10 Kid-Friendly Vegetable Recipes | Vegetables For Kids (2024)

by Lindsay 11 Comments

Want to prepare vegetables for kids that they’ll actually eat? These kid-friendly vegetable recipes are healthy, quick and easy. Serve them as a side dish for dinner or for a healthy snack!

10 Kid-Friendly Vegetable Recipes | Vegetables For Kids (1)

Hi friends!

Let’s talk about vegetables for kids. If you’re a parent, you’ve probably struggled to find vegetable recipes for kids…ie vegetables kids like and vegetables kids will eat! If you’re tired of serving vegetables that get thrown away, I hope this post will spark some ideas for you.

We all know vegetables are important. They offer a wide variety of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. But when you find a veggie your kid will eat, it’s easy to fall into the habit of serving that and only that…because it’s easier than fighting with them to try something new or dealing with them spitting it out all over the place. But it’s so important to expose young kiddos to a wide variety of foods and flavors. My goal is always to try to serve them twice a day whether it’s at meals or snacks. Does that always happen? No. But I try!

To help myself out (and you!) I rounded up some kid-friendly veggie recipes that I’m looking forward to trying, plus a few of my favs from the blog. Hopefully you see something that sparks some new vegetable ideas for kids!

Vegetable Recipes For Kids

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My kids love french fries. And while he certainly prefers regular french fries or sweet potato fries, the similar shape and the crunchy coating on these green bean fries are sometimes enough to get him to eat a few. When in doubt, add ketchup. Added bonus- they’re fun for kids to help make!

Green Bean Fries via The Lean Green Bean

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Kids like fun food. Kabobs are fun. Added bonus – they’ll love helping you assemble these, which makes it more likely they’ll eat a few veggies along the way!

Rainbow Veggie Kabobs via Two Healthy Kitchens

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Add some extra flavor to the veggies with a marinade. It’ll make them taste less veggie-like, which kids will love! If your kids don’t like steamed veggies, try serving them raw in a salad like this! They may like the crunch!

Marinated Vegetable Salad via Iowa Girl Eats

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These can cook all day in the crockpot and be ready to serve when you get home!

Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes via Baked By Rachel

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Finger foods are fun! These balls are easy to make and if you serve them with a tasty dip, the kids just might look past the green color!

Easy Spinach Balls via The Lean Green Bean

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Kids like sweet. Most vegetables are not sweet. Caramelizing veggies adds a sweetness factor that will up their chances of being consumed!

Caramelized Butternut Squash via Yummy Healthy Easy

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When all other veggies fail, try sweet potatoes. Especially this way. They’re hard to resist.

Melting Sweet Potatoes via Dessert For Two

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Roasting carrots brings out their natural sweetness, which is enhanced with a little extra maple syrup. Pair that with bacon, which everyone loves, and these won’t last long on their plate!

Maple Bacon Roasted Carrots via The Lean Green Bean

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Almost all kids love pizza! Swap the crust for some zucchini rounds, top with sauce, cheese and pepperoni for a home run!

Broiled Zucchini Pizza via Kalyn’s Kitchen

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Do they typically turn their nose up at things like broccoli? These nuggets can be dipped in bbq sauce, ketcup, etc which usually helps!

Veggie Nuggets via Real Mom Nutrition

Did any of these ideas catch your eye? Pin this post to try them soon!

Kid-Friendly Vegetable Recipes

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Does your kiddo have a favorite veggie recipe? Leave it in the comments!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

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About Lindsay

Lindsay Livingston is a Registered Dietitian and new mom from Columbus, Ohio. On her blog, she shares simple, healthy recipes, nutrition tips, workouts and snapshots of her life. Follow her on Twitter @LeanGrnBeanBlog and Instagram @TheLeanGreenBean and be sure to subscribe via RSS or email so you never miss a post!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. 10 Kid-Friendly Vegetable Recipes | Vegetables For Kids (15)Chelsey says

    These all look SO fun!!! Love anything that helps kiddos eat their veggies!

