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35+ Quinoa Recipes for Kids
- August 13, 2020
- 0 Comments
- Recipes
Quinoa recipes for kids don’t need to be intimidating or yucky. These kid-friendly quinoa recipes are perfect for even the pickiest of eaters, with additional options for quinoa for babies, too!
Trying to find quinoa kid friendly recipes can be intimidating.
In fact, trying to feed kids any kind of healthy food can be difficult at times. Different textures and colors truly take things to a whole new level.
And toddlers, especially, are known for loving foods one day and despising them the next, which is why quinoa recipes for kids often get thrown to the wayside.
And while quinoa recipes kid friendly versions are easy enough to find, quinoa isn’t the cleanest grain around. It’s messy, which is expected when serving quinoa recipes for baby, but otherwise, it’s just a pain to clean up.
Table of Contents
Is Quinoa Good for Toddlers?
Quinoa isn’t just good for toddlers, it’s great for all ages, which is why these quinoa recipes for toddlers should be on your table!
Quinoa is packed with protein and is a great source of fiber, Vitamins A, C and E, and minerals, like magnesium, potassium, iron and calcium.
Plus, if we’re making a healthy quinoa dish for ourselves, why not also make it a kid friendly quinoa recipe. The point is for all of us to enjoy food together, and that’s one of my tips for intuitive eating for kids.
Recipes that the whole family will enjoy is a real win. Making two (or three) different dinners just isn’t fun or practical, and there’s really no reason to be intimidated with grain recipes for kids.
These kid friendly quinoa recipes are both palatable and practical. Since many of these baby quinoa recipes are solid and easy to hold, it’s MUCH easier for kids who haven’t mastered the hand-eye coordination to eat and enjoy with a fork just yet.
If you want other finger foods for toddlers, check out some of these ideas.
Let’s be honest, we all know quinoa can be messy!
Quinoa Pizza Bites are a fun quinoa recipe for toddlers with pizza flavor!
Quinoa is a pantry staple that we always have on hand. We order it in bulk from Thrive Market, and it’s one of my favorite ingredients for easy vegan meals.
I hope through this list you can find some new recipes that sound appetizing and appealing, even perhaps for your picky eaters at home.
Tips For Cooking Quinoa For Kids
When considering quinoa recipes for toddlers, I have a few tips to help them ease into the idea.
- Try Colored Quinoa: Kids make choices based on how a food looks. Sometimes a more colorful food is more appealing. Try a colored quinoa variety!
- Beware of Cooked vs Dry Quinoa: Pay attention to whether or not your recipe calls for pre-cooked quinoa or simply dry quinoa. You don’t want to cook it beforehand if it isn’t required in a recipe. If you do this, it can cause your quinoa to get mushy.
- Cook With A Different Liquid – Quinoa is pretty bland on its own and really takes on whatever flavors it is mixed with. If you’re wondering what to add to quinoa to make it tasty, try milk, coconut milk, chicken broth, bone broth or another flavored and nutritious liquid instead of water.
- Incorporate some fun add in’s! My go-to is often a quinoa salad that’s kid friendly, filled with fruits and veggies they know and like. Some favorite quinoa add in’s include:
- spices like mint, cilantro, basil
- fruits, like berries, cantaloupe, kiwi or orange (tropical fruits do very well)
- sauces, like tomato sauce, mashed avocado, tahini, hummus
- fun add in’s – chocolate chips, mashed banana and peanut butter for a sweet quinoa recipe, similar to my quinoa breakfast bowl recipe
Texture is a big thing for kids so if it isn’t the right texture, the odds of these quinoa recipes for picky eaters succeeding are far lower.
If a recipe does call for cooked quinoa, here are my favorite quinoa cooking tips:
- Before cooking, you want to make sure you rinse it.
- Heat some oil up in a pan on medium heat and toast your quinoa for a little over 2 minutes. Make sure it gets a little toasty and that all the water from rinsing it is gone.
- Stir in 1 3/4 cups water to 1 cup of quinoa and bring the water to a boil. Cover, turn your stove to low, and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Remove the quinoa from heat and let it stand for 5 minutes. Don’t take the lid off your pot.
- Fluff with a fork once it’s done. This is how I do it for my lemon herb cheesy quinoa and it turns out perfectly each time.
