Let’s make mealtime a little less fussy and a lot more fun! Our list of fun food for fussy little eaters is packed with creative and tasty recipes that will turn every meal into a celebration. Imagine colourful dishes that not only catch the eye but also tickle the taste buds—these recipes are designed to transform picky eating into a delightful adventure. From quirky shapes to sneaky ingredients, each meal becomes a new experience that your kids will look forward to.

Sick of Mealtime Chaos? Get Your Guide and Tame It Today!

Is your dinner routine more of a hassle than a happy family event? It’s time to turn the tables with tips from Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids by Dr Nick Fuller, Australia’s top expert on childhood obesity. This guide is your go-to for practical advice and clever insights to deal with picky eaters and whip up meals that are both delicious and nutritious.

Say goodbye to mealtime chaos and dive into a world of tasty, wholesome delights! Grabe a copy of Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids now and transform your family dinners into fun and satisfying experiences.

Creative and Fun Food Ideas For Fussy Little Eaters

Ready to spice up mealtime? Check out these engaging food ideas that will make even the pickiest eaters excited for their next meal.

Santa Strawberries

Meet the cutest healthy Christmas snack ever! This isn't just a recipe—it's a fun guide to creating your very own strawberry Santas. Adjust the quantities to make as many as you need and make these up fresh on the day you plan to serve them. They’re best enjoyed the day they’re made for that festive wow factor. 

Type: Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Snacks

Makes 5 Santa strawberries

Prep Time: 10 minutes 

Cooking Time: 0 minutes

Ingredients

1. 5 large strawberries
2. 6 teaspoons thick Greek yoghurt
3. 2 sultanas

Recipe

1. Wash the strawberries and pat as dry as possible using a paper towel. 
2. Slice the stalk end of the strawberry off, making sure it is flat – as this is the end of the strawberry that will sit on the plate. 
3. Slice the strawberry again approximately 2/3 of the way up – to create the hat. 
4. Place the larger piece of the strawberry on a flat plate. Add a teaspoon of yoghurt evenly on top.
5. Top with the remaining smaller piece of strawberry. Dollop a small amount of yoghurt on the top to create the white tip of the Santa hat. 
6. Slice sultanas into small pieces and arrange onto the yoghurt to create eyes. 
7. Repeat steps 2-6 with remaining strawberries. 
8. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to ensure the yoghurt is firm, then serve. Enjoy!

Add a festive touch to your table with this vibrant Christmas Caprese Salad. 

Papaya Boats

Papayas are like a tropical vacation for your taste buds, and if you haven't tried them yet, you're in for a treat! They're super filling and have a nifty enzyme that helps with digestion. This easy recipe is perfect for a speedy summer breakfast or a tasty snack to share. Just pick your fave high-protein yoghurt, and you're all set. 

Type: Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Breakfast, Snacks, Contains Nuts

Serves 2-4

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 0 minutes

Ingredients

1. 1 large papaya
2. 1 lime
3. 4 heaped tablespoons yoghurt
4. Handful toasted muesli (e.g. IWL Morning Muesli or Nutty Tahini Granola)
5. Handful pepitas

Recipe

1. Using a large knife, slice the papaya in half. Use a spoon to scoop out all the black seeds in the middle of the papaya. 
2. Squeeze the lime juice over the papaya halves. 
3. Fill the hollow space in the papaya halves with the yoghurt.
4. Sprinkle the toasted muesli and pepitas over the top. Serve immediately and dig in!

Christmas Bliss Balls

Get all the cosy flavours of a gingerbread man in a healthy bliss ball! These little treats are perfect for lunchboxes, afternoon snacks, or even as a wholesome Christmas gift. They also keep well in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, so you can enjoy them whenever the craving strikes. 

Type: Vegetarian, Lactose Free, Snacks, Contains nuts 

Makes 12-15 bliss balls

Prep Time: 10 minutes 

Cooking Time: 0 minutes

Ingredients

1. 1 cup oats
2. 1 tablespoon honey
3. 1 teaspoon cinnamon
4. 1 teaspoon ground ginger
5. Small sprinkle nutmeg
6. 2 tablespoons peanut butter
7. 3-4 tablespoons water

Recipe

1. Add all ingredients to a blender.   
2. Blend for 1-2 minutes. This recipe should result in a fudgy consistency – it does not have to be perfectly smooth. 
3. Roll heaped teaspoon-fulls of the mixture into balls. 
4. Place onto a flat tray and refrigerate for 1-2 hours before serving. 
5. Enjoy!