    Reply

  2. 10 Kid-Friendly Vegetable Recipes | Vegetables For Kids (16)Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says

    I love these ideas!!! I might have to try some of these out on my nephews 😉

    Reply

  3. 10 Kid-Friendly Vegetable Recipes | Vegetables For Kids (17)Kristen Chidsey says

    I seriously think my kids would love every single one of these!

    Reply

  4. 10 Kid-Friendly Vegetable Recipes | Vegetables For Kids (18)Tara | Treble in the Kitchen says

    Yum! Pinned this one 🙂 Perfect for making dinner while nannying/babysitting!

    Reply

  5. 10 Kid-Friendly Vegetable Recipes | Vegetables For Kids (19)Betty @http://bettysbalance.weebly.com says

    I LOVE the zucchini rounds pizza idea! My toddler loves pizza, so I’m definitely going to try this one. I’ve had some success lately in getting her to eat peas by making a little chute with a piece of celery and we take turns rolling peas down the chute into our mouths.

    Reply

  6. 10 Kid-Friendly Vegetable Recipes | Vegetables For Kids (21)KalynsKitchen says

    Thanks for including my sister Val’s kid-friendly zucchini pizza; I’m not an expert at feeding vegetables to kids but my sister sure is!

    Reply

  7. 10 Kid-Friendly Vegetable Recipes | Vegetables For Kids (22)Cori says

    I tried the green beans fries and the veggie nuggets; i enjoyed them, but my kids hated them both. I am going to give the spinach balls a try and if that is a fail I give up on fancy vegetables. My kids love basic steamed or raw vegetables.

    Reply

    • 10 Kid-Friendly Vegetable Recipes | Vegetables For Kids (23)Lindsay says

      sorry to hear they weren’t a hit. But if they like steamed and raw, that’s awesome! Nothing wrong with eating them that way!

      Reply

  8. 10 Kid-Friendly Vegetable Recipes | Vegetables For Kids (24)Carol says

    I get stuck in a rut with our 18 month old with peas and broccoli. Tater tots are a huge hit, but not particularly healthy and I don’t offer them often (Can you believe a kid that won’t do mashed potatoes?!). He loves tomatoes, but we don’t always have them. This post sparked a few new ideas. I’m going to try carrots with some butter and a touch of brown sugar tonight (he refuses them plain) and see what happens. Thanks! And great photography too!

    Reply

    • 10 Kid-Friendly Vegetable Recipes | Vegetables For Kids (25)Lindsay says

      so glad to hear it! hope they’re a hit!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

10 Kid-Friendly Vegetable Recipes | Vegetables For Kids (2024)

FAQs

What are kid friendly vegetables? ›

Find Your Child's Perfect Product
  • Corn. Sweet corn is one of the easier treats to get kids to eat due to its pleasant flavor. ...
  • Butternut Squash. ...
  • Summer Squash. ...
  • Lettuce. ...
  • Mushrooms. ...
  • Asparagus. ...
  • Avocados. ...
  • Green Beans.

How to make veggies interesting for kids? ›

7 Ways to Make Vegetables Taste Good for Kids
  1. Roast or sauté, instead of steaming / boiling. ...
  2. Add to sauces. ...
  3. Add pesto. ...
  4. Add to muffins / pancakes. ...
  5. Add toppings. ...
  6. Use herbs and spices. ...
  7. Serve alongside a dip.

