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Greens can be a tough sell for a lot of little ones, but there are some tricks to increasing the odds that the green foods you make them will actually be eaten. I’m excited to share my 15 favorite ways to make greens for kids!
Greens for Kids
Getting our kids to eat their greens is like the holy grail of modern motherhood. And while I 100% do not think that our kids need to be eating a steady stream of kale to be healthy, it can be fun to find ways to offer them greens that they like.
I try not to make a big deal out of any one nutrient, and I recommend that you do the same, and instead simply make these delicious recipes with greens as part of your regular meals.
Serve them without any fanfare, except knowing that they’re all delish, and let the kids explore and taste on their own. Here are some recipes to try.
1. Spinach Pesto Pizza
When blended with cheese, sunflower seeds, and lemon juice, spinach turns into a perfect topping for pizzas or pasta—and is also packed with nutrients that you want your kiddo to eat with glee. This is a staple in our house—we make extra each summer and freeze it to use throughout the rest of the year.
Try this healthy pesto with your favorite pasta or in place of pizza sauce on pizza!
2. Spinach Banana Muffins
Sweet Green Spinach Muffin with Banana are a super healthy and yummy toddler or big kid breakfast or snack. Each bite is packed with nutrients from greens and fruit and the interior is so moist that even babies can enjoy these easy blender muffins!
These store well, so you can make them ahead of time and pull them out of the fridge to serve. (Post updated October 2019)
3. Spinach Banana Pancakes
These sweet Banana Spinach Pancakes are a Sunday favorite when you’re looking to boost nutrition in a favorite breakfast option. Or to have a little fun at the breakfast table by serving up a colorful meal!
This is a thin batter that makes tender pancakes. Be sure to let them cook until the surface is almost entirely firm before you flip them over.
4. Simple Green Smoothie
Start the day with a Simple Green Smoothie that’s designed to taste good and be easy to make—so it’s not too thick, includes accessible ingredients, and is sweet enough to help kids enjoy every sip.
Frozen bananas give the smoothie a creamy, naturally sweet base, though you can make this with a fresh banana as long as the other fruit is frozen. It’s easy to add whatever berries or fruit you have on hand, so customize it for your kiddo.
5. Cheesy Greens
Quick, easy, and super cheesy, this is a simple way to serve greens to toddlers. You may be surprised but this is often a big hit with one year olds!
Use baby spinach, regular spinach, baby kale, or lacinato (sometimes called dinosaur) kale for best results and easy chewing.
6. Spinach Pesto Pasta
This whole dinner comes together in about 20 minutes and has veggies and protein already in the mix so you don’t even need to serve anything with it!
Try this healthy pesto with your favorite pasta or in place of pizza sauce on pizza!
7. Kale Pesto Pizza Rolls
These Homemade Pizza Rolls with Pesto are one of my favorite family recipes to keep on hand in the fridge or freezer for quick dinners, especially on nights when the kids have activities. They have a veggie right in the mix and the cheese and pizza flavor make the whole package a bit hit with the kids!
You can use store-bought pesto if desired in place of the homemade version below.
8. Kale Pesto
This packs a nutrition punch and is delicious on pasta and pizza.
Try this healthy pesto with your favorite pasta or in place of pizza sauce on pizza! It’s a kid-friendly way to serve up kale and you don’t have to worry about it turning brown if you store it.
9. Blueberry Frozen Yogurt Pops (with Spinach)
Pack your next batch of freezer pops with fruits and veggies with these super simple—and so sweet!—Blueberry Greek Frozen Yogurt Popsicle Recipe with spinach!
If you have a high powered blender you can add up to a cup of spinach. If you’re relying on a food processor you may want to reduce it to ½ cup. Start with the lower amount and add more as you like.
10. Cheesy Kale Bites
If it’s a challenge for you to serve greens that your child will actually eat, you’re going to love today’s recipe for Cheesy Baked Kale Bites. They’re packed with nutrition and are delicious when reheated so they are great to make ahead.
You can use curly kale or flat kale in this recipe—both work well.
11. Mexican Egg Muffins with Spinach
These Mexican Egg Muffins with Spinach are one of the ways that we like to turn eggs into a quick and easy meal that is easy for even the littlest eaters to eat.
Egg muffins will stick to a muffin tin unless you grease it well with nonstick spray. So try not to skimp on that step!
12. Simple Chocolate Smoothie
It can be hard for some kids to learn to enjoy smoothies, so meeting them where they are with a simple Chocolate Smoothie can help introduce the food group in a way that’s not too alarming. And this version even has hidden veggies inside!
Be sure to blend this super smooth for the best texture. Use any or none of the optional ingredients. See the Notes for how to make this with regular milk.
13. Green Smoothie Freezer Pops
If you have a toddler who’s not a fan of smoothies, or you just want a new way to serve up a green smoothie, try these freezer pops!
If you want to make more pops, simply double the recipe! If you have a toddler who’s super sensitive to textures, use mango instead of kiwi for extra creamy results.
14. Spinach Grilled Cheese
We’ve made this in the summer when we have extra kale from the garden and a concentrated scoop is great for adding to smoothies, eggs, or even pasta.
You can also do this with full size spinach if that’s what you’re able to find. Just discard any stems before starting the recipe.
15. Spinach Quesadillas
These are one of my favorite ways to power up a classic kid food. The simple spinach-cheese spread comes together in a food processor and is super delish—and it makes the spinach easy to chew for the little ones. (My husband loves these too, which is always high praise!)
You can also do this with full size spinach if that’s what you’re able to find. Just discard any stems before starting the recipe.
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I’d love to hear your feedback below in the comments, so please chime in!
This post was first published April 2019.
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