Dinner Makeovers for Picky Eaters

By Text by Rebecca Felsenthal; Recipes by Colleen Weeden
April 15, 2009
Credit: Francis Janisch
Make tweaks to your kids' favorite foods until they evolve into dinners the whole family will eat. Ready to stop being a short-order cook? Dig in!
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Dinner Now

Credit: Francis Janisch

Chicken Nuggets, Rice, and Corn

Calories: 575

Saturated fat: 6g

Sodium: 606mg

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Dinner Next Week: A Little Better

Credit: Francis Janisch
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Baked Chicken with Rice

Calories: 520

Saturated fat: 1.5g

Sodium: 395mg

Tip: You can make both kinds of rice in the same pot; start the brown a few minutes before the white.

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Dinner in 2 Weeks: Really Healthy

Credit: Francis Janisch
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Grilled Chicken with Brown Rice

Calories: 364

Saturated fat: Sodium: 394mg

Tip: Rinsing the canned beans gets rid of up to 40 percent of their salt.

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Dinner Now

Credit: Francis Janisch

Crispy Beef and Cheese Tacos

Calories: 533

Saturated fat: 12g

Sodium: 1,005mg

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Dinner Next Week: A Little Better

Credit: Francis Janisch
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Soft Beef and Veggie Tacos

Calories: 481

Saturated fat: 9g

Sodium: 592mg

Tip: Tying the tacos makes them much easier for young kids to eat without spilling -- and helps conceal some of the veggies inside.

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Dinner in 2 Weeks: Really Healthy

Credit: Francis Janisch
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Beef & Bean Taco Salad

Calories: 347

Saturated fat: 5g

Sodium: 430mg

Tip: Ask your kid to tear up the lettuce for the salad. She's more likely to eat the dish if she helps make it.

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Dinner Now

Credit: Francis Janisch

Mac 'n' Cheese

Calories: 350

Saturated fat: 7g

Sodium 920mg

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Dinner Next Week: A Little Better

Credit: Francis Janisch
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Broccoli Mac 'n' Cheese

Calories: 315

Saturated fat: 6g

Sodium: 465mg

Tip: Cabot makes delicious 50 percent reduced-fat cheddar; you can find out where to buy it locally at cabotcheese.com.

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Dinner in 2 Weeks: Really Healthy

Credit: Francis Janisch
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Pasta Primavera

Calories: 313

Saturated fat: 3g

Sodium: 235mg

Tip: Evaporated milk has twice the calcium of the regular kind; sub it in other recipes.

Originally published in the May 2009 issue of Parents magazine.

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