How to make veggies for picky eaters? ›

10 Simple Vegetable Side Dishes to Win Over Picky Eaters
  1. Carrots with Dried Cherries. ...
  2. Old-Fashioned Potato Cakes. ...
  3. Cheesy Kale Chips. ...
  4. Sautéed Sugar Snap Peas and Green Beans. ...
  5. Grilled Spicy Sweet Potato Chips. ...
  6. Fried Asparagus Sticks. ...
  7. Cucumber Sunomono. ...
  8. Grilled Garlic Parmesan Zucchini.
Jul 24, 2018

How to serve veggies to kids? ›

“Let kids have fun choosing their veggie toppings for pizza & tacos by placing them in brightly colored bowls,” says Karmen Meyer, RDN. Let eating veggies be more interactive. “Kids love to eat veggies when they can dip them in a flavorful dip or sauce, such as hummus, ranch dip, fruit salsa, guacamole, or nut butter.

What is a vegetable for kindergarten? ›

Vegetables are the leaves, stems, roots, or other parts of certain plants that people eat. Vegetables usually come from herbaceous plants. Herbaceous plants have stems that are softer than the woody stems of bushes and trees. Many vegetables grow aboveground.

What is the fun vegetable game for kids? ›

1)Collect pairs of plastic vegetables from kitchen play sets (or use pictures).
2)Have your children sit in a circle and give each one a vegetable to hold.
3)Call out the name of one of the vegetables.
4)Have the two children holding those vegetables stand up and trade places.
5)Repeat for each vegetable pair.
2 more rows

How do you sneak vegetables into kids meals? ›

Here are few ideas for adding vegetables into dishes:

Add in some finely chopped broccoli to an omelet. Add in pumpkin or butternut squash into mac n cheese. Grate zucchini and add it into pancakes. Blend carrots, bell peppers, spinach, or any other veggies on hand into your child's favorite pasta sauce.

What are 2 tips from kid friendly vegetables and fruits? ›

Try These Quick Tips
  • Keep a bowl of fruit on the kitchen table for a quick, easy snack.
  • Always have freshly cut vegetable sticks in the refrigerator.
  • Add raisins, bananas and other fresh or dried fruits to hot or cold cereals.

What makes a good kids menu? ›

The Elements of a Good Kids Menu

Nutritious Options – Incorporate a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins into the menu. These elements provide essential vitamins, minerals, and energy for growing bodies.

What do you put on a kids menu? ›

Consider making small vegetable-packed burgers or healthy cheeseless pizzas that will keep kids and parents happy. If you're offering breakfast, top pancakes with lots of colourful fruits rather than ice cream or use English muffins as a base for eggs.

What do you feed a child who hates vegetables? ›

Try making a veggie face (like cucumber eyes, tomato nose, green bean mouth, and shredded carrot hair). Try serving veggies with yogurt dip or sprinkled with cheese.

How do you make vegetables taste good for kids? ›

Roasted vegetables are rich in flavor, have that touch of sweetness but aren't usually overly spicy to overwhelm kids' palates, and roasting is easy! Just toss in some oil and some simple herbs or spices and tuck into the oven for about an hour at 400°-450°F.

What is a serve of vegetables for kids? ›

What is a serve of vegetables? A standard serve is about 75g (100–350kJ) or: ½ cup cooked green or orange vegetables (for example, broccoli, spinach, carrots or pumpkin) ½ cup cooked dried or canned beans, peas or lentils (preferably with no added salt)

What are the vegetable categories for kids? ›

Vegetables are organized into 5 subgroups based on their nutrients: dark green; red and orange; beans, peas, and lentils; starchy; and other vegetables.

What are some kid friendly foods? ›

Instead of highly processed snack foods, snack time is a great time to offer your child whole foods that provide energy and nutrition.
  • 28 healthy snack ideas for your kids. ...
  • Yogurt. ...
  • Popcorn. ...
  • Celery with peanut butter and raisins. ...
  • Nuts. ...
  • Trail mix. ...
  • Sliced pears with ricotta cheese. ...
  • Cottage cheese.

What fruits and vegetables are good for kids? ›

Variety is important. Try to choose different coloured fruit and vegetables, particularly orange, green and red. Some examples are melon, stone fruit, broccoli, spinach, leafy greens,tomato, carrot and pumpkin.

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