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

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

Want to Save This Article?

Enter your email & I’ll send it straight to your inbox.And you’ll get new recipes & tips each week.

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.

Facebook

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

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

    Reply

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

    Reply

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

      Reply

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

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

    Reply

  10. 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 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 your tasty nutrient-dense food idea for kids? ›

Colorful fruits and veggies

A wide range of fruits and vegetables, from apples, to carrots, to broccoli, to bananas, can all provide nutrients for your child. If your child is not eating vegetables right now, then don't be afraid to have them eat lots of fruit (but keep serving those veggies too!)

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.

What are 5 examples of nutrient-dense foods that you typically eat? ›

12 Of The Most Nutrient-Dense Foods You Can Eat
  • Salmon.
  • Sardines.
  • Kale.
  • Seaweed.
  • Garlic.
  • Shellfish.
  • Potatoes.
  • Liver.
Jul 6, 2023

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 #1 healthiest food? ›

Top 10 Foods for Health
  1. Water. Drink 8 to 12 cups of water daily.
  2. Dark green vegetables. Eat dark green vegetables at least three to four times a week. ...
  3. Whole grains. Eat whole grains sat least two or three times daily. ...
  4. Beans and lentils. Try to eat a bean-based meal at least once a week. ...
  5. Fish. ...
  6. Berries. ...
  7. Winter squash. ...
  8. Soy.

What are the most 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 are nutrient-dense foods for picky eaters? ›

Offer a Diverse, Nutrient-Dense Diet

For children who are 2 years old or older, health officials champion daily servings of fruits and vegetables, whole grains (such as oatmeal and brown rice), oils and a range of lean proteins (including beans, eggs, lentils, peas, seafood, and low-fat meats and poultry).

What single food can you survive on the longest? ›

The only food which comes close to being something you could survive on long term as a sole ingredient is the potato. The fact that the potato has Vitamin C means that scurvy is not a risk like it would be with almost any other food source lacking in this nutrient.

What is the most nutritionally perfect meal? ›

Well-planned, healthy meal plans should always include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, low-fat or fat-free and unsweetened dairy products, unsalted nuts, seeds, fish, poultry, eggs, lean meat, and heart-healthy, plant-based oils. Helpful tips: ✔ Fill half your plate with vegetables and some fruits.

What is the number one 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

What is the simplest diet you can live on? ›

The Simple Diet
  • Eat three meals each day. ...
  • Eat your heavier meals for breakfast and lunch with a lighter meal for dinner.
  • Eat two healthy protein choices at each meal or 6-8 choices per day. ...
  • Choose lots of color for each meal. ...
  • Fill in with 100% whole grain choices, 1-3 servings daily. ...
  • Drink water, tea or fat free milk.

What is officially the healthiest food in the world? ›

According to a study published by the CDC that examined 17 different nutrient markers (i.e., potassium, fiber, protein, and calcium) of 41 “powerhouse fruits and vegetables,” watercress scored the highest among them in terms of its “nu*trient density” score, making it officially the “healthiest food” in the world with a ...

What is the most nutrient-dense survival food? ›

Beans and legumes are an excellent long-term survival food choice due to their high nutritional value, long shelf life, and versatility in cooking.

Which nutrient has the highest density? ›

The nutrient with the greatest energy density is fat.

A food with high energy density is one which has a high number of calories per gram. This means that you can eat more of a low energy density food to obtain the same amount of calories, or you can lower the amount of fats you eat, and focus on eating healthier fats.

What one food has all the nutrients? ›

"The only food that provides all the nutrients that humans need is human milk," Hattner said. "Mother's milk is a complete food. We may add some solid foods to an infant's diet in the first year of life to provide more iron and other nutrients, but there is a little bit of everything in human milk."

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Geoffrey Lueilwitz

Last Updated:

Views: 5875

Rating: 5 / 5 (60 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Geoffrey Lueilwitz

Birthday: 1997-03-23

Address: 74183 Thomas Course, Port Micheal, OK 55446-1529

Phone: +13408645881558

Job: Global Representative

Hobby: Sailing, Vehicle restoration, Rowing, Ghost hunting, Scrapbooking, Rugby, Board sports

Introduction: My name is Geoffrey Lueilwitz, I am a zealous, encouraging, sparkling, enchanting, graceful, faithful, nice person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.