2021 Kid Favorites – Healthy Recipes Kids Love

These are straight from our Super Fast menus and they make for such a fun dinner or party appetizer!

Mix up the toppings, use half sweet potato slices, or add some of my homemade tomatillo avocado salsa. You really can't go wrong.

Potato nachos would also be perfect for a night of football watching! You can find more great game day recipes in our Entertainment Guide, which has a full tailgate party menu, as well as a Super Bowl menu!

Sometimes all it takes to entice the kids to try something new is a great sauce for dipping.

I recommend serving this one deconstructed, with the beef, broccoli and rice noodles separate on the plate and the peanut sauce on the side as a dip. This makes the meal look more approachable and also gives the kids a sense of control, which is key for encouraging adventurous eating.

If your child has a favorite vegetable, you may also want to try subbing it in here the first time you make the recipe. Including a familiar and already approved ingredient can go a long way toward encouraging a child to like a new recipe.

I wasn't too surprised to see this one on the kid-favorite list this year. What kid doesn't love chicken strips? And even though this is a much healthier version, I promise it still has all of the elements that make this a childhood classic.

Don't go thinking this one is just for the kids though, it was super popular with our adult Prep Dish subscribers as well! These chicken strips are delicious atop a salad if you feel like making a double batch too.

Want to take it to the next level? Try serving with my homemade paleo ketchup.

I'm not sure what it is about this chicken but it's always been a huge hit with my own sons. Maybe it's the hit of sweetness from the raisins or the warming spices like cinnamon and ginger.

I also find that slow cooker shredded meat is a lot easier for little ones to chew. If you have a child who resists eating meat, it's quite likely because it feels too challenging for their developing chewing skills. I highly recommend trying shredded chicken like in this recipe to see if it's more approachable for them.

Energy bites really do make the perfect snack (or healthy dessert!) for kids. They have the sweetness and mix of add-ins that make kids love granola bars, but none of the less-than-healthy ingredients you'll find in store-bought snacks.

Energy bites are also super fun to make with kids. They're no-bake which means there's nothing in them that eager fingers can't taste while making. Plus, the recipes aren't too exact so the tasty little bites won't be ruined if your child gets a bit too enthusiastic when adding the cranberries.

If you need a nut-free version to pack in your child's lunch, these sunbutter bites are a great option as well.

You can't have a kid favorites list without a couple of desserts making the cut, right?

These fudgesicles are so tasty, but the ingredient list is one you'll feel good about. With a base of coconut milk and cocoa powder, they're sweetened with honey. You can control the amount of sweetener you want to add, just taste as you go. The dash of cinnamon adds just enough complexity to make these a big hit with adults as well.

I also love that the coconut milk adds enough healthy fats to make these nice and filling too, not just a hit of sugar and carbs like many desserts.

The kids have picked one more dessert to round out the list for you!

This one has only 5 ingredients so it comes together quickly. It doesn't have too much coffee in it but, if you prefer, you can of course use decaf.

Mocha mousse is delicious by itself but it also lends itself to toppings. Set out a few options and let your kids top their own or even assemble a parfait with the mousse. Slivered almonds, mini chocolate chips or cacao nibs and shredded coconut would all be tasty additions.