Healthy Ingredient Substitutions For Kids' Favorite Foods

Once my kids were born, I felt this overwhelming need to start reading all the labels on the food I’d feed to my children. Cooking all of a sudden became a bigger priority—before they came along, takeout was a regular occurrence in our household, but with children in the picture, I tried to incorporate wholesome ingredients into their meals whenever possible. It became a bigger deal when my kids started getting really picky about what they wanted to eat. I had to get a little crafty, transforming traditional recipes into super healthy and energy-boosting variations.

Making healthy subs in recipes that my kids approved of often only requires a few minor substitutions. My kids pick apart their food like hawks—if there’s a speck of green where it shouldn’t be, I’ll never hear the end of it.

Although they don’t realize it, our children rely on us to provide them with wholesome foods and to start them off on their culinary journeys with an appreciation for a variety of foods and a developed palate. If you do it right, they will become accustomed to a diet filled with tasty, healthy foods.

Here are some healthy, easy-to-make healthy ingredient substitutions that can be made on a daily basis to ensure you provide healthier options for your family. Even if you’re at that stage where you can only make pizza every night for dinner or else, this list will help you pack the most nutrition into your kids’ meals.

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When a recipe calls for…	Use this instead:
Bread crumbs	Rolled oats (great source of fiber), crushed nuts (packed with protein and omega-3 fatty acids, rice cakes (gluten-free option)
Bacon	Prosciutto or pancetta—both contain half the fat and calories.
Butter (for baked goods)	Applesauce, mashed banana/avocado—high in fiber & potassium and rich in omega-3s; add a creamy consistency without the added fat
Butter (for frying/cooking)	Extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil—heart-healthy omega-3s and less polyunsaturated fat than butter
Canned fruit	Fruit compotes—naturally sweet pureed fruit as opposed to artificial sweeteners and added refined sugar
Canned legumes	Dried legumes—high in fiber and protein without the additional sodium
Chocolate chips	Carob chips—they are similar in size and taste to chocolate chips with a slight caramel flavour and contain no caffeine.
Cream cheese	Pureed low fat cottage or ricotta cheese—they contain less fat and calories.
Cream (in soups/stews)	Pureed potato/sweet potato—they add a creamy texture without the added fat and calories.
Croutons	Fresh bread cut into cubes and toasted with extra virgin olive oil and spices
Eggs	Chia or flax seeds—these superfoods have the same consistency as eggs. (Soak 1 tbs. of either one with 3 tbs. warm water and let sit for about 10 minutes until thickened.)
Flour (refined—for baking)	Beans or whole wheat flour (using a 1:1 ratio)—great sources of protein and fiber
Flour tortillas	Corn tortillas—they contain half the calories and fat of regular tortillas.
Frosting	Replace butter with equal parts avocado, which contain heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, potassium, vitamin K, folate, and more.
Ground beef	Ground chicken or turkey—contain less fat and calories
Iceberg lettuce	Nutrient-dense leafy greens, such as kale, spinach, or arugula
Ice cream	Banana ice cream—freeze bananas and puree for a potassium-packed treat without any added fat or calories.
Mayonnaise	Avocado mayonnaise—packed with healthy nutrients and contains less fat and calories than mayo
Mashed potatoes	Mashed root vegetables—a sweeter option for baby with added nutrients such as beta-carotene and vitamin B
Pasta (refined)	Whole grains and whole grain pastas, such as brown rice, kamut, quinoa, or buckwheat
Pasta (refined)	Raw zucchini or squash ribbons—vitamin-rich noodles that are lighter and more easily digested
Potato chips	Kale chips—same crunchy texture, fat-free, and packed with vitamin K and iron
Seasoning salt	Fresh or dried herbs—add a sodium-free burst of flavour to baby’s food and experiment with combinations
Sour cream	Plain Greek yogurt—contains almost double the amount of protein
Sugar (refined—in raw snacks)	Vanilla bean or natural vanilla extract for added natural sweetness
Sugar (refined—in baked goods)	Natural liquid sweeteners such as organic maple syrup, brown rice syrup, agave, or raw honey
White rice	Grated cooked cauliflower—roasted or steamed, it has the same crumbly texture.
White table salt	Himalayan sea salt, fresh lemon/lime juice, or Parmesan cheese—they bring out flavour and freshness without the additional sodium.
Whole milk	Skim milk or dairy-free options, such as coconut or almond milk—they contain less fat and calories and are healthier, vegan-friendly substitutions.