You can serve up a range of meals your fussy kids will love, all while keeping things nutritious. Check out this easy oat recipe that’s sure to be a hit with your little ones.

Trail Mix

On the hunt for a healthy snack? Look no further! Prepare this trail mix and portion it into handy containers so you’ve got a tasty, grab-and-go snack ready whenever hunger strikes. 

Type: Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Snacks, Contains Nuts

Makes Approx. 8 serves

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 20 minutes 

Ingredients

1. 2 cups of raw nuts (we used a combination of almonds, cashews, pistachios and walnuts)
2. ¼ cup raw seeds (we used pepitas and sunflower seeds)
3. ¼ cup dried fruit e.g. goji berries, dried figs, sultanas (optional)

Recipe

1. Preheat the oven to 170°C. Prepare 2 baking trays. 
2. Add the nuts and seeds onto the baking trays. Ensure they are spread out in a single layer. 
3. Place into the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes. Stir the nuts around the trays halfway through cooking to ensure they roast evenly. 
4. Once the nuts are toasted and golden, remove from the oven. Allow to completely cool on the trays. 
5. Once cooled, mix through the dried fruit (optional). 
6. Transfer the trail mix to an airtight container. Enjoy!

Stuffed Dates

These stuffed dates are both festive and impressive, which makes them a standout addition to your holiday dessert platter. They keep well in the fridge for a few days in an airtight container, so you can prep them in advance. Feel free to double or triple the recipe—perfect for spreading some holiday cheer at your next gathering!

Type: Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free, Lactose Free, Contains Nuts, Snacks, Kid Friendly

Makes 10 dates

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 0 minutes 

Ingredients

1. 10 Medjool dates
2. 10 almonds, roasted
3. 10 teaspoons 100% natural peanut butter
4. ¼ cup pistachios, roasted
5. 1 tablespoon dried cranberries

Recipe

1. Use a small knife to slice each date open lengthwise and remove the pit. You don’t want to cut all the way through the date, just along one side so that you can remove the pit. 
2. Stuff one roasted almond into each date, in place of the pit. 
3. Add one teaspoon of peanut butter into each date, adding it into the middle cavity where you have stuffed the roasted almond. 
4. Gently pinch each side of the date together to stick the edges together slightly.  
5. Chop up the pistachios and dried cranberries into small pieces. Sprinkle the pistachios and cranberries over the stuffed dates, ensuring that they stick to the peanut butter filling. 
6. Arrange the stuffed dates onto a festive serving platter. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Kid-Friendly Banana Pinwheels

This quick and easy snack is perfect for your kids, and it's healthy enough for you to enjoy a few as well.

Type: Vegetarian, Dairy Free, Kid Friendly, Snacks, Contains Nuts

Makes 8-10 pinwheels

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 0 minutes 

Ingredients

1. 1 wholegrain wrap or tortilla
2. 1 heaped tablespoon natural peanut butter
3. 1 large banana, peeled

Recipe

1. Lay out the wrap/tortilla on a flat surface. Spread evenly with the peanut butter. 
2. Place the banana along the left side of the wrap/tortilla. Fold the left edge of the wrap/tortilla over the banana, then continue rolling towards the right to enclose the whole banana in the wrap/tortilla. 
3. Ensure that you wrap the banana tightly, and press the edge of the wrap/tortilla down firmly at the end to secure it. 
4. Use a sharp knife to slice the wrapped banana into thick pinwheels. Place onto the plate with the cut side facing up. 
5. Serve immediately and enjoy!

For more healthy banana recipes, watch this video.

Wrapping Things Up

Turning mealtime into a fun and enjoyable experience for your fussy little eaters can make all the difference. With a dash of creativity and a sprinkle of playful presentation, you can transform dinner into a family adventure. These tasty and nutritious recipes can help your kids develop healthier eating habits without the struggle.

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Meet Dr Nick Fuller

My Story

As a father, I know first-hand that raising healthy and happy children is tricky. Children are fussy, particularly at the end of the day when they are shattered. We also live in a society where companies seek to profit from what we feed our kids; incorrect and damaging advice is pushed on us and marketed towards our children, and we have no time.

But with these recipes and resources, you and your children can enjoy simple and well-founded food and lifestyle choices for lifelong health.