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If you’re looking to teach your child how to develop healthy eating habits that’ll help carry them through life, here are five simple and yummy recipes that you can prepare today!

Kid’s Vanilla Protein Shake

If you are looking for a delicious and nourishing way for your kids to start the day, this Naked Nutrition Kids Nutrition Shake is the way to go! This contains 8g of protein from organic milk, an organic vegetable blend, and 25 vitamins and minerals that are essential for optimal growth and development. There are no artificial sweeteners, flavors or preservatives, plus it is GMO free, soy free and gluten free.

These kids nutrition shakes are always a go to for me, especially when we have busy mornings. It is a great way for my kids to start their day and I know they are getting all the essentials they need for their growing bodies. They take only a few seconds to make and provide an energetic start to a happy and healthy day.

 Whole Grain Mac n’ Cheese with Broccoli

There’s no greater crowd-pleaser than mac n’ cheese. What’s not to love about elbow noodles and gooey cheese? However, the stuff that comes from a box (with its questionable “cheese” powder) is a nutritionally void mess. Instead, load your kids up on heart-healthy whole wheat spirals, reduced-fat cheese, and diced broccoli florets. You’ll get a hearty dose of fiber, calcium, and Vitamin C in a format that even the pickiest children will love!

Recipe:

• 3 cups whole wheat pasta spirals
• 1 cup skim milk
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 cups reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese
• 2 cups broccoli florets, chopped
• 1 dash of salt
• 1 dash of pepper
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

Bring water to a boil for the pasta. Boil pasta until al dente, between 7-9 minutes. While pasta is cooking, stir 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 1 cup of skim milk. When the roux thickens, gradually add the cheese. Place the broccoli in a microwave-safe dish and loosely cover it. Steam in the microwave for three minutes, until slightly softened. Drain the pasta and add the cheese sauce and broccoli. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Serve hot.

Fiesta Chicken and Rice

Kids are notorious for turning their noses up at vegetables. If they see something green on their plate, they may dramatically try to push it away. The key to getting your kids to eat their veggies, therefore, is to make them irresistible. In this recipe, you’ll combine chopped sweet peppers with low-fat sour cream, pan-seared chicken, and steamed brown rice.

Sweet bell peppers are an excellent source of vitamins and nutrients, and brown rice is full of fiber and important minerals (such as iron and phosphorous). You’ll also be getting some healthy lean protein from the chicken breasts, too!

Recipe:

• 2 large chicken breasts
• 1 large red bell pepper
• 1 large green pepper
• 1 red onion
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ¼ teaspoon cumin
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 dash of salt
• 1 cup brown rice
• ½ cup reduced-fat sour cream

Prepare rice according to instructions on your rice cooker. While rice cooks, chop the sweet peppers into large slices. Add oil to a hot skillet.

Add peppers to skillet. Chop the chicken breast into 1-inch cubes. Add them to the peppers and onions in the skillet. Cook until onion is translucent, chicken is opaque, and the peppers are softened.

Add seasoning. Plate rice, top with chicken and vegetable mixture. Add a dollop of sour cream to the top.

Baked Fish Tacos

Trying to get your children to eat fish can be challenging. Unless it’s breaded and formed into a stick shape, they typically want nothing to do with it. You can change their minds with these scrumptious fish tacos! You’ll be giving your kids an impressive dose of Omega-3 fatty acids from the fish, which is important to help their young brains become healthy.

They won’t even mind the fresh cabbage (which is high in Vitamin K and Vitamin B6) and tomato salsa (which is full of a healthy antioxidant called lycopene), either, as it will balance perfectly with the subtly nutty flavor of the corn tortillas.

Recipe:

• 2 large white fish filets
• ¼ head cabbage
• 1 medium red tomato
• 1 lime
• ½ onion
• 8 medium corn tortillas
• ¼ teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 dash of salt

Preheat the oven to 425. Season white fish with cumin, olive oil, and salt. Bake for up to 15 minutes, or until fish is flaky. While fish is cooking, chop cabbage into ribbons. Dice onion and tomatoes. Gently mix with the cabbage. Steam corn tortillas in your microwave under a damp towel, until tortillas are soft and flexible. Break the fish into smaller, uneven sized pieces. Pile it onto a corn tortilla, then top with cabbage slaw and a squeeze of lime juice.

Chocolate Banana “Nice” Cream

Instead of using high-fat heavy cream and tons of unnecessary sugar, this recipe is all-natural and low in fat. In fact, the only sugar in it comes from the secret ingredient: frozen bananas!

Bananas are very nutritious, packed to the brim with vitamins, antioxidants, and potassium. They also have resistant starch, which has been shown to help keep your blood glucose levels low, and your digestive system running smoothly.

You can customize this recipe depending on your own personal preferences, but this one caters to those who love chocolate.

Recipe:

• 3 very ripe bananas
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder

Chop bananas into 1-inch slices. Place in zip-top freezer bag and set in freezer until frozen solid. Empty bananas into your food processor. Pulse until bananas are light and fluffy. Gradually add cocoa powder. Serve immediately. If desired, top with dried coconut flakes or semi-sweet chocolate chips.