– by Adrienne Koziol from lifehack.org
Before I dive into the dinner ideas for kids, here are some tips for getting young kids to eat and break out of that dinner rut.
- Make Breakfast for Dinner – Switch things up by serving breakfast for dinner. Kids will love the surprise. Use fruit, bacon, and sausage to make it more filling. Some days can be exceedingly rough, so oatmeal and fruit can even be an option.
- Involve Them – Kids love to help and will be more excited to try the food they helped make. Touching and seeing the ingredients during the process can help your child become more familiar with them and ease their uncertainty. The biggest benefit is you’ll be spending time together, not to mention the value of learning to cook.
- Do Dinner Buffet-Style – Set food and toppings out on the table buffet-style and allow kids to dish up their plates. What works well for a buffet?[2] Tacos, pancakes, pizza, nachos, finger foods and chili are just a few of the many ideas out there. Don’t be afraid to come up with your own.
- Creative Presentation – Turning a meal into art is another way to get kids interested. Nothing makes food more interesting than when it looks like a face, flower, or boat. Get creative with how you present the food!
- Have Fun With Themes – The options here are endless. You could base it on your child’s favorite characters or focus on a different culture, region, or even history. This is a great way to introduce your child to how and what others around the world eat.
- Bribery – Sometimes, parents have to resort to shameless bribery to get kids to eat. It’s okay to use a little extra motivation to get kids to try something new.[3] We all need a boost now and then. Avoid using dessert as a motive to eat dinner, but what are some harmless bribes to try? For instance, stickers, temporary tattoos, extra screen time or bedtime book.
Now, let’s get to the dinner ideas. Meal planning is just one more thing to do in an already busy day. This list of dinner recipes for kids can help. Remember, you can always make modifications to fit any dietary needs. These recipes are a good starting point and can give your tired brain a boost of creativity.
Sandwich on a Stick
Save the time slicing, spreading, and piling and instead, put everything onto a stick. Kids will love pulling each item off, and you’ll love the easy clean-up.
Chicken Noodle Soup
No list would be complete without this classic. Cheat a little by using rotisserie chicken, and have this soup done in under 30 minutes. Say goodbye to the canned version.
Turkey Ranch Wraps
Easy, delicious, fun, and fast—what could be better? This meal is also easy to pack, making it great for those hectic nights when you’re on the go.
Big Mac Pizza
Just saying the words “Big Mac” will get little ears to perk up. A pre-made crust makes this dinner a fast answer to those mealtime frustrations.
Dorito Taco Salad
Swap out tortilla chips for Doritos and watch kids find a new interest in taco salad. Use single-serving bags as the bowl, add the toppings inside, and enjoy having to do fewer dishes.
Spaghetti Nests
Kids love spaghetti, but they’ll be surprised to see it as little “nests” they can eat with their fingers.
Mini Chicken Pot Pies
With only four ingredients and done in half an hour, what’s not to love about this dinner idea for kids? Homemade doesn’t have to mean difficult.
Chicken Alfredo Casserole
Casseroles make for an easy dinner for kids, and this is one you might find making over and over. Pair it with a salad and you have a delicious Italian meal without the fuss.
Pita Tacos
Instead of taco shells, this recipe uses pita bread. Kids will have fun filling the “pockets” with taco ingredients.
Muffin Tin Lasagna
Muffin tin lasagna is just like lasagna but smaller. It’s perfect for little fingers and faster to make than the original.
Nacho Pizza
This is another creative twist on two classic meals most kids will quickly devour. Go as crazy or as simple as you want with this quick dinner.
Hot Dog Roll-Ups
Refrigerated crescent rolls, hot dogs, cheese, and bacon come together for a dinner for kids that can’t get much quicker.
Frito Pie Casserole
Frito chips add crunch to this quick Tex-Mex meal. To make it extra special, turn it into Tacos in a Bag by mixing everything into individual bags of chips.
Meatball Submarine Casserole
This dinner for kids may be a little less messy than the sandwich, but they will still love the meatballs, melted cheese, and warm bread.
My Kid Still Won’t Eat—Is This Normal?
Remember that kids go through stages. There will be days when your child barely eats, and there will be days when the hunger seems nonstop.
Focus on the big picture and ask yourself these questions:
- Is my child eating a variety of healthy foods over the course of the week?
- Is my child undernourished or growing normally?
- Is food (or lack of) interfering with my child’s quality of life?
It might be time to see a doctor if you see signs of health problems due to pickiness or lack of eating. The problem may go beyond stubbornness and be a symptom of a medical issue.
