Kid Friendly Recipes & Free Weekly Meal Plan Printable

Kid friendly recipes and a free weekly meal plan printable chart. Use this meal chart to get your kids to eat and try new recipes!

A few months ago, I started doing a weekly meal chart with Caleb because he was struggling with meal time and becoming a picky eater. I've mentioned the chart on our blog and several of you have asked for more info. So today, I am sharing a free weekly meal plan printable, how it works, and some kid friendly recipes.

How the Meal Chart Works

• Every Saturday morning, I print off the meal chart and sit down with Caleb to meal plan for the week. I ask him what he wants to eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for the entire week. I help give him ideas and direction, he can't have pizza every night:) I make sure the week is well balanced. For ideas, I pull up recipes from our blog, Pinterest, and get out our favorite cookbooks. Caleb picks the recipes that look good to him, with my help, and we put the recipes on the chart. Sometimes, I challenge him to pick a recipe that he thinks he won't like or that has a new vegetable.
• After we have the chart filled out, we go to the grocery store. Caleb comes with me most of the time so he can be involved in the process. He likes to help pick out the ingredients for the recipes on the chart.
• During the week, we follow the chart. Caleb is really good about making sure we don't miss a meal. He likes to stick to the chart. He never complains about what is for dinner because he is the one that picked it.
• We like to make our meals as a family. The boys love helping out and when they do, they are more excited about eating. We like to turn on the tunes and have a little dance party while we cook too:) Food is FUN!
• If Caleb eats what is on the chart for the day, he gets a sticker. If he eats all of the recipes on the chart for the entire week, he gets to pick a special treat.

This meal planning system has worked really well for Caleb and our family. Caleb is now a champ when it comes to eating and trying new foods. He has learned that he likes salmon, asparagus, zucchini noodles, green smoothies, lentils, and more! And if Caleb doesn't like something the first time, I wait a few weeks and have him try it again. Kids tastes change every day, so don't give up!

Maxwell is still learning and doesn't always eat what is on the chart, but he is two. We are getting there. He definitely eats a lot better when Caleb eats well because he wants to be just like his big brother:)

So what kind of recipes does Caleb put on the chart? Here are 10 of his favorite meals from our blog:

• Spaghetti and Meatballs
• Honey Lime Salmon Tacos
• Crispy Gnocchi with Basil Pesto
• Black Bean Quinoa Enchilada Bake
• Baked Chicken Taquitos
• One Pot Sausage Pasta
• Avocado Egg Salad
• One Pot Vegetarian Chili Mac and Cheese
• Chicken Pot Pie
• 4-Ingredient Ravioli Lasagna

Want more kid friendly recipes? Check out our Kid Friendly section in our Recipe Index. There are lots of kid friendly meals and snacks.These are recipes that our boys love and we hope your kiddos do too! I didn't include desserts in this category because I think just about every dessert on our site is kid friendly..ha!

And don't forget to Download the Free Weekly Meal Plan Printable so you can plan out your weekly meals!

I know every child is different, but this system has worked well for Caleb so I thought I would share it.

And some fun news, I am working on a HUGE meal planning project that will be launched this summer, so stay tuned. I can't wait to share it will all of you!!