Why should the whole family cook meals together?
A healthy, balanced diet is incredibly important for several reasons, so why not make sure that the whole family is getting everything they need with some simple meals that you can cook up together?
It’s also vital to get your kids interested in how to have a varied, balanced diet from a young age. The more positively children view food, the more likely they are to enjoy it – and one of the best ways to encourage that is to get them involved in the process!
Not only will this occupy them for a few hours at weekends or during the school holidays, but hopefully getting involved in the process of making food will inspire them to eat and enjoy food.
So, take a look at the recipes below that will have your whole family clamouring to get into the kitchen to put together a meal to remember.
Family dinner ideas for every night of the week
Meatballs are always a crowd pleaser when it comes to family meals, and the kids will love getting involved with this one almost as much as they’ll love eating them. Kids love getting their hands messy, which they definitely will be when mixing the pork and breadcrumbs together with the parsley, egg yolk and oregano in this delicious recipe.
If you’re feeling brave, you can also get them on board with stirring (and tasting!) the sensationally seasoned sauce – but maybe keep the kitchen roll within arm’s reach.
Chicken kebabs are a simple and colourful way to use Chicken Dippers – the whole family will enjoy making them. Kids can combine them with their favourite vegetables, from crunchy peppers to sweet tomatoes to grilled courgettes. Chicken has great nutritional value too meaning both you and the kids will want to peck on it all day long. If you want to make this meat-free, you can swap the dippers with our Green Cuisine Chicken-Free Dippers. Just as delicious and packed with protein!
While you want to do most of the chopping, displaying them in bowls on the table and encouraging the kids to build their own will add a fun aspect to dinner that the whole family will love. You could play around with the ingredients and add whichever vegetables or sauces you like, allowing children to figure out what they do and don’t like.
Tip:If you’re cooking for adults or older kids, you may wish to try Birds Eye Southern Fried Chicken for something just a bit more special.
Hot and Spicy Chicken Grill Fajita
Fajitas are the perfect quick, tasty and healthy family dinner. Similar to kebabs, but in a wrap, fajitas allow kids freedom over the look and taste of their dinner. While we suggest low fat yoghurt and fresh chives to keep it lighter, you could always opt for a sour cream, salsa or guacamole – or all three.
We recommend our Hot & Spicy Crispy Chicken Grills for this recipe, but you could also use our Peri Peri Chicken Grills or Sweet & Sticky BBQ. Check out more of our chicken recipes here.
Green Pea Hummus Salad Wraps
If you don’t have time for a hot dinner, or need some inspiration for a fun family lunch, our green pea hummus wraps could be exactly what you’re looking for. Our Green Pea Hummus Dip recipe is deliciously creamy with a dash of fresh lemon and a kick of chilli powder, making it the perfect base sauce for a veggie wrap.
Once the hummus is made, kids can simply layer lettuce (or rocket if you fancy something more peppery), leaves, tomatoes and cucumbers on top and season to taste. Healthy, satisfying and simple.
Mexican Night In
Our ‘Mexican Night In’ dinner is one of those super easy, thrown together dinner recipes; tasty, filling and perfect for when you’re pushed for time. You can heat up nachos under the grill or even in the microwave if you’re in a rush. What’s more, getting your kids involved by grating cheese and layering up their own triangles of gold will not only save you time but keep them entertained too.
We suggest Heinz Flaming Cajun sauce in our recipe, but you could also make a healthier version by mixing low fat yoghurt or sour cream with Cajun spice to add a kick!
Original Beef Burger and Wedges
A grilled beef burger topped with salad and cheese is a Friday night family favourite. The kids can be given the role of sous chef by gently brushing the paprika glaze over the wedges and of course by stacking their burgers with a range of salad toppings – they can then, make their burger as colourful and tasty as they want. And, if you are looking for a meat-free alternative, you can swap the beef with our delicious Green Cuisine Meat-Free Burgers.
Cucumber, shredded lettuce and sliced tomato are great salad options that will add even more nutrition to this tasty dish!
There you have it – six easy, tasty and nutritious recipes that kids can get involved with. By encouraging kids to cook with you, hopefully they will no longer view vegetables as just a boring healthy food that they’re forced to eat, but something they can have fun with and enjoy.
Whether it’s chicken kebabs, tacos or a veggie wrap, we’ve got you covered for all sorts of tastes, because cooking and eating delicious, nutritious food with family is what Birds Eye is all about: Real Food, Simply Made.