01 Nov Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes for Kids

The holiday season has arrived and that means Thanksgiving is right around the corner! Undoubtedly, the end of November brings about the most celebrated American dinner of the year. But food, family and friends is not always a recipe for health—especially when the food lacks nutrition and families overindulge. Add a dash of winter lethargy to the mix and the recipe spells disaster.

Help your kid avoid some of the harmful effects of Thanksgiving overeating by adding these healthy, kid-friendly recipes to your table.

Crunchy Chickpeas

This snack is packed with protein and has a satisfying crunch kids will love!

How to:

• Take one can of garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drain and pat dry with a paper towel.
• Toss ‘em with a drizzle of olive oil and some salt.
• Meanwhile, spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Spread the chickpeas on the pan and bake for about 30 minutes.
• Stir every 10 minutes to make sure they cook evenly and don’t burn.

Don’t worry if the chickpeas are still soft when they come out of the oven, they’ll get crunchy upon cooling. Serve them with some dried fruits and nuts to add variety and spice up the recipe.

Kids can join in on the fun by helping spread the chickpeas on the pan and putting them into containers once they’re cooled.

Turkey Nuggets

This recipe is a great way to use leftover turkey after Thanksgiving! Plus, kids will love these bite-sized treats.

How to:

• Take slices of turkey and cut out small medallions using a cookie cutter.
• Mix one tablespoon of milk and two tablespoons of honey in a bowl.
• Fill another bowl with panko bread crumbs.
• Dip the medallions in the honey mixture, then the crumbs, and finally set them on the pan.
• Broil on low for a few minutes on each side until slightly golden.
• Serve with honey mustard sauce.

Get the kids involved by letting them cut out the turkey rounds and dip them in the bowls.

Apple Stuffing Muffins

These muffins are a tasty twist on traditional stuffing recipes that give kids a fun finger-food side dish to go along with their turkey!

How to:

• Cut 4 slices of whole wheat bread and 4 slices of oatmeal bread into cubes.
• Arrange cubes on a baking sheet.
• Drizzle lightly with olive oil and broil on low or for about one minute on each side.
• Meanwhile, saute 1/3 cup of finely-diced onion.
• Add 1 cup of diced apple, 1/2 teaspoon of minced sage and a dash of cinnamon to the saute pan.
• Combine the apple mixture, the bread cubes, 1/2 teaspoon of fresh thyme, 1/4 cup of apple juice, and 1 and 1/4 cup of chicken broth.
• Spray a muffin tin with olive oil and press mixture into tins.
• Drizzle lightly with maple syrup.
• Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 30 minutes.

Kids can help by stirring the ingredients and filling up the muffin tins!

Sweet Potato Chips

These chips are a yummy way to get your kids to eat sweet potatoes! And they’re a great alternative to potato-based snacks.

How to:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees and position the rack in the center of the oven.
• Rinse, dry and slice sweet potatoes. Slices should be uniform and thin to get the correct “chip” texture.
• Toss slices in olive oil and salt.
• Place chips in a single layer on the baking sheet.
• Bake for approximately two hours, turning chips once halfway though.
• Take them out when they’re crisp and golden brown.
• Let them rest for approximately 10 minutes and serve immediately.

Tossing the sweet potato slices and placing them on the baking sheet are great kid-friendly activities to get the whole family involved.

Pumpkin Chia Seed Pudding Cups

This snack is packed with nutrition, protein and probiotics! Its also festive and served in fun, kid-sized portions.

How to:

• Mix together 12 ounces of greek yogurt, one cup of coconut milk, 1/4 cup of canned pumpkin puree, and 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of honey.
• Combine all ingredients.
• Add three tablespoons of chia seeds.
• Spoon mixture into ramekins or small mason jars
• Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour or until set

Get kids involved by letting them mix ingredients together and spoon it into cups.

Try out one or more of these recipes to add healthy, tasty alternatives to your family’s Thanksgiving, get your kids involved, and break through the overindulgence of the holidays!