SPECIAL OFFER: - Limited Time Only!
(The ad below will not display on your printed page)

2 FULL YEARS of Parents® Magazine plus a FREE GIFT! Order NOW to take advantage of this great offer! Get 2 full years (24 issues) for just $7.99! Plus you get our new Ultimate Birthday Party Planner ABSOLUTELY FREE! HURRY this offer won't last! (U.S. orders only)

Email:

First Name:

Last Name:

Address:

City:

State:

Zip:

100% Money-Back Guarantee: You must be pleased, or you may cancel any time during the life of your subscription and receive a refund on any unserved issues – no questions asked. Parents® Magazine is currently published 12 times annually – subject to change without notice. Double issues may be published, which count as 2 issues. Applicable sales tax will be added. E-mail address required to access your account and member benefits online. We will not share your e-mail address with anyone. Click here to view our privacy policy.

« Back | Print Print

Print All Slides

Healthy Pasta Dishes Kids Will Love

Kids love pasta, so pile on the healthy toppings. Our five recipes show you how.

When you're deciding what to make for dinner and checking off prerequisites in your head-Is it fast? Is it healthy? Will the kids eat it?-pasta is a surprisingly good pick. "Unlike the simple carbs in sweets, pasta's complex carbs provide steady energy so kids aren't hungry an hour after dinner," says Stacey Finch, R.D., a nutritionist at Arkansas Children's Hospital, in Little Rock. Plus, noodles are full of fiber and folic acid. You'll want to offer a variety of sauces and toppings too. Even kids who love their mac with cheese will usually try healthier options. So to the same old pasta dishes, say, "Ciao, baby!"

Shrimp Nests

Standout Nutrient: Omega-3s

These fatty acids are healthy for a kid's brain, eyes, and heart. And shrimp is a low-mercury choice.

Shrimp Nests

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 5 mins

Parents.com