Exposing children to healthy food from young helps them to make better food choices and instil good eating habits. Even though it is important to provide them with a balanced diet, healthy snacking should not be overlooked.

Do we have to resort to only fruits and vegetables when it comes to healthy snacking? How do I help my child to eat healthy when he gets picky with food? Here are some recipes that can help you make healthy food more interesting for your child! They are yummy, packed with good nutrients and can easily be made from halal ingredients!

1. Hoisin Chicken Lettuce Cups

Image credit: Kidspot

Ingredients:
1 tbs olive oil
4 shallots
1 clove garlic (finely chopped)
2 cm fresh ginger (grated)
2 medium carrots (peeled, diced)
2 medium zucchinis (diced)
1/2 cup frozen peas
2 cups barbecue chicken (cooked, diced)
1 tbs hoisin sauce
1 tbs oyster sauce
1 tbs soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1 iceberg lettuce
Coriander (*to serve)

Method:

• Heat oil in a wok or large frying pan
• Slice white part of shallots, reserving green parts. Add shallots, garlic and ginger to the wok and cook over gentle heat for 1 minute. Add carrots and cook for 2 minutes. Add zucchini and peas and cook for a further minute
• Add chicken, sauces and sesame oil and cook for 2 minutes
• Remove core from lettuce with a sharp knife. Gently pull apart lettuce leaves and trim with kitchen scissors. Chill until needed
• Fill lettuce cups with chicken mixture. Top each cup with some coriander and finely sliced shallot greens

Recipe from Kidspot.

2. Watermelon Pizza

Image credit: Woolworths

Ingredients:
1/3 cup cottage cheese
1 tbs Greek-style yoghurt
½ tsp honey
1/3 tsp cinnamon
6 x 2cm-thick wedges of watermelon
1 x 125g punnet of raspberries
6 strawberries, hulled, sliced
1 x 125g punnet of blueberries
2 tsp sultanas
1 tsp chia seeds or sunflower seeds
1 tbs pumpkin seeds
1 tbs Macro organic fruit shredded coconut
Mint fresh herb, bunch

Method:

• Mix cottage cheese, yoghurt, honey and cinnamon in a bowl until smooth.
• Spread mixture over watermelon slices. Arrange in a circle to make a pizza shape and scatter with berries, sultanas, seeds, coconut and mint to serve

Recipe from Woolworths.

3. Raspberry and Cream Banana Ice Cream

Image credit: Super Healthy Kids

Ingredients:
1 1/2 frozen bananas
1/2 cup frozen raspberries
1/3 cup vanilla Greek yoghurt

Method:

• Blend until smooth and creamy. Eat immediately or place in the freezer for a harder consistency. This flavour is creamy and delicious, but also refreshing!

Recipe from Super Healthy Kids.

4. Beef and Mushroom Pie

Image credit: Kidspot

Ingredients:
1 tsp olive oil
1 large onion, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
200g mushrooms, finely diced
2 celery stalks, finely diced
1 pinch salt
400g extra lean beef mince
1 tbsp plain flour
1 x 400g tin diced tomatoes
1 tbsp freshly chopped rosemary (if you only have dried rosemary, then use about a teaspoon)
1½ cups beef stock
8 sheets filo pastry
Oil spray

Method:

• Heat oil in a large frying pan and add onion, garlic, mushrooms and celery with a pinch of salt. Cook for 6 – 8 minutes until softened. Remove from pan and set aside
• Spray pan lightly with oil and add the minced beef. Cook on medium-high until meat is browned. Return vegetables to the pan, add flour and mix through until well combined
• Stir in tinned tomatoes, rosemary and stock. Bring to the boil and reduce heat to simmer gently for 5 minutes. Remove pan from the heat and allow to cool completely. These steps can be done hours or even days before you want to make the pies
• Preheat oven to 200°C or 180°C fan-forced. Spray 5 (1½ cup capacity) ramekins with oil
• Cut a filo pastry sheet into quarters and line the first ramekin, spraying lightly with oil between each layer. Repeat with the rest of the ramekins
• Divide the beef mixture between the ramekins and fold over any filo from the sides. Spray remaining filo sheets with oil and scrunch into a loose ball. Place one on top of each pie and press down lightly to ensure it’s secure
• Bake in the oven for 20 – 25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to rest for a couple of minutes before serving with salad or vegetables and your favourite sauce

Recipe from Kidspot.

5. The Ultimate Quinoa Pizza Crust

Image credit: Simply Quinoa

Ingredients:
For the crust:
3/4 cup quinoa covered by 1″ of water and soaked for 6 – 8 hours (or overnight)
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil

Optional toppings:
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1 cup shredded goat cheese
Fresh herbs
Red pepper flakes

Method:

• Soak the quinoa in water, covering it by at least 1″, for 6 – 8 hours
• Once you’re ready to make the crust, preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a 9″ cake pan with parchment paper and drizzle one tablespoon of oil in the centre. Spread around with your hands until evenly coated and set pan aside
• Thoroughly rinse quinoa, then add to a blender. Add the 1/4 cup of water, baking powder, salt and remaining olive oil, and blend on high until smooth and creamy. This should resemble a thick pancake batter
• Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes. Remove, flip and return to oven baking for another 10 – 15 minutes until browned and edges are crispy
• Top with sauce, cheese and any other toppings you’d like and bake for 12 – 15 minutes until cheese has melted and started to brown
• Remove, let cool for a few minutes in the pan, transfer cutting board and slice
• Garnish with herbs, pepper flakes, grated cheese, etc., and serve immediately!

