Kids can be some picky eaters! It’s normal for children between the ages of one and seven, when they are trying new table foods, to wrinkle their noses and refuse to try anything new. This is especially true when healthy food items are introduced, like fresh vegetables for example. Short of tricking your kids into eating healthy food, what are some healthy meal ideas for picky kids?

Kids will eat almost anything if it is presented in a fun way. So by using a home-made wheat crust and then adding fresh organic sauce, low fat meats and fresh veggies, you can create pizza faces. Make them by having each child pick a wheat crust, topping them with sauce, make a “face” out of pepperoni or peppers, include lots of dairy-rich cheese on top and then bake in the oven for ten minutes. They can eat the pizza faces with a side of celery or carrot sticks dipped in ranch dressing.

Kids also love finger foods. If you bake chicken strips or fish sticks in the oven, they are relatively healthy and contain lots of brain-building protein. Once they come out of the oven, put them on a plat in the middle of the table with several dipping sauces made with fresh dairy ingredients. They will love dipping them into the sauces and trying new tastes. For even healthier eating, serve with a glass of milk or apple juice.

Most kids love mashed potatoes. If you serve them, be sure to slip a few veggies inside, like peas or carrots or lima beans. As they eat the mashed potatoes they will find the veggies and you can create a little game that they have to find all of them and eat them up. Make it fun for them and they will love it. Potatoes have lots of carbohydrates and vitamins which gives kids energy. To make them healthy, use low fat milk or sour cream and margarine instead of butter.

Pastas come in so many fun shapes so use your imagination and try making your pasta dishes with shapes like bow ties, alphabets, wheels and twists. Let your children pick out what they want and they will be more likely to try them at the dinner table. Use a variety of sauces with organic ingredients and then add just a dab of the sauce on the side so they can pick up the pasta with their fingers or their fork and dip them into the sauce on their own. This can be a fun game and they will eat better then if you mix it up for them and make them eat.

Mealtime can be both healthy and fun if you make eating a positive experience for your children. They’ll eat and they’ll get the healthy foods that they need and will be asking you for more.