Teens can be fussy eaters, and coming up with new and exciting recipes every day is a daunting task. So, to help you out with it, we bring you this post on interesting dinner ideas for teens.
Teens generally crave spicy and tasty food for their meals. In addition, they have access to the Internet and television, which helps them broaden their taste palette. But how many new dishes can you invent every day? Do not fret.
Read on as we have compiled an interesting list of easy, quick, and family-friendly recipes that you can make for your children for dinner. Choose the ones you think will impress them the most.
Top 11 Healthy Dinner Ideas For Teens
Here are a few dinner ideas your teen will love helping you out with:
1. Oven fried chicken
You Will Need:
- 2 cups cut broileriA chicken that is less than 10 weeks old. -fryer chicken
- ½ cup of dry whole wheat bread crumbs
- 2tbsp salt
- 1tbsp paprika
- ¼tbsp pepper
- ¼ cup of butter or olive oil
How To:
- Mix the pepper, bread crumbs, salt, and paprika. Use a kitchen brush to brush the chicken pieces with butter or olive oil. Roll the chicken in the bread crumb mix.
- Place the chicken pieces in a greased baking pan. Bake the chicken at 425°F until it turns tender.
- Serve it with mint sauce or homemade tomato salsa to enhance its taste and enrich its nutritional value.
2. Pasta with no-cook tomato sauce
You Will Need:
- 6 coarsely chopped tomatoes
- 2 finely chopped garlic cloves
- A handful of fresh basil leaves
- 3tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- Sea Salt and Pepper Powder
- Oregano
- Whole wheat pasta or qunioa pasta
- Fresh red pepper flakes – optional
How To:
- Mix the tomatoes, basil, oil and garlic in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
- In the meanwhile, boil your chosen pasta as per the instructions on the package. Drain the pasta and add the tomato sauce.
- You can garnish with red pepper flakes and oregano before serving.
3. Beans and hot dog bake
You Will Need:
- 10 slices of hot dogs
- 15 ounces pork and beans in tomato sauce
- 15 ounces drained butter beans
- 15 ounces chili beans
- ½ cup of brown sugar
- ½ cup of chopped onion
- ¼ cup of chopped green bell pepper
- 2tbsp cider vinegar
- ¼tbsp oregano
How To:
- In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients. Add into a baking dish and bake for two hours at 350°F.
4. Cheese, tomato and herb omelet
You Will Need:
- 1 chopped tomato
- 3 eggs
- 2tbsp chopped fresh herbs of choice
- Mozzarella Cheese
- 1tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
How To:
- Mix the tomato and the eggs. Add the herbs, salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat and pour the egg mix.
- While cooking the omelet, make sure to flip it over to ensure that both sides are cooked evenly. Sprinkle some shredded cheese and fold it so that cheese can melt inside.
- Once you see the omelet is fluffed, it’s ready to serve, and you can garnish it with the remaining herbs.
5. Easy green salad
You Will Need:
- 1 head red lettuce
- 1 head green lettuce
- 2 chopped green onions
- 1 cup of grated carrots
- 2tbsp vinegar
- 3tbsp honey
- 1tbsp Dijon mustard
- ½tbsp celery salt
- ¼ cup of olive oil
How To:
- The first step of this quick vegetarian recipe is to mix the vegetables in a bowl.
- In another bowl, mix the remaining ingredients. Drizzle the dressing over the vegetables before serving.
6. Tortilla hotdogs
You Will Need:
- Hot dog
- Flour or corn tortillas
- Lettuce leaves or sliced spring onions
- Salsa
- Ketchup
- Mustard
How To:
- Heat the hot dogs and the tortillas. Place the hot dog in the tortillas and add some spring onions or lettuce leaves, salsa, ketchup, and mustard.
- Roll up the tortillas and serve hot.
7. Quesadilla
You Will Need:
- 2 finely chopped tomatoes
- ½ cup of finely chopped onion
- 3tbsp chopped cilantro
- 1 minced fresh hot green pepper
- 1 minced garlic clove
- Juice of half a lime
- Salt as per taste
- 8 flour tortillas
- 2 cups shredded Cheddar
- For serving – guacamole
How To:
- For the salsa – mix all the ingredients except tortilla, guacamole, and cheese. Keep them aside for an hour. Now, fill up the tortillas with the salsa.
- Preheat oven to 200°F.
- Heat a pan over medium heat. Place the tortilla and heat for about 30 seconds. Turn it over and add the cheese. Fold the tortilla and close it lightly.
- Cook the quesadilla until the cheese melts. Place it on a baking sheet and let it remain warm in the oven. Serve with guacamole.
8. Simple radish and arugula salad
You Will Need:
- 1 radish
- 2 sliced small bulbs of fennel
- 1 bunch of de-stemmed arugulaiA Mediterranean herb with yellow flowers.
- 2tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2tbsp lemon juice
- Salt and pepper as per taste
- Cottage cheese to serve
How To:
- Place the vegetables in a bowl. Add olive oil and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add some cottage cheese just before serving.
9. Tuna melt
You Will Need:
- 4 English muffins
- 1tbsp olive oil
- 1 chopped red bell pepper
- 4 thinly sliced scallionsiYoung onions with a slender shape and mild flavor.
- 2 finely chopped shallots
- 170g tuna
- 2tbsp ketchup
- 6tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 grated lemon zest
- 4 slices Cheddar
How To:
- Preheat a broiler rack and split the muffins.