Recipe from Simply Quinoa

6. Healthy Grilled Cheese Wafflewich

Image credit: Super Healthy Kids

Ingredients:
2 slices whole-wheat bread
1 slice munster cheese
3 – 4 leaves of baby spinach

Method:

• Make the sandwich by placing cheese and spinach on bread
• Place sandwich on a hot waffle iron and squeeze to close
• Cook for 2 – 3 minutes, or until sandwich is toasty

Recipe from Super Healthy Kids.

7. Oven-Baked Falafels

Image credit: Kiddielicious Kitchen

Ingredients:
1 can of chickpeas (net weight ca 440 g/ 15 oz)
3 cooked and peeled potatoes
1/2 onion cut into chunks
1 garlic clove
1 handful of coriander
2 eggs
1/2 dl/ 0.2 cups breadcrumbs
1/2 dl/ 0.2 cups sesame seeds + some extra on top
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
pinch of salt and pepper

Sauce:
1 dl/ 0.4 cups yoghurt
1 tbsp tahini
2 tbsp squeezed orange juice
pinch of salt and pepper

Add-ons for a dinner:
Whole wheat pita bread
Salad and chopped tomatoes

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 225 Celcius/ 440 Fahrenheit degrees.
• Rinse the chickpeas in a sieve
• Place the chickpeas and cooked potatoes in a food processor and blend until you have a smooth mash (my food processor is quite small, so I had to make this in two sets). Empty the mash into a bowl
• Next, place the onion chunks, garlic and coriander into the food processor and chop them small (you can naturally chop them as well with a knife, but it saves time and tears to do it with the food processor). Add the chopped onion, garlic and coriander in the bowl
• Add the rest of the ingredients (eggs, breadcrumbs, sesame seeds, oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper) in the bowl and mix everything well together with a spoon
• Let the mash swell for 10 minutes
• Moisten your hands and form either small balls or patties. Place them on a baking sheet that is lined with parchment paper. Garnish with some sesame seeds if you like
• Bake the falafels in the oven for 15 minutes or until the surface is crisp and golden
• Mix all the sauce ingredients together
• If you like to have the falafels as a family dinner, serve them inside a pita bread together with some salad, chopped tomatoes and the sauce

Recipe from Kiddielicious Kitchen (www.kiddieliciouskitchen.com/quick-and-easy-falafels).

8. Chocolate Chia Pudding

Image credit: My Kids Lick The Bowl

Ingredients:
1 cup milk or milk alternative
1 tbsp peanut butter
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 banana (120g)
1 tbsp cocoa
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
3 tbsp chia seeds

Method:

• Place all ingredients into a blender
• Blend until smooth
• Pour into 2 bowls or jars
• Refrigerate overnight or for a minimum of 4 hrs, the mix will have a pudding-like texture

Notes:

• The maple syrup can be substituted for honey if desired, it can also be reduced or removed altogether if you prefer a less sweet pudding
• Any milk or milk alternative can be used in this recipe
• It’s also lovely with almond butter
• Double or triple the batch and store in a large bowl in the refrigerator and just take out scoops when you need it
• These puddings will store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days

Recipe from My Kids Lick The Bowl.

9. Chicken & Avocado Toast

Image credit: BBC Good Food

Ingredients:
1 avocado
juice 1/2 lime
2-3 small slices ciabatta bread
100g chicken slices

Method:

• Halve and stone the avocado then scrape out the flesh into a bowl
• Squeeze in the lime, season, then mash roughly with a fork
• Toast the ciabatta, spread with mashed avocado, top with chicken and finish with ground black pepper

Recipe from BBC Good Food.

10. Paleo Coconut Salmon Bites

Image credit: Wicked Spatula

Ingredients:
1 lb Scottish salmon cut into bite-sized pieces
1 egg
1 tablespoon tapioca flour
1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
2 tablespoons coconut flour
Pinch sea salt
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 cup coconut oil
Sweet chilli sauce for serving (optional)

Method:

• Gather two separate small bowls. In one whisk the egg and the tapioca starch together. In the other combine the coconut, coconut flour, salt and paprika
• Cut the salmon into bite-size pieces and remove the skin
• In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the coconut oil
• Dip the salmon into the egg wash, let the excess fall off then dredge through the coconut mixture
• In batches, so the pan isn’t too crowded, fry the bites for 1-3 minutes per side or until they are semi-firm and cooked between medium rare-medium
• If the pan runs out of oil simply add 1 or 2 more tablespoons before the next batch
• Transfer to a paper towel lined plate to drain excess oil
• Serve with sweet chilli sauce

Recipe from Wicked Spatula.

Compiled by Dinah Shabab.

* * * * *

Stay in touch! Subscribe to our Telegram here for all our latest updates.

Like what you see here? Get parenting tips and stories straight to your inbox! Join our mailing list here.