60 Plus Nutrient Dense Recipes Every Kid Will Love (2024)

60 Plus Nutrient Dense Recipes Every Kid Will Love (1)

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Today, I am excited to share a “round-up” of over sixty recipes. These recipes are not your average kid’s meal, rather these recipes are nutrient-dense, packed with good fats and vitamins and minerals. As a mom I desire to feed my children with food, made in our home, that will nourish their growing bodies and minds. I have witnessed the dramatic impact a nutrient-dense diet can have on a growing child. You can read more on the impact a nutrient-dense diet has had in my son’s life here. While I strive to provide the very best in nourishment for my kiddos, I’m challenged by the picky tastes children can develop. Piper, my oldest, knows what he likes and what he doesn’t. I am often looking for new ways to pack as many nutrients as possible into the food I prepare to ensure he gets the nourishment he needs.

The list below is just a starting point. A round-up to give you and I a few fresh ideas when it comes to nourishing our children. I’ll be sharing in a later post important nutrients growing bodies need (read the post here), but for now I give you food, glorious food. And lots of it! I’d love for you to share, in the comments below, nutrient-dense recipes your kids love! Let’s get started.

Breakfast

Muffins/Pancakes/Waffles:

Eggs:

Lunch/Dinner

60 Plus Nutrient Dense Recipes Every Kid Will Love (4)

Meats/Seafood:

  • Chicken Fajitas from Live Simply
  • Sweet Chicken Kabobs with Citrus-Soy Sauce from Live Simply
  • Chicken Tenders from The Organic Kitchen
  • Chicken Legs from We Got Real
  • Cowboy Casserolefrom We Got Real
  • Real Food Meatballsfrom Scratch Mommy
  • Salmon Patties from We Got Real
  • Chicken and Rice from The Elliott Homestead
  • Viva La Beef Taquitos from The Elliott Homestead
  • Allergy-Friendly Fish Sticks from Momables
  • Healthy Homemade Fish Sticks from Prairie Homestead
  • Goulash from We Got Real
  • Homemade Tacos: ground beef and toppings of choice
60 Plus Nutrient Dense Recipes Every Kid Will Love (5)

Kid-classics:

  • Gluten-Free/Grain-Free Chicken Nuggets from Mama & Baby Love
  • Butternut Squash Macaroni and Cheese from Live Simply
  • Macaroni and Cheese with Swiss Chard and Mushrooms from Live Simply
  • Nutrient-Dense Mac and Cheesefrom Naturally Mindful
  • Quinoa and Cheese from Nourishing Herbalist
  • Homemade Corn Dogs from Homemade Dutch Apple Pie
  • Homemade Corn Dogs from Deliciously Organic
  • Hamburgers (with Hidden Liver) from Hollywood Homestead
  • Homemade Pizza and Sauce from Live Simply
  • Kale Salad Pizza from Live Simply

Veggies/Fruits:

60 Plus Nutrient Dense Recipes Every Kid Will Love (6)

Veggies:

60 Plus Nutrient Dense Recipes Every Kid Will Love (7)

Fruit:

Dips

60 Plus Nutrient Dense Recipes Every Kid Will Love (8)

Sweet Dips:

Savory Dips:

Snacks

60 Plus Nutrient Dense Recipes Every Kid Will Love (9)

Gelatin:

60 Plus Nutrient Dense Recipes Every Kid Will Love (10)

Fruit Leather:

Granola/Cereal/Bars

60 Plus Nutrient Dense Recipes Every Kid Will Love (11)

Granola/Cereal:

Bars:

Drinks

60 Plus Nutrient Dense Recipes Every Kid Will Love (13)

Smoothies:

Alternatives to Juices/Sodas/Flavored Milk:

Treats

60 Plus Nutrient Dense Recipes Every Kid Will Love (14)

Ice Cream/Popsicles/Puddings:

Cookies:

60 Plus Nutrient Dense Recipes Every Kid Will Love (15)

Kristin Marr

Kristin is the creator and editor-in-chief of Live Simply. Kristin is married to her high school sweetheart, Dustin, and is the mom to two kids and two free-roam (litterbox-trained) bunnies, Leo and Estela. Kristin started Live Simply in 2013 to share her passion for real food and natural living.

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    1. Hey Jenn, Thank you for asking. Linking from your blog to this round-up with A-okay :).

      Reply

  1. RT @brendondesimone: Ummmm adults too!!! RT @angelokaramanis: 60 Plus Nutrient Dense Recipes Every Kid Will Love http://t.co/CAS7OuwvIm

    Reply

  2. Ummmm adults too!!! RT @angelokaramanis: 60 Plus Nutrient Dense Recipes Every Kid Will Love http://t.co/CAS7OuwvIm

    Reply

  3. RT @FoodHasPower: Wow!! 60 Nutrient-Dense Recipes Every Kid Will Love – including ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, veggies,… http://…

    Reply

  4. Parents, you and your little ones will love this recipe site. Healthy eats for the entire family! http://t.co/2NBai8c2W0

    Reply

  5. Wow!! 60 Nutrient-Dense Recipes Every Kid Will Love – including ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, veggies,… http://t.co/8ggE312h9u

    Reply

  6. What a great resource! Thanks so much for featuring my meatballs!

    Reply

    1. Thank you 🙂 and thank you for the great meatball recipe!

      Reply

  7. What a great post, Kristin! I’ve pinned this as you’ve shared so many great recipes. Thanks for sharing my KIND Fruit and Nut Bars. Blessings, Kelly

