Healthy, Colorful Foods For Kids
Getting kids to eat healthy foods isn't always easy. But as any food marketer knows, kids are drawn to foods with bright colors. While most rainbow-hued foods for kids are terrible for them, you can use their love of vivid colors to your advantage when you make healthy snacks. By playing up color and emphasizing fun flavors, you might just be able to coax your picky eater into gobbling up some super healthy snacks. We present our favorite healthy, vivid, and kid-friendly recipes that will have them eating the rainbow!
— brooklynsupper, Babble
Pink: Blood Orange Creamsicles
Creamy and tangy, these homemade creamsicles are made with fresh-squeezed blood orange juice. With all the vitamin C, folate, and thiamin you'd expect from an orange, blood oranges also contain anthocyanin, an antioxidant which can help to lower LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, and can also protect against cancer and
heart disease.
Make blood orange creamsicles.
Fuchsia: Beet Tzatziki
A single beet can deliver up to 22 percent of the RDA for folate, as well as lots of fiber, vitamins (including C), minerals, and antioxidants. This fuchsia tzatziki is a fun and colorful way to encourage kids to eat their veggies!
Red: Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, Image: Kathy Patalsky
Red peppers are brimming with nutrients like vitamin C, thiamine, vitamin B6, beta-carotene, and folic acid. These tasty veggies can even be a powerful ally in fighting cancer and aging. In this recipe, red peppers are roasted to smoky perfection and blended into a delicious, healthy hummus for a protein-rich, kid-friendly dip.
Make roasted red pepper hummus.
Dark Orange: Carrot and Parsley Salad
Recent studies have shown that dark orange and yellow vegetables can provide powerful protection against cardiovascular disease and cancer. Besides heaps of vitamins A and K, carrots are also packed with the antioxidants beta-carotene and polyacetylene. This vibrant and healthy salad combines the nutritional power of raw carrots with another superfood — parsley.
Make carrot and parsley salad.
Orange: Orange Juice Frosty, Image: Kathy Patalsky
Not only are oranges loaded with vitamins C, A, and folate, but they can also leave healthy eaters feeling more satisfied. This vivid and delicious frosty is a big glass of vitamin-packed sunshine — perfect for a rainy day pick-me-up!
Click here for more Healthy, Colorful Recipes for Kids.
More From Babble:
• 10 tricks to get picky eaters to eat their vegetables
• 16 new takes on your kids' favorite recipes
• 12 healthy snacks that hold the sugar but keep it sweet
• 8 ways to make your children adventurous eaters
• The 50 Best Recipes for Kids: Picky eater dishes, allergen-free meals, and more