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:

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 is the most nutrient-dense food to eat? ›

Some of the most nutritious foods you can eat are oily fish, eggs, avocados, potatoes, and green leafy vegetables. However, no food provides all the nutrients we need, so it's essential to have a varied diet that includes plenty of fresh ingredients and is as little processed as possible.

What are nutrient-dense foods for kids? ›

Consider these nutrient-dense foods:
  • Protein. 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. ...
  • Vegetables. ...
  • Grains. ...
  • Dairy.

What diet is one that favors nutrient-dense foods? ›

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.

Which food has the highest nutrient density for a given amount? ›

IDENTIFYING NUTRIENT-DENSE FOODS

The highest scores were obtained by low-energy-dense vegetables and fruit, followed by legumes and eggs. Fats and oils, grains, and sweets had higher energy density and lower per-calorie nutrient content.

What two foods can you survive on? ›

Grains and legumes constitute the cornerstone of any survival diet. They are essential for providing sustainable energy and nutrients in challenging situations. They are packed with essential nutrients and can be stored for long periods, making them ideal for survival food storage.

What is the one food you can survive on? ›

If a person had to survive on only one food, potatoes would be a strong contender. Potatoes are a good source of carbohydrates for energy, and they provide some essential nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, and vitamin B6. They also contain a small amount of protein and fiber.

Is peanut butter a nutrient-dense food? ›

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 3 examples of nutrient-dense foods? ›

Sources of nutrient-dense foods are fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and many whole grains, such as kale, garlic, salmon and blueberries. Nutrient- dense foods are a great way to get the important nutritional elements you need while being budget conscious. Calorie-dense foods give more calories per bite.

What are 6 simple and nutritious foods that are popular with preschoolers? ›

Did you know?
GrainVegetableDairy
CerealFresh veggies with low-fat dipYogurt
Wheat crackers with cheeseCelery with peanut butter*String cheese
Rice cakesBaby carrotsPudding
Trail mix (cereal, nuts*, dried fruit)100% vegetable juiceFlavored low-fat milk
2 more rows

What is the most complete meal? ›

The most complete meal is a meal that contains all of the food groups in appropriate proportions. For example, a balanced breakfast might include whole-grain cereal, fruit, milk, and eggs. A balanced lunch might consist of vegetables, protein, and whole grains.

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.

What is the unhealthiest food in the world? ›

Worst Foods to Eat for Your Health
  • Foods with added sugar. Examples: Cookies, cake, ice cream, candy, sugary breakfast cereals, flavored yogurt. ...
  • Foods with added salt. Examples: Chips, pretzels, breads, crackers, canned soup, processed snack foods. ...
  • Refined carbohydrates. ...
  • Processed meats.
Nov 18, 2021

Which food has all nutrients? ›

Food items containing all the necessary nutrients is called complete food. For example, milk is regarded as a complete food. It contains protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, etc. which are considered essential for sustaining life and maintaining health.

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.

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