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

10 Kid-Friendly Vegetable Recipes | Vegetables For Kids (6)

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

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

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? ›

Best veggies to roast for kids
  • Root vegetables (carrots, potato, sweet potato, parsnips)
  • Cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cauliflower and even brussels sprouts)
  • Squash (butternut, acorn, spaghetti squash)
Nov 3, 2023

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 can you make vegetable dishes attractive to children? ›

5 Practical Ways to Make Vege More Appealing to Kids!
  1. Cook sweeter vegetables. ...
  2. Cover taste of vegetables with sauces. ...
  3. Make vegetable soup. ...
  4. Make vegetable-fruit smoothie. ...
  5. Sneak vegetables into dishes that they love.

What vegetables will picky kids eat? ›

Best Vegetables For Picky Eaters
  • Sweet Potatoes. Sweet potatoes are naturally sweet and packed with vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, which is essential for eye health. ...
  • Peas. Small, sweet and mild in flavour, peas are an easy win for many kids. ...
  • Zucchini. ...
  • White potatoes. ...
  • Cauliflower. ...
  • Sweet corn. ...
  • Pumpkin. ...
  • Cucumber.
Mar 4, 2024

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.

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

What vegetables are good for picky eaters? ›

  • Even if you're convinced your kiddoes or resident picky-eater won't eat veggies, it's worth keeping up the cause. You want to install healthy habits in your children as they grow. ...
  • Cucumbers. Cucumber. ...
  • Sweet bell peppers. Red bell pepper. ...
  • Butternut squash. Butternut squash. ...
  • Jicama. Jicama. ...
  • Spinach. ...
  • Mushrooms. ...
  • Baby bok choy.
Oct 21, 2023

How do I get my 7 year old to eat vegetables? ›

How do I get my kids to eat veggies?
  1. Be consistent. Offer vegetables with every lunch and dinner. ...
  2. Let kids participate in choosing veggies. ...
  3. Serve vegetables kids like. ...
  4. Make veggies fun. ...
  5. Try kid-friendly veggie recipes. ...
  6. Inspire a healthy identity. ...
  7. Be a veggie role model.
Feb 21, 2019

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

Keep offering fruit and vegetables

Your role is to make them available. Remember your child may need to see a fruit or vegetable 10 or more times before they are ready to try it. Always include a small serving of vegetables on your child's plate. Encourage them to try but let them decide whether or not they eat them.

How to make veggies taste good for toddlers? ›

Serve veggies with dips like ketchup, ranch, guacamole, salsa, Cheese Sauce, or anything else your child likes. Add fats (which kids need) like olive oil, avocado oil, toasted sesame oil, butter, or coconut oil which can help the food taste better and also help our bodies absorb the vitamins.

How do you make food exciting for kids? ›

Take a look at our favorite tips to make food a little more interesting for your kids.
  1. Get them involved. Ask your kids to go grocery shopping with you. ...
  2. Offer the new food with foods you know your kids like. ...
  3. Make foods interesting and fun. ...
  4. Enjoy a “family-style” meal.

What makes a good kids menu? ›

On your kids' menu, focus on lean protein, plant-based alternatives, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and fruit and vegetables while limiting the availability of unhealthy fats, sugars and sodium.

What to cook with kids at school? ›

Kids' cooking recipes
  • Pizza with homemade sauce. A star rating of 4.5 out of 5. ...
  • Lemon & yogurt chicken flatbreads. A star rating of 4.5 out of 5. ...
  • Rice paper rolls. ...
  • Family breakfast station. ...
  • Salmon & spaghetti supper in a parcel. ...
  • Sloppy joes with brussels sprout slaw. ...
  • Salted caramel crispy Rudolphs. ...
  • Easy kids' omelette.

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.

How to make vegetables good for picky eaters? ›

10 ways to encourage picky eaters to eat veggies
  1. #1 Get hands physically on the veggies and emotionally invested. ...
  2. #2 Hide the veggies. ...
  3. #3 Eat veggies raw with dip. ...
  4. #4 Don't make a big deal out of it. ...
  5. #5 Have fun with the veggies. ...
  6. #6 Make pickles with your veggies. ...
  7. #7 Have the veggies available. ...
  8. #8 Roast your veggies.

What vegetables are good for preschoolers? ›

Vegetables
  • Carrots, green beans, cauliflower, broccoli (steamed until soft)
  • Yams or sweet potatoes (cooked and diced)
  • Peas (cooked and smushed)
  • Steamed spinach or greens (pureed)
  • Rinsed canned vegetables.
Feb 22, 2023

What are crunchy vegetables for kids? ›

Jicama – One of the best vegetables for picky toddlers, jicama has a mild, slightly sweet taste and a watery crunch that everyone finds fun. Plus, the mild flavor means that it blends well with whatever hummus your kid loves!

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