Need help with kid friendly low fat recipes
I have been seeing a lot of good recipes on here but nothing my fiance or kids would touch. So I need some kid and man friendly recipes that are still healthy. I am having trouble finding healthy things that still taste good. Thanks all :)
Kraft has some awesome recipes that kids should be fine with eating
http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/HealthyLiving/Re cipes/
And http://www.hungry-girl.com has some great ones as well if you search their site. Alternative hamburgers, mac and cheese, chicken strips, french fries, pizzas, etc.
Those are kid friendly, yes? :)
Yes they are :) Thanks for the info!
i like this dip, layer the following: fat free refried beans, fat free sour cream, salsa, lettuce, reduced fat shredded cheese. it's really good. use pretzel chips instead of tortilla chips too.
switch out white pastas/breads for whole grain/whole wheat.... i don't know about fat, but it is healthier....
my bf is switching to a lot of the vegetarian soy "fake" meat products because they are much lower in fat then the real thing and they still taste really good... we'll make burritos or tacos using the soy ground meat and reduced fat cheese (if we use sour cream it's fat free), use whole wheat wraps instead of regular white wraps
have the kids make their own pizzas (or the adults haha i do), incorporate more veggies as toppings, i love the soy ground sausage, use whole wheat wraps, english muffins, or bagels as a base instead of the regular pizza dough.
i like to make my own "hamburger helper" using whole wheat pasta, reduced fat cheeses, skim milk or light soy milk, soy ground meat, and lots of broccoli
the soy hot dogs are VERY good and have almost no fat at all.... i've had these stolen from me many times at bbqs by peopel who eat regular hot dogs so they must be good!
how about baked sweet potato fries instead of french fries?? or at least bake the regular potatos to make fries instead of frying them. just spray with pam, much less oil and fat.
What do they like to eat? I think if we have a little more information we can come up with something.
My kids also like to make their own pizzas using turkey pepporoni, lower fat cheese. I also take the pizza sauce and add pureed vegetables (spinach, brocolli, carrots, sweet potatoes). I only add about a tablespoon of each into the jar of sauce and they do not notice a difference. This idea comes from the book The Sneaky Chef by Missy Chase Lapine. I have been using some of her recipes and ideas.
Thank you all for the ideas. In response to momof3inla, they like typical stuff, pizza, mac an cheese, hamburgers, hot dogs, everything and anything that is high in fat and calories lol.
Sounds like my kids. The book I mentioned is about how to sneak healthy stuff into kid friendly meals. I have tried quite a few of the ideas and recipes and my kids are eating them without a problem. Pureed vegetables and juices are loaded with nutition. I haven't tried the website yet but here's the link to it
Good luck!
Original Post by momof3inla:
The book I mentioned is about how to sneak healthy stuff into kid friendly meals.
I've picked up that book, and while it does have some good ideas, I have to agree a little bit with some of the criticism of it - sneaking healthy stuff into your kids food without their knowledge may be physically healthy in the short term, but it doesn't teach them life long habits.
However, I'm taking the ideas and doing something a little different - I'm having my son, who is interested in making food, help me make the purees so he knows what's going into his food. It's a way of showing him that healthy can be tasty, and then we'll incorporate more whole veggies (instead of purees) into the mix.
Oooh I really want to help you, but I'm french so that would be hard to explain recipes! D:
Try to put Veggies' in funny representation! 
Like make a smiley in carrots or... Eat them for snack!
However, I'm taking the ideas and doing something a little different - I'm having my son, who is interested in making food, help me make the purees so he knows what's going into his food. It's a way of showing him that healthy can be tasty, and then we'll incorporate more whole veggies (instead of purees) into the mix.
That would work for only 2 of my 3 kids. So I sneak it in and still offer veges in their plate. If they decide to eat/try them on their own, great! If not, it takes the stress away from the dinner table because I know they are still getting some veges. My kids tend to try new things when it is their idea and not mine! You know how they are all different!
