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 do you make vegetables interesting for kids? ›

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. Here is one of my favorite recipes for a pretty and flavorful hummus,” says Sharon Palmer, RDN, The Plant-Powered Dietitian.

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.

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 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 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 for picky toddlers? ›

You can hide veggies in sauces and dips by blending them with other ingredients. For example, try making green mac and cheese, veggie tomato sauce, or caramelized onion dip. You can even make veggie-loaded applesauce with beets and carrots, smoothies with almost any vegetable, and blended fruit and vegetable popsicles.

How to make vegetables fun? ›

For example, if your kids love apples, try serving them baked, or pan-frying them with some cinnamon and a little butter. If it's broccoli they get on board with, try serving it in a cold quiche, or as part of a salad. The more you can vary the way they experience fruits and vegetables, the better.

What are good sides for kids? ›

Kid Friendly Side Dishes
  • Ranch Green Beans. Yummy Toddler Food | Toddler Meals & Kid Friendly Recipes. ...
  • Quick and Easy Chocolate Avocado Pudding Recipe. Yummy Toddler Food | Toddler Meals & Kid Friendly Recipes. ...
  • How To Make Homemade Cheese Crackers. ...
  • Easy Roasted Broccoli. ...
  • The Best Roasted Garlic Butter. ...
  • Cheesy Baby Spinach.

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.

How do you make a dish interesting for kids? ›

Serving foods of different colors makes a meal more interesting and appealing. Serve foods of different shapes. Choose round crackers or cherry tomatoes. Cut sandwiches into triangles.

What is a good side dish for a cookout for kids? ›

Grilled veggies, such as summer squash. Grilled corn on the cob (even a variant of elotes could be great). Baked beans (because perhaps they haven't eaten enough sweet things at the birthday party yet?) Potato salad, pasta salad, etc.

Which vegetable do kids like the most? ›

Best Vegetables For Picky Eaters
  • White potatoes. ...
  • Cauliflower. ...
  • Sweet corn. ...
  • Pumpkin. ...
  • Cucumber. ...
  • Baked beans. ...
  • Cherry tomatoes. With their bright red colour and juicy sweet flavour, cherry tomatoes (while technically a fruit, not a vegetable!) are an easy win with many kids. ...
  • Sugar snap or snow peas.
Mar 4, 2024

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

On this page:
  1. Set a good example with vegetables.
  2. Keep trying with vegetables.
  3. Use praise when your child tries vegetables.
  4. Get your child involved in growing, preparing and cooking vegetables.
  5. Offer vegetables as snacks.
  6. Go for vegetable variety, taste and fun.
  7. Get vegetables into meals in other ways.
Feb 20, 2024

What vegetables will picky kids eat? ›

Best Vegetables For Picky Eaters
  • Carrots. Carrots are an easy win for lots of 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. ...
  • Zucchini. ...
  • White potatoes. ...
  • Cauliflower. ...
  • Sweet corn. ...
  • Pumpkin.
Mar 4, 2024

What are some kid friendly foods? ›

Top 10 healthy meals for kids
  • Pitta pocket. Our quick and easy pitta pockets made with chicken, tomatoes and cucumbers. ...
  • Hidden veg ragu. ...
  • Budget porridge. ...
  • Macaroni cheese with veg. ...
  • Salmon egg-fried rice. ...
  • Fish fingers & mushy peas. ...
  • Tofu scramble. ...
  • Chicken skewers with broad bean hummus.

What are crunchy vegetables for kids? ›

Top Crunchy Vegetables for Fussy Eaters

Carrots: The grandmasters of crunch. Whether you chop them into sticks or turn them into fun shapes, carrots are a classic crunchy delight. Cucumber: Cool as a cucumber and twice as crunchy! Those thin slices or bite-sized chunks are perfect for a refreshing crunch.

What veggies to pack for kids lunch? ›

Go beyond traditional iceberg or Romaine lettuce and give some other vegetables a try. Layer sandwiches and wraps with spinach, tomato slices, thinly cucumber, grated carrots, or roasted vegetables for added crunch and flavor. Fill wraps with lettuce, tomato, avocado, and shredded carrots.

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