3 min read

We all know how much kids love carbs and sweets, but try to get them to eat some protein and it’s a real struggle. 

yummy meal served on our bamboo divided plates

 While most (even the pickiest of eaters) would happily scoff down some processed chicken nuggets or hot dogs, they’d sooner eat sand than get stuck into some healthy unprocessed proteins. 

 But after battling my kids for wayyyyyyyyyy too long trying to get more protein on their plates, I finally found some amazing & simple recipes that actually get them excited. 

 I’ve found the trick is to keep pieces of meat small and thin so it’s easy to chew. Mixing or coating with carbs and serving with yummy sauces and dips works a treat too!

 Here are a few of my favourite recipes; you’ll only need a handful of ingredients for each and your little ones will gobble them up quick. 

 Chicken Skewers

According to my kids, everything tastes better on a stick, so these easy skewers are a firm favourite in our house. Plus this tasty recipe is super simple which makes it a hit with me too! 

 Start by cutting your chicken into equal size cubes, coating in an olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, paprika and cumin mix, and marinating them for 30 minutes. Then thread the chicken onto pre-soaked bamboo skewers before cooking over a grill or barbecue until the chicken is cooked through.

 Serve these up with a yummy tzatziki dip or satay sauce and your kids will eat them up faster than you can say winner, winner, chicken dinner! 

 For the full recipe from Kids Eat By Shanai go to click here.

 Meatballs 

If it’s the texture of meat that your mini-me’s don’t seem to be sold on, then this recipe is for you. Meatballs are perfect because they’re soft, moist and easy to chew. And what mom doesn’t love a 4-ingredient recipe? 

 Simply mix 1 pound of ground chicken, 1 egg, 3/4 cup of Italian breadcrumbs and 1/2 cup of shredded parmesan cheese. Roll into small balls with your hands and bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes.

 Serve these up with Napoletana sauce, pesto or a side of ketchup for an extra taste sensation.

 For the full recipe from Yummy Toddler Food click here.

 Healthy Chicken Nuggets

What kids don’t love chicken nuggets? But let’s be honest, they’re usually more obsessed with the type that comes in a packet, rather than the ones you’ve lovingly made from scratch at home. If this sounds too familiar, then here is a recipe with an easy little hack to knock their socks off!

 All you need to do is cut some chicken into small pieces and pound until thin (don’t skip this step, it makes so much difference for fussy eaters!). Then, beat together eggs in a bowl, and in another bowl mix breadcrumbs (or flour) with salt. Dip chicken in egg and then coat with breadcrumbs or flour. Finally, heat some butter in a skillet before cooking the chicken till it’s golden brown on each side. 

 For the full recipe from Your Kids Table click here.

 One Last Tip To Make Eating Protein More Fun 

With these winning recipes, we almost guarantee your kids will be eating a more protein-rich diet before you know it. But if you want to boost these odds even further, you can’t go past bento-style divided plates; they’re a fun way to serve up new flavours and textures, keeping different foods separate in their own compartments. You can check out our much-loved bamboo divided plates here.