Can Babies Have Quinoa?
Yes, quinoa is good for babies, too! When making quinoa for baby, I like to serve it preloaded on a spoon with mashed avocado or hummus, or I’ll offer it through one of the handheld recipes below.
I also like to throw it in some of my favorite baby friendly recipes, like baby led weaning meatballs and even baby french toast.
It sounds crazy but it doesn’t change the flavor at all and is adding extra nutrients and a new food for babies.
What Can You Do if Your Kids Are Picky?
While many of these quinoa recipes for picky eaters should be pleasing for kids, toddlers and kids have their own preferences! Sometimes when we make certain foods and our kids don’t like it the first time, we want to just give up. But don’t give up!
Try pairing a new food, like quinoa, with foods you know your kids already like (here are plenty of toddler snack ideas if you need them). Here are some ideas for toddler food ideas and freezable toddler meals that we utilize often.
For example, if your child loves blueberries, instead of just giving blueberries plain, try mixing them in with a new granola recipe or a quinoa salad.
After you see these easy kid friendly quinoa recipes, you’ll feel inspired to add them to your rotations for snacks, lunch, and dinner in the future.
We even have some quinoa breakfast recipes for kids in here, so all ideas are on the table.
Easy Quinoa Recipes for Toddlers
Quinoa Recipes for Kids
Healthy quinoa recipes for kids of all ages! Even quinoa recipes for toddlers that will be gobbled up without any complaints.
These Tomato and Basil Quinoa Balls are perfect for little hands and something the whole family can enjoy!
These quinoa pizza bites are the perfect size for little toddler hands and also perfect for a snack for older kids. The filling is made with greens, tomatoes, breadcrumbs, and cheese which makes them taste like a pizza popper!
These Broccoli Cheddar Quinoa Bars are toddler tested! They are filled with lots of broccoli and yummy cheese so you get veggies and protein all in one.
These Gluten Free Fish Sticks use a breading with almond flour and quinoa to make a healthy baked fish stick for kids, served with a delicious honey yogurt dipping sauce.
Chicken nuggets crusted with quinoa, a fun alternative to a kids classic that is totally perfect as a kid-friendly quinoa recipe!
These cheesy quinoa bites are the ultimate kid friendly food! Easy to eat with fingers and full of delicious cheesy quinoa and veggies. Your kids will eat them up for an easy snack, side dish or even savory breakfast.
These easy, cheesy, healthy stuffed mushrooms are perfect for little hands and packed with flavor. These delicious quinoa stuffed mushrooms are crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
If you have been looking for a healthy portable snack, these baked quinoa and mushroom beef meatballs are really easy to make and packed with wholesome, nutritious ingredients. It's perfect for ages 6 months and older!
These scrumptious mini muffins wholesome and delicious, perfect for kids and adults are alike. Little ones will never guess there's quinoa in these and that they're loaded with nutrients! Thanks to quinoa, sweet potato, and oats you can feel great about serving these to your kiddos!
This chocolate granola with cherries and quinoa is perfect for topping on yogurt or just as a cereal and milk kind of breakfast or snack idea. Your kids will love how sweet and tasty this granola is on anything, trust me!
If you're a fan of Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies, then this granola is definitely for you! It only takes 45 minutes to make. Your kids will beg to put have this as a topping on their yogurt or with their morning cereal!
Photo Credit:
foodal.com
Protein-Packed Breakfast Quinoa with Blueberries will Brighten Up Your Morning Routine
Are you looking for healthier breakfast options that you kids will actually eat without a fuss? Try this protein-packed breakfast quinoa with blueberries. Quinoa is topped off with almonds, fruit, honey, and a dash of cinnamon to wake up the taste buds and is a dish that even picky eaters will enjoy. And bonus: it takes only 5 minutes to make!
If you're looking to enjoy quinoa for breakfast, this Pomegranate Quinoa Porridge is the perfect vegan option with absolutely no sugar added! Quinoa provides a great source of fiber and the pomegranate is great for added antioxidants.
This is a healthy, quick, delicious breakfast recipe for one, but can be easily doubled for a few more (or feed a few toddlers, easily)! These Cocoa Banana Cinnamon Quinoa Flakes are gluten-free, vegan, nut-free, and super protein-packed.
