KID-FRIENDLY DINNERS

Bowtie pasta with chicken, veggie and tomato sauce
This meal is great for providing energy for your active kids. Don’t worry about them not liking the vegetables in this recipe.

Chicken and black bean chili
Chili is usually made with beef, so this chicken chili is a nice change for the kids. This dish is a good source of thiamine, niacin, iron and B vitamins. You can serve it on its own or over brown rice.

Four season pizza
Kids will have a great time using a variety of vegetables to decorate this pizza. The toppings are endless. Chop up a few favourite vegetables and a few new ones, and let the kids get creative.

Fun frittata
A frittata is an Italian word for a flat, open-faced omelet. It is extremely versatile as it can be enjoyed hot, warm or at room temperature.

Salmon croquettes
These croquettes are about the same size as chicken nuggets and kids will love to dip them in some low-fat ranch dressing.

Turkey and barley shepherd’s pie

Turkey and bean tacos
Tacos are fun and quick to make – and these are mild enough for children’s taste buds. The filling also works great in a bun or whole-wheat wrap.

Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes are a family favourite but the dish usually lacks vegetables and fibre. This recipe has everything parents want with the taste that kids love.

Chicken and veggie bake
One dish dinners are great for an easy meal and limited clean up. This recipe is also great to take for lunch the next day.

Chicken burritos
These make a quick and easy weeknight supper. The leftovers taste great for lunch.

Easy paella
Paella (pronounced pa-ai-ya) is a popular traditional dish from Spain. It’s colourful and tasty – your kids will love it.

Crispy tofu nuggets
The tofu takes on the flavour of the delicious marinade and the crispy coating makes it very appealing to young and old.

Vegetarian Chili
Half of the beans in this recipe are puréed so picky eaters won’t even know they’re there.

Easy beef stew
One-pot meals that contain all your food groups are an easy way to get dinner on the table without too much fuss. Serve this beef stew with a slice of whole-grain toast for a delicious family meal.

Chicken and barley soup
Barley is a whole, high-fibre grain packed with nutritional value. Barley appeals to kids because of its soft texture. This recipe freezes well.

Turkey and apple meatballs
Apple works well with turkey, giving it a subtle sweetness. These meatballs are sure to be a hit. Serve them with applesauce to dip or over whole-grain noodles or brown rice.

Baked chicken nuggets
Using high-fibre cereal in the coating really gives these nuggets a fibre boost. And the fact that they are baked – not fried – means that they are low in saturated fat, too.

To receive exclusive heart-healthy recipes every month, subscribe to He@lthline, the Foundation’s free e-newsletter.