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A Month of Kid-Friendly Recipes

A Month of Kid-Friendly Recipes

September 01, 2011

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1201 Chicken with Pepperoni-Marinara Sauce

Photo: Johnny Autry

Find a kid-friendly recipe everyday throughout the month of September.

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Cheesy Chicken Bagel Pizzas

Photo: John Autry

Bagel halves are a quick, kid-friendly stand-in for traditional pizza crust.

View Recipe: Cheesy Chicken Bagel Pizzas

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Chocolate-Granola Apple Wedges

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Chocolate-Granola Apple Wedges

If you can't find Braeburn apples, Gala or Fuji varieties also stand up to dipping and add a touch more sweetness.

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Tuna-Guacamole Tacos

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Tuna-Guacamole Tacos

Brighten up weeknight dinners with easy and flavorful Tuna-Guacamole Tacos. The guacamole is very creamy and tasty on its own--make extra.

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Broiled Pineapple Sundaes

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Broiled Pineapple Sundaes

This sundae also makes a great breakfast parfait—just substitute plain fat-free Greek yogurt for frozen.

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Chili-Cheese Mac

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Chili-Cheese Mac

Meaty, cheesy, and delicious—kids will love this comforting dinner. But, that's not all, parents will love it too.

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Chicken and Waffle Sandwiches

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Chicken and Waffle Sandwiches

Breakfast meets dinner in this play on the Southern favorite. What's not to love about a fun sandwich?

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Grilled Ham and Pineapple Pizza

Photo: Johnny Autry

Our resident Kid-in-the-Kitchen, Matisse, says, "Make sure you watch the pizza while it cooks so that you don't burn the crust."

View Recipe: Grilled Ham and Pineapple Pizza

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Banana-Chocolate French Toast

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Banana-Chocolate French Toast

For tough-to-please kids, try serving breakfast for dinner. Pair this dish with a mixed fruit cup to round out the meal.

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Chip-Crusted Fish Fillets

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Chip-Crusted Fish Fillets

The tang in the salt and vinegar chips mellows as the fish bakes in the oven, creating a crunchy spin on fish and chips. Look to hook-and-line-caught Atlantic or Pacific cod for the most sustainable choice.

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Spaghetti Squash with Tomato-Basil Sauce

Photo: Johnny Autry

Parents may need to help out a bit by cutting the hard squash in half, but kids can have fun scraping up strands of spaghetti-like pulp. You can serve this as a side dish, or add sausage or ground beef to the sauce to turn it into an entrée.

View Recipe: Spaghetti Squash with Tomato-Basil Sauce

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Sloppy Joe Sliders

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Sloppy Joe Sliders

An already kid-friendly classic just got kicked up a notch. Kids and adults alike will love these pint-sized sliders.

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Creamy Ranch-Style Dip

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Creamy Ranch-Style Dip

Serve this dip with baby carrots, broccoli florets, or other fresh vegetables.

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Roast Beef Sandwich + Fruit Kebabs + Peanuts

Photo: Randy Mayor

Deli sandwiches may be tasty, but they're often loaded with sodium. Keep your numbers in check by recreating the handheld staple at home. Look for deli meat brands with "lower sodium" or "no salt added" on the labeling, and go light on the cheese. Next, balance out your box by minimizing salt in other sides (try unsalted nuts). Fruit is a win-win ingredient no matter how you look at it—stack it on skewers for a fun, kid-friendly presentation.

Box Breakdown:

Sandwich: 2 oz. lower-sodium roast beef, lettuce, 2 slices tomato, 1/2-oz. slice white cheddar, 2 teaspoons light mayo on whole-grain bread
2 pineapple and strawberry fruit kebabs
1/2 oz. unsalted peanuts

Stats: 456 calories, 6g sat fat, 508mg sodium

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Chicken Cordon Bleu

Photo: Johnny Autry

Matisse, our resident Kid-in-the-Kitchen, says, "Don't forget to season the chicken before filling it."

View Recipe: Chicken Cordon Bleu

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Baked Egg-in-a-Hole

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Baked Egg-in-a-Hole

These bacon-and-egg toasts make for a fun breakfast or easy dinner. This kid-friendly recipe is sure to be a hit, any time of day.

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Bananas Foster Parfaits

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Bananas Foster Parfaits

Our Bananas Foster Parfaits are truly a treat for children of any age. Just be sure to make an extra one for yourself.

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Baked Mozzarella Bites

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Baked Mozzarella Bites

Serve this quick after-school snack to your kids as an alternative to traditional fried cheesesticks.

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Chicken Salad Pita + Apple + Chocolate Kisses

Photo: Randy Mayor

Here's a clever way to lighten the classic all-mayo chicken salad sandwich—By subbing half of the mayo for Greek yogurt, we were able to slash serious calories and saturated fat. Smoked almonds and dried cranberries guarantee plenty of flavor. An apple satisfies your crunchy cravings, and chocolate kisses are perfectly-portioned sweets.