You can always just sub in healthy things for the not so healthy. Like getting the turkey hot dogs instead of the regular, same with bacon. Butterball turkey bacon is only 25 calories a slice. I made BLTs with it a few nights ago. My 3 year old ate like 5 pieces of it. lol I stuck with 2 peices on my sandwich....then instead of the fries I made for her and my guest I just had a salad on the side. I make a big bowl of salad every few days....that way if I am making something I shouldnt be eating for everyone else I know I have an option already made in the fridge. I also keep frozen broccoli on hand for the same reason. Van de Kamps crisp and healthy breaded fish filets only have 150 calories in 2 fillets. My daughter likes them, and I dont feel guilty eating them.
There are a ton of really good boneless skinless chicken recipes out there. I have also started subbing whole grain pasta for the regular stuff. With any kind of sauce on it no one has even noticed the difference! I have noticed I can eat almost anything "normal" I make for the family.....as long as it is like half a portion and I add a larger side of something really diet friendly, like the salad or frozen veggies. If I am serving a side of fries....I will sub in raw baby carrots for myself....that way I can still dip them or eat them with my hands just like they are doing with the fries (I think this in some way tricks my brain. maybe I am just crazy. lol)
http://whatscookingamerica.net/Poultry/LemonC hipotleChicken.htm
The link is for a chicken recipe. It is a little spicy.....but is honestly one of the best chicken recipes I have EVER tried. The entire family was here when I made it......and one of them even looked at me and asked me "arent you on a diet, are you sure you should be eating this?". No one even realized this was a low fat, low cal meal. I made it with a side of brown rice that I made with vegetable bullion, green onion, and fresh parsley.
This one looks good.....and I will be trying it out tonight.....
http://whatscookingamerica.net/Poultry/DijonC hicken.htm
You can also make chicken fajitas for them but just eat the chicken, peppers, and onions yourself.....you can even put it over lettuce with some salsa for a salad.
I make omletts.....2 egg whites (16 cals each) and one whole egg (tricks me by adding that yellow color you expect with eggs. lol) then just add some onion and tomato to mine. For my daugher I add whatever she is in the mood for, and my mom (she moved in with me a while back) prefers hers with 3 whole eggs and cheese and all kinds of crap. So I make it how she wants it. That way I am still eating what they are eating....just a lower cal "doctored" version of it. I buy fun 6 packs of trix yogurt for my daughter....and get myself dannon light and fit yogurt (60 cals), that way we can sit and eat breakfast together and basically be eating the same thing....we also split a piece of toast and a piece of fruit.
One thing I've done, just the other night...
My four-year old DID refuse to eat meatloaf for the longest time. I make it healthy, 97% lean ground beef, etc. He hates the ketchup. So the other night, I made meatloaf in my muffin tins. When it was time to put the ketchup on the top, I left it off of one and put some low fat shredded cheese in it's place, and called it a meat muffin. He thought that was kinda gross, so I told him it was like a cheeseburger. He gobbled it up, raving about how good it was.... and then I told him it was meatloaf. He was dumbfounded! But now he eats it. Moral to the story... trick your kids into eating it (lol) and then tell them what it is after they proclaim their love. It broadens their horizons and opens their minds to new foods. Adding a little cheese always works. And any high-fat meal can be made into a low-fat one with a few substitutions, that will work with hubby. Smart Taste pasta by Ronzoni is great stuff... for chicken and broccoli alfredo, use that. Saute some mushrooms (optional) and garlic and your chicken in a little olive oil... add in some fat free condensed or evaporated milk, add your spices and seasonings (warning, most kids dont like the dark flecks of dried seasonings)and a little freshly grated parmesan cheese, to taste. Add in some steamed broccoli and there ya go!
Sourdough, French and Italian bread are better tasting than plain white bread, but lower in carbs, fat and calories if your family doesn't like wheat or whole grain.
Low fat cheeses, cream cheese and soups for casseroles, along with leaner meats.
Make your own shake n bake instead of frying.
And the list goes on and on...
(Cauliflower makes a great imitation mashed potato)
Here's my low fat spaghetti sauce recipe. It's loaded with very lean meats - extra lean beef and ground turkey breast.
And here is my low fat chicken fingers
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