Master List Of Healthy Family Meals Kid Approved

Healthy Family Meals

I know it can be hard to find recipe ideas when we start with the entirety of the internet, especially when it comes to dinner, so I hope that this post narrows it down for you. And helps you sort through some of the top kid-friendly meals around that parents and kids can enjoy together. All of these healthy family meals have veggies in the mix and many include the nutrients we all need more of: fiber, protein, complex carbs, and vitamins. They are all doable meals to create at the end of the day or to make ahead, and I’ve sorted them by main ingredient so you can easily scroll and find options to put to use in your family. (You might like my list of Quick Dinner Ideas for Kids, Easy Dinner Recipes for Family, and Easy Weeknight Family Dinners.)

What should I make for family dinner?

I try to plan our meals on Sundays so I have a general sense of what’s coming for the week. I like to allow myself the flexibility to switch a meal around if needed (like Monday’s chicken might go to Thursday if we have a sudden change in after school plans). And I like to have at least 1-2 “theme nights” like Mexican, pizza, or pasta night to make it easier to plan meals without always feeling like I’m starting at square one.

What are healthy meals for kids?

In my mind, healthy meals for kids are meals that include a range of nutrients but that also are easy for kids to eat. I also think a healthy meal is one that is a happy one, so it’s only partly about the nutrition for me—because meal times are about so much more than just the food. They help kids learn manners, new words, and allow us the much needed time to catch up with each other. The food can be totally homemade, store-bought, or a mix of the two. It can also be a snack dinner, leftovers, or a random mix of foods. The recipes I’m sharing here include easy options—which you can make even easier by adding no-cook sides to surround them. Foods like applesauce, salad, sliced cucumbers, diced fruit, and cheese can round out any meal. TIP: Since you never know what of the meal the kids will eat or not eat, focusing on the together time part of this part of the day is often much saner.

Healthy Kid-Friendly Dinners

I hope that this master list of dinner ideass, which are all chosen to be kid-friendly and toddler-friendly, helps you come up with easy recipes to make for your family. I’m a big fan of making less work for ourselves, so all of these meals are ones that you can cook and serve to everyone at the table, no short order cooking required. (My shortcut toddler meal ideas can help, too.)

Healthy Family Meals with Chicken

Easy chicken dinners are a simple way to please a crowd and offer up a meal rich in protein. These family dinners with chicken are perfect for families and can be adjusted for the youngest eaters at the table.

Healthy Family Meals with Beef

With iron and protein, beef is a great addition to a family dinner. Plus, most recipes with ground beef or shredded beef are really easy for little kids to chew and eat. Here are some favorite kid-friendly beef recipes.

Healthy Vegetarian Family Dinner Recipes

With plenty of plant-based nutrition, these vegetarian meals for kids are ideal for busy weeknights—and for satisfying those hungry little people at your table.

Healthy Family Meals with Fish

Packed with protein and subtle flavor, healthy fish recipes are a great option for family dinner—especially if you’re trying to reduce your meat intake.

Healthy Family Dinner Recipes with Pasta

Quick, easy to cook, and available in so many nutritious varieties, pasta is a pantry staple most families can’t (and shouldn’t!) live without. These recipes are some easy ones to share with the kids at the dinner table. TIP: A lot of these can be packed up for school lunches for kindergarten the next day!

Kid-Friendly Dinner with Grains

Serve up delicious whole grains to everyone at the table with these healthy family meals built around plant-based goodness.

Healthy Family Dinner Recipes with Beans

Affordable, versatile, and endlessly easy to customize, making family meals around beans is a great way to serve up protein and fiber—that tastes great! These are some of our go-to family dinners with beans and legumes.

Best Tips for Success

Try serving healthy family meals as family-style meals to allow picky eaters to serve themselves and feel more in control. That often lessens mealtime frustration for everyone. I aim to cook one mean for the entire family and add simple sides to round things out to ensure everyone has options on the table they like. To make healthy family dinners more appealing, you can add herbs including dried oregano and cumin, sprinkles of cheese on top, fresh herbs such as basil and mint, or even olives and garlic to some dishes.

I’d love to hear about your family’s favorite healthy meals so please chime in below in the comments!