Tried and tested recipes that even the fussiest kids will accept.

Kid-friendly meals to make your life SO much easier.

Okay, no guarantees. As the mother of two fussy eaters, I know there’s no one magical and nourishing recipe that will appeal to everyone — but if you have fussy eaters yourself, these are definitely worth a try.

They’re healthy meal ideas that the whole family can enjoy together – and as an added bonus, they are dishes most likely to appeal to kids. Winning.

1. Pizza.

Pizza doesn’t have to be unhealthy if you make it yourself. You can use wholemeal pita bread as the base and spread no-salt tomato paste over the top.

Then add a range of fresh vegies, like spinach and mushrooms, along with whatever meat your kids like, such as barbecued chicken.

Hide everything under a thin layer of cheese and then bake. It’ll be so tasty that the kids probably won’t even realise they’re eating healthy vegetables.

2. Burgers.

It takes a bit of time to make your own burgers. But that way, you can guarantee they’ll actually be healthy. Start with lean mince, then add grated carrot or zucchini, plus a couple of ripped-up slices of wholemeal bread and a beaten egg to hold it all together.

After cooking the burgers, set them down in front of your kids, along with hamburger buns and a range of salad vegetables, including sliced tomato, beetroot and lettuce. Even if your kids don’t eat many of the salad vegetables, they’re still getting plenty of nourishment.

3. Burritos.

Anything you can roll up and eat with your fingers is fun for kids. If your kids don’t like spice, you can just grill some chicken breasts and chop them up. Add the chicken to the tortilla, along with refried beans, avocado, lettuce and tomato, or whatever other vegetables your kids be happy to eat.

Then add grated cheese and either low-fat sour cream or yoghurt. You can dollop spicy sauce on your own burrito to make it tastier. Fold the sides of the tortilla in, then fold the bottom up, to stop the filling falling out. Expect a bit of mess.

4. Sandwiches.

If you get the bread and the filling right, these can be a really nourishing meal.

Start with a high-fibre variety of bread, such as Wonder White. Then get creative with what goes between the slices. You can try sneaking in something new with something your child already loves.

You might want to use a healthy spread, like avocado or hummus, instead of butter or margarine. You can also make use of tasty leftovers, like cold slices of meatloaf or roasted vegetables, instead of the standard ham and tomato. Remember that some combinations that might sound odd to adults – like peanut butter and banana, or cream cheese and grated carrot – might be delicious and beneficial to kids.

5. Pasta.

Canny parents have been using this method to get more vegies into their kids for years. It’s perfect if your child likes pasta with plain tomato sauce. The idea is to prepare whatever vegetables you want your kid to eat: chop up onions, celery and capsicum, grate carrot and zucchini, etc.

Then cook them up with a bit of oil. When they’re soft, add tinned tomatoes, bring the sauce to the boil and simmer for around half an hour. Then tip the sauce out of the pan, puree it with a hand blender until it is smooth, and return to the pan to reheat. Pour over the top of pasta and add some grated cheese.

It’ll taste so good they won’t even notice it’s nutritious.

Good luck, friends.

What do you make for the fussy eater in the family?

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