A Few Fun And Healthy Meals To Cook For Your Family

Not all family meals are created equal. However, not all meals that you think are bad have to be bad. You can put a healthy swing on almost any meal if you have a little kitchen creativity. The key is the ingredients you pick.

If you want to teach your children healthy eating it starts in your own kitchen. You need to feed them healthy foods, let them see you eating healthy foods, and you need to teach them how to create healthy meals when they’re old enough to start learning. Here are some fun meals to make for or with your family, with a healthy twist.

Spaghetti or Lasagna

While spaghetti and lasagna might seem like heavy and calorie-laden dishes, there are ways to make them healthier for your family. Start by opting for whole grain noodles, which offer more nutritional benefits. For lasagna, consider using pesto alla genovese instead of excessive cheese, adding a burst of flavor to the dish. If you wish to reduce the calorie content, use lean meats like turkey or chicken in your lasagna and incorporate plenty of vegetables for added nutrients.

There are spirals cutters that cut up veggies, like squash and zucchini, into what looks like noodles. You can also slice up squash to use in place of lasagna noodles. When picking a sauce you can make your own or shop for something that is organic. Boil and mash up some cauliflower as a cheese replacement and fill it up with veggies, like mushrooms, instead of meat.

Pizza

Pizza is another food that borderlines healthy depending on how you make it. Create a crust out of cauliflower (here is a recipe), use all veggies instead of meat, and use that homemade or organic sauce you used for your pasta dishes. Some must use veggies include peppers, mushrooms, olives, onions, garlic, and even artichoke.

Build Your Own Tacos

Have a build your own tacos meal night, and make sure you have options for those that would rather make a taco salad instead. First, start with a healthy meat choice, not beef. You can do chicken tacos, turkey tacos, or even meatless tacos. Beans (of any kind, really) can be an addition or a substitution for meat.

Instead of cheese, have diced up avocado available. Include lots of veggies, not just lettuce and tomatoes. Instead of iceberg lettuce, have some kale and spinach. Good veggie options include sliced carrots, diced peppers, black olives, and onion. Skip the sour cream and make a healthy homemade salsa and/or homemade guacamole.

Homemade Soups

Make soup in the crockpot. This is a quick and healthy way to make a meal, at least when it’s soup weather. Start with some chicken or turkey. If you boil the whole carcass you’ll be on your way to making your own homemade stock that is low in sodium.

Add veggies. Easy as that. Good vegetable options for soup include carrots, celery, and green beans. If you want something heavier, add some potatoes.