17 Easy and Healthy Recipes for Kids (2024)

FAQs

How to cook as a 10 year old? ›

With an adult supervising, a 10-year old should be able to scramble eggs, stir fry vegetables or flip a pancake on an electric stovetop (you may want to wait longer if you have a gas range). Safety tip: Be sure to teach them to tie back long hair and never wear loose clothing around the stove. Prepare a sandwich.

Replace highly processed foods with whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. Instead of sugary sodas, serve water, low-fat or fat-free milk, or fortified nondairy beverages. Place healthy foods and beverages where they are easy to see and reach.

8- to 11-Year-Old Cooks

Kids at this age can follow simple, straightforward recipes, plan menus and meals, and begin to work with the stove or oven. Use this time to teach them about the dangers of equipment and utensils.

Teaching a child how to cook helps them understand how much time and effort it takes for a parent to make a healthy, tasty meal for the family. Cooking expands their palates: When a child cooks a new food or dish on their own. they are more likely to eat it — or at least try it.

They can plan, shop for, and cook a full meal for the family. They can use knives, manage kitchen hygiene, double and divide recipes, and use the grill. They can even start to lighten the load for moms and dads while practicing all these important life skills they'll need when they are living on their own.

Serving budget-friendly cuisines like salads, sandwiches and pasta dishes can be a very cost-effective choice. Or, if you're looking for a more casual option, how about a barbeque? Burgers, hot dogs and other grill-oriented foods are sure to be crowd favorites, and they won't rack up a big bill.

On your kids' menu, focus on lean protein, plant-based alternatives, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and fruit and vegetables while limiting the availability of unhealthy fats, sugars and sodium.

Make your own kid-friendly recipes at home with dinner favorites like pizza, chicken nuggets, French fries and mac and cheese. You'll also find a few family-favorite sweet treats—crispy bars, chocolate chip cookies and more.

Foods high in salt (sodium), such as some canned foods, processed meats (e.g., lunch meats, sausages, hot dogs, ham), and frozen dinners should be avoided. Some snack foods and store-bought packaged toddler foods are high in salt.

What is the most important meal for children? ›

Breakfast provides key nutrients.

Children who eat breakfast are more likely to meet their overall nutritional needs. In fact, studies show that children who eat breakfast eat more fruit, drink more milk, and consume less saturated fat than those who don't eat breakfast.

Cut back on processed and fast foods.

Instead, fill your child's plate with fruits and vegetables, and trade white bread, rice, and pasta for their whole-grain versions. They have fiber, which can help your child feel full for longer. If your kid isn't a fan of these changes at first, don't give up.