reading time – 6 min
Healthy savory recipe ideas for children
Getting your kids to eat vegetables — do you still believe it's possible? Sometimes it quickly turns into a battle of wills at the table… Between the grimaces at the sight of broccoli, the vegetables carefully pushed aside, and the "I don't waaaant it"… we've seen easier! A few weeks ago, we discovered the world of Margaux de Biolley, chef and nutritionist. So we thought we absolutely had to share her best ideas for incorporating vegetables into everyday life… without any fuss.
Under the guidance of a chef and nutritionist
Margaux de Biolley supports families who want to find a certain balance in their diet… without giving up on pleasure. Her method? Keep it simple but delicious. There's no question of turning mealtimes into a chore: on the contrary, she focuses on everyday recipes, healthy and accessible, reimagined to quietly slip in some vegetables. In her cookbooks, she shares a wealth of ideas for cooking easily at home, even with a busy schedule. Recipes designed for adults, but also (and especially) for children. You'll see, her ideas are as delicious as they are clever!
They're going to love green vegetables
The green omelette
Ingredients (for 2 people)
• 4 eggs • 100 g fresh spinach • 75 g fresh goat cheese • A few cherry tomatoes • Olive oil • Salt • Pepper
Preparation
Rinse the spinach and gently sauté it in a drizzle of olive oil. In a blender, mix it with the eggs until you get a nice green mixture, then season with salt and pepper. Quarter the cherry tomatoes. Cook the omelette in a pan with a drizzle of oil, crumble the fresh goat cheese over one half, add the tomatoes and a few spinach leaves. Fold and continue cooking for a few more minutes.
The egg is an ultra-complete food. It contains proteins (in the white) and good fats (in the yolk). Blending it with spinach is a great way to add vegetables without children noticing. Here, we're loading up on iron… to become as strong as Shrek.
Homemade chicken nuggets
Ingredients (for 4 people)
• 3 chicken breasts (± 750 g) • 60 g flour • 3 egg yolks • 150 g panko breadcrumbs • Dried herbs (Provence blend, parsley, basil, thyme…) • 250 g fromage blanc • 30 g fresh basil • 2 tsp olive oil • 1 tbsp agave syrup • Salt • Pepper
Preparation
Cut the chicken breasts into strips. Prepare three bowls: flour, egg yolks diluted in a little water, and panko breadcrumbs mixed with the herbs. Bread the chicken: flour → egg → panko. For the sauce, blend the fromage blanc, basil, agave syrup, and olive oil, then season with salt and pepper. Cook the nuggets in a hot pan with a drizzle of oil, watching closely as the breadcrumbs brown quickly. Forget fast-food nuggets and go for a homemade version, with good free-range or certified chicken. For the sauce, skip the ones loaded with additives and go for this fromage blanc-based recipe, an essential source of calcium for children.
Broccoli and parmesan waffles
Ingredients (for 8 waffles)
• 240 g broccoli • 120 ml water • 60 g flour • 1 packet dry yeast • 60 g parmesan • 2 eggs • 50 ml sunflower oil • Salt • Pepper
Preparation
Cut and clean the broccoli, then steam for 20 minutes and mash into a purée. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, yeast, and parmesan, then add the eggs, broccoli purée, and oil. Stir in the water to get a smooth batter, season with salt and pepper, and let it rest for 15 minutes. Cook the waffles in a well-heated waffle iron, then let them cool on a rack. A savory, veggie-packed snack!
A tasty way to replace biscuits. The waffles keep very well in a box for a few days.
Mushroom and zucchini meatloaf
Ingredients (for 4 people)
For the meatloaf:
• 650 g ground poultry • 80 g button mushrooms • 1/2 zucchini • 1/4 onion • 1 tbsp whole-grain mustard • Chives • Salt • Pepper
For the sauce:
• 1 tbsp whole-grain mustard • 200 ml light crème fraîche • Chives
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 200 °C. Finely slice the onion, mushrooms, and zucchini, then chop the chives. Mix everything with the ground poultry, add the mustard, season with salt and pepper. Shape into a meatloaf and bake for 45 to 50 minutes. For the sauce, mix the ingredients with a little cooking juice and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. An easy and ultra-indulgent recipe, packed with vegetables. Your kids won't suspect a thing!
For little foodies
A table napkin
It's often underestimated, and yet… the table napkin is a true ally at mealtimes. Easy to slip on, large and practical, it helps children become more independent while avoiding little accidents. Less stress for you, more freedom for them: everyone wins. It's the essential accessory for little foodies!
A chef's apron
As soon as they step into the kitchen, children love putting on their apron and feeling like they've been given a real mission. Mixing, cracking, pouring… they take their role very seriously. With a well-fitting apron, they can participate freely, without you having to worry about their clothes. And above all, they gain confidence: doing things "like the grown-ups" is often what motivates them the most.
An airtight container
Because there are often a few leftovers from these great recipes, make the most of them! The airtight container makes it easy to store preparations for a few days. Handy for planning ahead for the week's meals or throwing together a quick lunch.
Getting inspired in the kitchen with Margaux de Biolley
If these recipes have inspired you to spend more time in the kitchen, good news: this is just the beginning. In her cookbooks, Margaux de Biolley shares even more ideas for simplifying everyday meals and easily incorporating healthy ingredients into children's plates. You'll find accessible, quick recipes to prepare, and above all ones designed for the whole family, without having to cook two separate menus. What we particularly love? Her guilt-free and practical approach. No need to be a chef, or to have hours to spare: her recipes adapt to real life, with easy tips to put into practice every day.
Things your little ones say
« Mummy, for dessert, I'd like a fruit of the
goldfish. »
– Romane, 3 years old
« I love the brandade de Maurice? (brandade de
morue) »
– Romy, 5 years old
« Mummy I want to eat rocket salmon »
– Brune, 3 years old
AUTHOR
Hello, moi c’est Capucine ! J’espère que cet article vous a plu. Passionnée par la rédaction et spécialisée dans les contenus autour de la petite enfance, je fais partie de l’équipe éditoriale de Petit Picotin. Au fil du blog, j’explore les questions du quotidien des familles pour vous partager conseils, idées et inspirations, en m’appuyant sur des recherches, des sources spécialisées et l’expertise de notre équipe.
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