- Make pizza yourself using a whole wheat crust and extra peppers, onions, mushrooms and even broccoli. Avoid using meat, but if you must, try making a chicken pizza instead of sausage or pepperoni. Also, consider making a pesto pizza to incorporate olive oil into their diet.
- Lots of kids love macaroni and cheese, but it is not necessarily the healthiest food. Try adding broccoli, green beans or asparagus to incorporate vegetables into the dish. In addition to vegetables, add lean ground turkey and make a mac and cheese bake (see Resources).
- Lots of kids request burgers on a regular basis; to improve the nutritional content, try giving them turkey burgers using lean meat. Add lots of fresh tomatoes and lettuce, and throw everything on a whole wheat bun. Consider serving the burgers with peeled baby carrots in place of chips or french fries (see Resources).
- Tacos are a popular hand-held food, but sometimes they can be greasy and lack any nutritional value. Substitute ground beef for lean ground turkey, or even skip the meat altogether and use low-sodium refried beans instead. Use lots of vegetables as toppings, then add a spoonful of salsa and a dollop of guacamole (see Resources).
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Get creative with finger foods. Let the kids make "ants on a log" by smearing peanut butter on celery and adding strategically placed raisins (see Resources). Cherry tomatoes with a few cheese squares is also a good snack.
