While you may enjoy liver and a side of asparagus for dinner, your kids aren't so thrilled with your choice. This may cause you to cook two meals: a satisfying adult meal for you, and a kid-friendly meal for your child. To avoid these dinner disagreements, try meals that are friendly and satisfying to both your palate and your child's.
Fish Strips
For an alternative to the chicken nugget dinner, try fish strips. These chicken-tender lookalikes are breaded finger foods that fit comfortably into little hands. They are also quick to prepare, taking three minutes per side when cooked in olive oil. You can also bake the strips to make the meal more healthy. Serve these with tartar sauce or ketchup, and pair with a salad and vegetable side, like peas or potatoes.
Taquitos
Taquitos are flour tortilla shells filled with meat and vegetables and wrapped tightly. This tight wrapping makes them less messy to eat than regular tacos.Taquitos can also be healthy if you fill them with lean meats and fibrous vegetables, and bake them until they achieve the same crispiness as they would when fried. Make them in any size as a quick alternative to other meals; they take about 22 minutes to cook, depending on the ingredients. Serve them either as a light lunch or a filling meal, pairing them with sour cream or dipping sauce. Provide sides like chips and salsa or corn for a full meal.
Calzones
Calzones are dough stuffed with pizza toppings, which makes them very kid-friendly. They are a quick meal, too, taking 12 to 15 minutes to bake. Calzones are also versatile, giving you the freedom to use any combination of ingredients to spice up the dish. This versatility also allows you to customize each calzone to meet the culinary needs and palate of each family member, which is helpful if you have a picky eater. Try pairing calzones with cottage cheese or fresh pasta salad, and serve marinara sauce for dipping.
Home-Made Pizza
Homemade pizza gives you the option to make a healthy main dish and have the kids help in the preparation process. It also makes for a tasty meal everyone will enjoy. Use whole-wheat dough instead of white dough; add large chunks of mushrooms, peppers and onions; and use turkey pepperoni instead of regular. In addition, homemade pizza takes 40 minutes, which is comparable to time spent waiting on an ordered pizza. Pair your pizza with a marinara sauce for dipping, and add a salad as a side.
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