    Reply

  8. I love this collection of healthy recipes ! Never thought about making gummies before but a definite alternative to the synthetic laden treats offered in the stores. Thanks for you blog. I will be sure to share with your cousin 🙂

    Reply

  9. Wow, great roundup! Thanks for sharing my raw juices for kiddos 🙂 -Rama, Freshly Grown

    Reply

    1. Thank you 🙂 And thank you for the great juice recipes! I kids love them 🙂

      Reply

  10. Awesome ideas! I’ll definitely be incorporating some of these into our meal plan this week!

    Reply

  11. A bookmark for sure! Awesome post! (And thank you so much for including my recipe!)

    Reply

60 Plus Nutrient Dense Recipes Every Kid Will Love (2024)

FAQs

What are nutrient-dense foods for kids? ›

Choose seafood, lean meat and poultry, eggs, beans, peas, soy products, and unsalted nuts and seeds. Fruits. Encourage your child to eat a variety of fresh, canned, frozen or dried fruits.

What meals are nutrient-dense? ›

Nutrient-dense foods are rich in nutrients relative to their calorie content. These include various healthy foods such as whole vegetables, fruits, cocoa, seafood, eggs, and liver. Adding these foods to your diet can make it healthier.

Why do children need small nutrient-dense meals? ›

Children's nutritional requirements are usually higher than those of adults, as they grow fast. And nutrient-dense foods are rich in essential vitamins and minerals that boost the development of all vital organs and build immunity. Complex carbohydrates and lean proteins offer energy and build bones and muscles.

What are some small changes you could make to eat more nutrient-dense foods? ›

Get more nutritional value from your food:
Instead ofReplace with
White riceBrown rice
Chips, pretzelsCrunchy vegetables or nuts
MayoHummus or avocado spreads
Sugary beveragesPlain water or water infused with cucumber, lemon, strawberry (whatever fruit/vegetable you like)
4 more rows

What is the most nutrient-dense food ever? ›

1. Almonds. There you have it – the most nutrient-dense food on the planet is the humble almond. Praises for almonds have been sung for a long time, with many studies carried out surrounding their benefits related to heart health and diabetes.

What is the most nutrient-dense snack? ›

5 Must-Have Nutrient-Dense Snacks
  • 1) Nuts. Nuts are delicious by the handful and help you keep those hunger pains under control. ...
  • 2) Nut Butters. Okay, so we aren't quite ready to leave the nut train yet, but it's for good reason. ...
  • 3) Canned Tuna. ...
  • 4) Dried Fruit. ...
  • 5) Good Measure Bars.

What single food can you survive on the longest? ›

It is argued that the single, most complete food a human needs to survive is human breast milk. Other foods may be nutritious but inevitably lack certain vitamins, minerals, etc.

What are the 20 most nutritious foods? ›

What are Top 20 best food for good health? The top 20 best foods for good health include spinach, broccoli, sweet potatoes, blueberries, oranges, almonds, walnuts, avocado, salmon, tuna, eggs, Greek yogurt, quinoa, brown rice, lentils, chickpeas, tomatoes, carrots, and bell peppers.

What are the 12 foods you should eat every day? ›

12 Everyday Foods To Support Your Health
  • Berries. Let's kick off our list with a sweet treat — berries. ...
  • Leafy Greens. There's a reason your mom insisted you finish your greens. ...
  • Nuts and Seeds. ...
  • Avocados. ...
  • Sweet Potatoes. ...
  • Bell Peppers. ...
  • Turmeric. ...
  • Quinoa.

How to get kids to eat healthy? ›

Whether you have a toddler or a teen, here are five of the best strategies to improve nutrition and encourage smart eating habits:
  1. Have regular family meals.
  2. Serve a variety of healthy foods and snacks.
  3. Be a role model by eating healthy yourself.
  4. Avoid battles over food.
  5. Involve kids in the process.

What are the 10 best foods for a teenager to eat? ›

What to eat
  • fruit and vegetables.
  • starchy foods, such as potatoes, bread, rice, pasta and other starchy carbohydrates.
  • beans and pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins.
  • dairy and alternatives.
  • oils and spreads.

What are 5 nutrient-dense foods? ›

Here are the 11 most nutrient-dense foods on the planet.
  • Salmon. Not all fish is created equal. ...
  • Kale. Of all the healthy leafy greens, kale is the king. ...
  • Seaweed. The sea has more than just fish. ...
  • Garlic. Garlic really is an amazing ingredient. ...
  • Shellfish. ...
  • Potatoes. ...
  • Liver. ...
  • Sardines.
Jul 27, 2020

How to get all nutrients in one meal? ›

You can follow the U.S. Department of Agriculture's MyPlate guidelines to build a nutritionally balanced meal — vegetables, fruit, grains, and protein should each comprise about a quarter of your plate. Incorporate one serving of dairy if you wish.

Is peanut butter nutrient-dense? ›

Peanut butter also provides protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants — all of which promote good health. Since peanut butter supplies high-quality, nutrient-dense calories, 200 calories of peanut butter will have a stronger positive health impact than 200 calories of an ultra-processed “diet” food.

What are 5 examples of nutrient-dense? ›

Examples of nutrient-dense foods include fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or fat-free milk products, seafood, lean meats, eggs, peas, beans, and nuts.

What are nutrient-dense foods to eat everyday? ›

For a nutrient-dense and heart-healthy dietary pattern: Eat a variety of fruit and vegetables. Eat whole grains. Include healthy sources of protein, mostly from plant sources (legumes and nuts), fish and seafood, fat-free or low-fat dairy, lean cuts of unprocessed meat and skinless poultry.

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