito option a try. Black beans are known for their many health benefits, making them a great option for all meal times — this recipe substitutes them for ground beef, which increases its nutritional value. You may also opt for sour cream to add an extra punch of flavor, and the good news is that preparing it won’t take long.

7. One-Pan Chicken Alfredo

We’re all fans of creamy sauces, and this one-pan chicken recipe doesn’t disappoint. In just a few simple steps, you’ll be able to enjoy delicious, mouth-watering pasta sauce intertwined with Alfredo pasta and juicy chicken. If you’re after easy dinner recipes, be sure to use this one and you can be sure that every family member will love it! Simply throw everything in the pan and watch as it all comes together — just be sure that you use the perfect size for your saucepan; a 5-quart skillet should do it.

8. Buffalo Chickpea Sandwich

While healthy dinner ideas can be hard to find, this recipe delivers a flavorful sandwich that provides healthy food choices. For instance, instead of using regular bread, you can opt for whole wheat flour buns, and you can also substitute beef for chickpeas cooked in butter and hot sauce. Topped with blue cheese dressing, you’ll get a hit from the cool dressing and spicy sauce in every bite, while crumbled tofu provides a complex layer of texture to this delicious recipe.

9. Mediterranean Chicken Tacos

Whether you’re looking for easy dinner ideas or healthy school lunch ideas, you can’t go wrong with this delicious Mediterranean chicken taco recipe. Apart from the fun shapes these come in, kids will enjoy coming up with different ways of assembling their tacos — just make sure they have various toppings to choose from. Picky eating can usually be solved when little ones are given the ability to create their own meals, and the different shapes and colors may encourage them to try new things.

10. Cheesy Veggie Bake

Vegetables may not be among a child’s favorite things, but you can help them eat healthy dinners by adding something they love: cheese. Perfect for cold weather months, this kid-friendly recipe consists of vegetables and real cheese that can help to mask the “nasty” flavors that kids won’t usually like. Be sure to look for a wide range of vegetables to pack as many nutrients and vitamins into this recipe, such as:

Green beans
Cauliflowers
Broccoli
Carrots
And more

11. Sweet Potato Fries

Here’s another fun recipe for you to try — rather than serving potato chips or french fries with your chicken fingers, why not swap them out for sweet potatoes? Offering a healthier alternative, sweet potato fries cooked in an air fryer are just as crispy, tasty, and golden brown as their potato counterparts. As such, your kids can enjoy this yummy snack but without the fat and calories, while getting a lot more nutrition in every bite.

12. Breakfast Fruit Salad

If you’re looking for a fresh fruit hack to trick your kids into eating healthy snacks then try making them a breakfast fruit salad. This sweet and healthy option is perfect for early mornings or as a substitute for heavy dinners. Because it’s such a versatile option, you can use any kind of fruit you want and can be ready in as little as 15 minutes.

With just 120 calories and around three to four grams of added sugars, this meal tastes like a dessert but is super healthy. It’s also budget-friendly as long as you shop for seasonal fruits, and can be a great snack when served in smaller portions.

13. Satay Chicken with Peanut Sauce

This recipe can help to diversify your palette and renew your appreciation for peanut butter. Simply marinade your chicken in a mixture of coriander, olive oil, garlic, turmeric, soy sauce, vinegar, and sesame oil. Then combine peanut butter with coconut milk, which offers healthy fats — don’t be afraid to try the full-fat version and experiment with it.

Because not all fats are made equal, you will need to do some research to find out more about how coconut milk can be healthy. Once you’re ready to cook, be sure to grill your chicken or bake them inside a 350-degree oven for around 30 to 40 minutes, turning them every now and then to ensure an even cook.

14. Sweet Potato Chicken Nuggets

If your kids are picky eaters, you can always use chicken nuggets to help them eat a healthy meal. This recipe combines ground chicken with mashed sweet potatoes along with spices and seasonings, which are then dredged in flour. Fussy eaters will love them, and you will too since they’re baked in the oven rather than being deep fried.

These nuggets will come out tender and soft on the inside while crispy on the outside, providing a great lunch or dinner for kids while serving as an appetizer for adults. Because they provide some protein and a tiny bit of veggies, they’re the best option for a picky eater and a great solution for a busy mom.

15. Mini Pizza Bagels

For even the pickiest of eaters, these mini pizza bagels are a fantastic way to ensure that your little ones are fed. Offering an easy lunch or a quick dinner, all you need are English muffins or bagels, as well as their favorite pizza toppings. Your kids can also get creative and make their own pizzas, just be sure to provide them with a selection of ingredients to work with, such as:

Cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, and even cottage cheese
Tomato sauce, BBQ sauce, and others
Pepperoni, chicken, bacon, ham, sausage
Spinach, mushrooms, olives, onions, red peppers, pineapple

Start Making Your Healthy Meals Today!

Creating healthy meals for the whole family doesn’t have to be difficult; even picky eaters will love the food on their plates when you use the dinner ideas we shared above. Whether you’re looking for something quick and easy or an option that will tickle young taste buds, each option will cover your dinner needs. All that’s left to do now is to cook them and watch the sparks fly as the whole family falls in love with your healthy and tasty meals!

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