Getting kids to eat healthy food can be just plain hard.  Over and over again I have assembled nutritious meals worthy of the toughest food critic only to find myself microwaving mac-and-cheese and corn dogs so my kids don’t go to bed hungry.  The utter shame of this makes me keep trying.  I have finally found a few nutrient-full food items that they tolerate.  At least for now.

1.  Greek yogurt and blueberries:  Greek yogurt not only has the healthy bacteria known to boost immunity and help digestion it also has almost 3 times the amount of protein found in traditional yogurt.  Add in the blueberries for an antioxidant blast.  Make your own yogurt pops by blending the blueberries with the flavored yogurt and freeze for a refreshing summertime treat.

2.  Tofu: High in protein, vitamins and minerals while low in calories, sodium and fat, tofu packs a one-stop nutritional punch not found in many other foods.  My kids love tofu loaded into miso soup.  I even bought them the spoons like the ones available at sushi restaurants.

3.  Black Beans:  These beans are a great source of protein and are also high in fiber and calcium.  Luckily, my kids will eat these without any fan fare but if yours won’t, try making black-bean veggie burgers or black-bean quesadillas triangles.

4.  Cocoa & Cinnamon:  I didn’t know about these two until I ran across in article in Parenting magazine touting the duo’s nutritional benefits.  Cocoa has a high concentration of flavonoids, a compound known to improve blood pressure and heart health while cinnamon helps regulate blood sugar.  Add them together and sprinkle on muffins, cereal, oatmeal or even popcorn.  *Note:  Make sure the pure cocoa isn’t processed with alkali which removes the majority of the flavonoids.

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Written by Lea Barlow • Leave a comment