You might notice that my kids eat a good amount of pasta. I blame my Italian heritage mostly, but to be honest, it is just an easy win for me and my kids. They love it, it is nutritious, and it is easy for me to pull together fast (especially if I meal prep over the weekend).
We usually stick with regular pasta or red lentil pasta, but there are plenty of options, including whole wheat, chickpea, brown rice, quinoa, and even black bean pasta. With so many varieties, it is hard to not find one that your family likes and is approved by all parties.
And of course aside from the actual pasta itself, there are endless ways to make pasta interesting but today I wanted to share my 5 go-to recipes. These are the ones most often made in our home and I hope that you’ll bring them into yours.
Oh and just a note that these recipes are not just for kids – they are enjoyed immensely by adults, too. Haha!
1. Vegan Mac & Cheese
If your kiddo likes boxed mac and cheese, this is a healthier alternative to serve and is so delicious. You can find the recipe here. For a nut-free version, you can use white beans instead of cashews.
2. Pesto Pasta (AKA Green Dino Pasta)
We eat a whole lot of pesto in this house year-round because I will make tons and tons from our basil plant in the summer and then freeze into cubes for winter. I mostly use this recipe but you can switch things up – experiment with different nuts and throw in some kale or spinach for an extra boost of nutrients.
3. Pasta e Fagioli
Pasta e fagioli is a great dish packed with iron. It’s so easy to prep on the weekend and have throughout the week. An alternative to this is pasta e ceci (chickpeas!)
4. Lentil Bolognese
Lentil bolognese is another way to pack in the iron and protein. To make it easily, just sauté an onion with some garlic and cooked lentils – add jarred sauce or a can of crushed tomatoes, season, and you are good to go!
If your child doesn’t like the texture of lentils, you can purée the sauce and it is just as tasty and nutritious.
5. Roasted Veggie Pasta
If you want to pack in some vegetables and make sauce extra flavorful, roast whatever veggies you have on hand and then blend with a jarred sauce or crushed tomatoes.
I hope that at least one of these are new to you and will become a hit in your home. Let me know which is your/your child’s favorite. x