- Heat oil in a pan and add the pepper, shallots, and scallions. Cook for about three minutes. Add tuna and stir. Cook for a minute. Remove from heat and keep it aside. Add the ketchup, mayonnaise, and lemon zest.
- Spread the remaining mayonnaise over the muffins and add the tuna mix and cheese slice. Cover with the other muffin halves. Grill until the cheese melts.
10. Ground turkey tacos
You Will Need:
- 4 small-sized tortillas
- 2 cups shredded romaine lettuce
- 200g lean ground turkey
- 125g black beans, rinsed and drained
- 125g homemade salsa
- 50g shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or chopped
- 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Olive oil
How To:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) for a minute.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Once the oil is warm, add the onions and minced garlic. Sauté until translucent.
- Add the turkey and cook until it turns slightly brown. Season with pepper and salt to taste.
- Spread a layer of the shredded romaine lettuce on each tortilla.
- Put cooked turkey filling onto the lettuce layer and sprinkle black beans evenly over the turkey.
- Add a spoonful of homemade salsa on top and layer it with diced tomatoes.
- Sprinkle shredded cheese over each taco and place them in the oven for a few minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve warm with a glass of smoothie to make a delectable and nutritious meal for children.
11. Meat tacos
You Will Need:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 chopped onion
- Salt
- 1 chopped garlic clove
- 1 chopped green pepper
- Minced meat of choice
- 1 cup hot vegetable stock
- 4 chopped tomatoes
- A handful of chopped cilantro
- 8 taco shells
- 75g shredded cheddar
How To:
- Preheat the oven.
- Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the onion and salt into the pan. Cook until the onion turns soft. Add garlic and pepper. Stir fry for a minute and then add the meat. Add the vegetable stock and cook until the meat turns tender.
- Now add the tomatoes and cilantro. Cook for five minutes.
- Spoon the mix into the taco shells and add cheese. Grill in the oven until the cheese melts.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What to avoid eating as a teenager?
During your teenage, here are some food items that you should avoid eating as they might harm your body (1):
- Fatty food
- Food containing a high amount of sugar
- Seafood such as Swordfish or marlin as they contain high amounts of mercury
2. How do I make my teen have a healthy meal?
Follow the below tips to ensure that your teen has a healthy and balanced diet (2):
- Eat three balanced and nutritious meals per day and include 5 food group categories- grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy, and proteins.
- Include ample amount of fiber in the diet
- Include calcium- and iron-rich foods for teens
- Bake or broil the dishes instead of frying them
- Watch their sugar intake
- Have limited amounts of red meat
- Increase the intake of fish and chicken
- Choose meats and poultry that are low in fat or lean.
3. Is it normal to always be hungry as a teenager?
Yes. Feeling hungry often and an increase in eating capacity is a common trait in teenagers as they go through growth spurts during these years, and to support adequate growth and development, they need extra nutrients (3).
4. Why do teenagers seem to have a great appetite?
UK-based nutritionist and health educator Varsha Khatri says, “Adolescence involves rapid growth, which leads to higher energy and nutrient demands in teenagers. During this time, shifting hormones may affect appetite levels and metabolic rate, causing increased cravings for food. It is important for teenagers to eat well-balanced meals and snacks throughout the day to support their growth, fuel their energy, and maintain overall good health.”
If your teen is a foodie and loves trying new dishes, these dinner ideas for teens will definitely make them happy. These meals are nutritious and filling and also easy to make. You can also experiment with different ingredients to make your own version of the recipes. If your teen has a sweet tooth, you can try some easy and tasty dessert recipes for teens that they will devour in no time. These desserts serve as a perfect end to an enjoyable dinner.
Infographic: Delicious Dinner Options for Teens
Teenagers are a hungry bunch of individuals. But you must ensure that they eat healthily and avoid poor eating habits. One of the best ways to do it is to let them explore tasty and nutritious recipes. In the infographic below, you’ll find a list of delicious food your teen can eat.
Key Pointers
- Teenagers typically enjoy spicy and flavorful dishes.
- Coming up with fresh and interesting dinner recipes for teens every day can be difficult.
- Some great dinner ideas for teenagers are oven-fried chicken, pasta, omelets, salads, quesadillas, and sushi.
Illustration: Top 11 Dinner Ideas For Teens
Fed up with monotonous dinner recipes? Look no further than this video, showcasing 26 speedy and delectable dinner ideas!
References
- Healthy Eating For Teenagers; Nidirect
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/healthy-eating-teenagers#toc-6 - Healthy Eating During Adolescence; Stanford Children’s Health
https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=healthy-eating-during-adolescence-90-P01610 - Healthy Eating Habits For Teenagers; Raising Children Network
https://raisingchildren.net.au/teens/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-eating-habits/healthy-eating-habits-teens
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Read full bio of Shivani Sikri
- Varsha Khatri is a registered nutritionist, a senior Yoga teacher, an Ayurveda consultant, and a health educator with over 12 years of experience. She holds a degree in Physiology and Health and a masters in Health Education and Nutrition. She is also qualified in Nutrigenomics.Varsha Khatri is a registered nutritionist, a senior Yoga teacher, an Ayurveda consultant, and a health educator with over 12 years of experience. She holds a degree in Physiology and Health and a masters in Health Education and Nutrition. She is also qualified in Nutrigenomics.
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