Dinner Makeovers for Picky Eaters
Dinner Now
Chicken Nuggets, Rice, and Corn
Calories: 575
Saturated fat: 6g
Sodium: 606mg
1 of 9
Dinner Next Week: A Little Better
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.
2 of 9
Dinner in 2 Weeks: Really Healthy
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.
3 of 9
Dinner Now
Crispy Beef and Cheese Tacos
Calories: 533
Saturated fat: 12g
Sodium: 1,005mg
4 of 9
Dinner Next Week: A Little Better
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.
5 of 9
Dinner in 2 Weeks: Really Healthy
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.
6 of 9
Dinner Now
Mac 'n' Cheese
Calories: 350
Saturated fat: 7g
Sodium 920mg
7 of 9
Dinner Next Week: A Little Better
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.
8 of 9
Dinner in 2 Weeks: Really Healthy
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.