Photo Credit:
mediterraneanlatinloveaffair.com
Puffed Quinoa Breakfast - Mediterranean Latin Love Affair
These puffed quinoa breakfast jars are made with easy ingredients and are quick to throw together. All this recipe has for ingredients is quinoa pops, greek yogurt, and berries. If you're looking for a healthy breakfast that isn't cereal, these quinoa breakfast jars are high in protein and perfect for adults and kids!
Start your kid's morning with a delicious Quinoa Porridge! This recipe is full of fiber and is also gluten-free and has no dairy.
These Apple Quinoa Breakfast Muffins are so delicious, your kids won't know they're eating quinoa for breakfast. This easy make-ahead breakfast recipe is great for busy mornings or a quick snack.
This Quinoa Bread is perfect for making toast, which is the ultimate breakfast and snack food at our house. The best part is that it's filling and nutritious, great for kids!
This Mexican Quinoa Casserole Recipe is a one-pan dinner that is easy to make and perfect for busy weeknights! Ingredients include ground turkey, bell peppers, and pantry staples like canned black beans, corn, and tomatoes that make it easy to throw together in a pinch.
Kids will love this quinoa pizza casserole! It's the perfect healthy side dish or main dish. With all the flavors you love, plus topped with cheese (and your other favorite pizza toppings) everyone will love this! Gluten-free with a vegan option.
This delicious healthy cheesy broccoli quinoa bake tastes just like the classic broccoli and cheese casserole we all enjoy with rice. Your kids will keep coming back for more!
This delicious Mexican-inspired vegetarian southwest quinoa casserole is so healthy and colorful! It's perfect for kids of all ages!
Buffalo chicken quinoa bites are a tangy treat perfect for older kids that aren't too messy and enjoy a little zing. These are easy to make for your family!
Vegan quinoa tacos are tasty and simple to make. That’s why I love making them for my kids, it’s a healthy easy lunch for them any day of the week.
This delicious Quinoa Flatbread recipes is made with 2 simple ingredients and very customizable! You can top it off with whatever your kids like!
This hearty white bean soup is so delicious and easy to make in a rush. The quinoa makes it extra filling for kids who are always hungry for more!
You have to try this plant-based Mediterranean-style burger is so easy to make with common ingredients you have stocked in your kitchen cabinet already, and what kid can resist any kind of burger or sandwich? Yum!
This yummy dish is made with quinoa, chicken, and vegetables that are cooked in a creamy tomato sauce and topped with cheese. Your kids will be begging for more!
Thes Goat Cheese Stuffed Quinoa Nuggets are simple to make and very filling! They are perfect for dinner, and even great the next day. I recommend packing these in a lunch with some delicious dipping sauce.
This spinach and artichoke quinoa bake is the perfect way to sneak healthy veggies in without sacrificing flavor. Your kids will be asking for seconds!
This delicious Quinoa Fruit Salad is made with strawberries, mangos and grapes mixed with quinoa, mint, and a simple citrus dressing. Kids of all ages will love all the vibrant colors and fruit selection!
This Lime and Mango Quinoa Salad is perfect as a simple side dish for any family meal. It's a great healthy option for a cold summer salad.
This Quinoa Pudding, or Quinoa Kheer, is an Indian dessert that can be made in the Instant Pot and only has 4 ingredients!
These Chocolate Almond Protein Bites are a sneaky way to get your family to eat more quinoa. Our easy no-bake recipe is a perfect summer snack for kids!
This delectable orange, almond, and quinoa cake is gluten-free and dairy-free! Made with simple ingredients like cooked quinoa, almonds, and honey, Pura Liquid Coconut Oil, eggs, and orange. Who doesn't love a healthy dessert for kids?
These easy and delicious Oatmeal Quinoa Chocolate Chip Cookies are toddler friendly and mom-approved cookies! These yummy cookies are packed full of nutrition yet they satisfy that huge craving for a big soft chocolate chip cookie!
These no-bake peanut butter quinoa bars are so simple to make and perfect for little hands. You only need a few ingredients for this delicious snacky dessert!
I can’t wait to hear what dishes your kids liked! Don’t forget to share in the comments.
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