Box Breakdown:

Creamy Chicken Salad Recipe (1/2 cup) with mixed greens in half a 6-inch whole-wheat pita
1 medium apple
4 milk chocolate kisses

Stats: 446 calories, 4.6g sat fat, 451mg sodium

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White Chocolate-Cherry Bark

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: White Chocolate-Cherry Bark

Pack a cherry-spiked piece in your child's bag (or you own) for a creamy-crunchy treat.

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Linguine with Easy Meat Sauce

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Linguine with Easy Meat Sauce

For picky eaters, try serving this meat sauce over whimsically shaped pasta, like bow ties, rotini, or wagon wheels.

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Club Wrap + Tomato-Mozz Skewer + Vanilla Wafers

Photo: Randy Mayor

Our healthier take on the classic club sandwich cuts fat, calories, and sodium, but doesn't sacrifice a bit on flavor. We go from stacked to rolled by trading traditional white bread for a whole-wheat wrap. Guacamole is a tasty stand-in that feels just as indulgent as mayo. Slice the wrap into medallions and skewer on toothpicks for less mess at lunchtime.

Box Breakdown:

Wrap: 1 oz. oven roasted turkey breast, 1/2 oz. low sodium ham, 1 slice crumbled center cut bacon, 1 tablespoon guacamole on half a whole wheat wrap (such as Flatout)
Tomato mozzarella skewer (cut one lower sodium part-skim mozzarella stick into fourths and skewer with cherry tomatoes alternately)
8 vanilla wafers

Stats: 439 calories, 6g sat fat, 795 mg sodium

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Ham and Swiss Egg Sandwiches

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Ham and Swiss Egg Sandwiches

This delicious handheld breakfast will get the kids going in the morning and out the door without delay. Warm and savory, it will truly start the day off right.

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Easy Peach Crisp

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Easy Peach Crisp

Choose peaches that are ripe but still slightly firm to the touch.

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Tomato-Basil Soup

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Tomato-Basil Soup

This creamy tomato soup is super-flavorful courtesy of fire-roasted diced tomatoes and our delicious blend of ingredients. Don't forget the cheesy French bread. Dunking is a must!

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Melty Monsieur

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Melty Monsieur

Serve fruit with this kid-friendly take on the classic croque monsieur.

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Chicken and Bean Burritos

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Chicken and Bean Burritos

Try also using this filling for tacos, quesadillas, or nachos. Adults can spike it with jalapeños.

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Couscous Salad + Hummus + Whole-Wheat Pita Chips + Grapes

Photo: Randy Mayor

Our Mediterranean-inspired couscous salad makes 6 servings, so you can easily prep it for quick, healthy lunches all week long. Portion each serving into wide-mouth canning jars ahead of time, so you can grab one on the way out the door in the morning. Satisfying sides such as hummus and pita chips and grapes pack in plenty of fiber to keep you full through the afternoon.

Box Breakdown:

Couscous Salad with Chickpeas and Tomatoes Recipe (3/4 cup serving)
2 tablespoons hummus
8 whole-wheat pita chips
1 cup fresh grapes

Stats: 430 calories, 2.2g sat fat, 715mg sodium

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Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs

We lightened up a kid-friendly favorite that will still please your pint-sized diners.

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Cinnamon Crisps with Blackberries and Yogurt

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Cinnamon Crisps with Blackberries and Yogurt

This recipe is just as tasty with fresh blueberries or strawberries. If you can't find wonton wrappers, egg roll wrappers work equally well--just cut them into 3 1/2-inch squares.

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Chicken with Pepperoni-Marinara Sauce

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Chicken with Pepperoni-Marinara Sauce

Saucy, cheesy, and oh-so-flavorful—this will soon become one of your family's new favorites.

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A Month of Kid-Friendly Recipes

1 of 30

Cheesy Chicken Bagel Pizzas

1 of 30

2 of 30

Chocolate-Granola Apple Wedges

2 of 30

3 of 30

Tuna-Guacamole Tacos

3 of 30

4 of 30

Broiled Pineapple Sundaes

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5 of 30

Chili-Cheese Mac

5 of 30

6 of 30

Chicken and Waffle Sandwiches

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7 of 30

Grilled Ham and Pineapple Pizza

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8 of 30

Banana-Chocolate French Toast

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Chip-Crusted Fish Fillets

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Spaghetti Squash with Tomato-Basil Sauce

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11 of 30

Sloppy Joe Sliders

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Creamy Ranch-Style Dip

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Roast Beef Sandwich + Fruit Kebabs + Peanuts

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Chicken Cordon Bleu

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Baked Egg-in-a-Hole

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Bananas Foster Parfaits

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Baked Mozzarella Bites

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Chicken Salad Pita + Apple + Chocolate Kisses

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White Chocolate-Cherry Bark

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Linguine with Easy Meat Sauce

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Club Wrap + Tomato-Mozz Skewer + Vanilla Wafers

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Ham and Swiss Egg Sandwiches

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Easy Peach Crisp

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Tomato-Basil Soup

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Melty Monsieur

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Chicken and Bean Burritos

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