5 Blogs to Read for Healthy Family Recipes

It’s mid-January, and this time of year everyone is trying to stick to their new year's goals and take better care of ourselves. Maybe you want to work out more, eat right, or get your kids to eat healthier (ha). But, at this point in the month, it’s common to start wavering on those resolutions as the rigor of daily life makes it tempting to return to old habits.

I’m right there with you. At our house, Brian started a Paleo regimen and we both are trying to cook more and keep lots of healthy meals and snacks in the house. I have the fun additional challenge of Daisy tossing half (or all) of her food on the floor whenever I make something new. Yaaay. Ah well, I’ll keep trying...

It’s challenging for parents to keep on track with meal planning and having a balanced diet when you’re doing laundry, running off to work, chasing after your little one, and you rarely have time for even a snack in the midst of your busy day-to-day activities. 

How many times this month have you made yourself a hot coffee/tea in the morning and had to reheat it two or three times because you don’t even get a chance to drink it?

Making healthy and delicious recipes can be very time consuming (and risky when your child is a picky eater). But we do it because (we hope) it's worth it. So I looked and found some new resources to help you pick up some healthy, kid-friendly, and quick recipes and give your resolutions a fighting chance.

Good luck moms and dads!

And let me know if you find some new go-to's to share. I'm always looking...

xo, 
Coralee

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1 - Quick & Easy

Ali from Gimme Some Oven has a huge variety of quick and easy recipes on her site. If you don’t have time to make an extravagant dinner, you probably don’t have time to find a delicious, quick, and easy recipe online either. So if you want all your choices in one place, her blog is ideal. Her website is sleek and simple, and so well organized. And her recipes are very simple to follow - even the cooking-impaired will pull off her recipes without a hitch. Her recipes are healthy and unique, and most take around 20 minutes to make (including prep time). Plus the delicious-looking photos on her site will have you hungry for more. One of my favorites that the whole family will love is Parmesan Baked Chicken Nuggets.

2 - Comfort Food

Ahh comfort food. Mac and cheese, bread, and brownies... Some people would run away just hearing the words “bread” or “chocolate”, but many think balance is the key to keeping a successful diet. Katie from Chocolate Covered Katie is all about balance on her blog. She incorporates healthier twists on classic favorites and always includes dessert. She's pretty good at it too, and has even been featured on The Today Show and Dr. Oz (impressive). For anyone who is looking to get a little healthier, but may be nervous to jump right into organic, gluten-free, and vegan living - this is the blog for you. Check out her amazingly creamy Greek Yogurt Mac and Cheese Recipe for a first step into a more balanced diet.

3 - Picky Eaters

Picky Palate - the name says it all. Jenny, the writer behind this blog, is a mom of three boys, and she knows a something about picky eaters. She gets her kids to eat vegetables and like it with recipes like Tuscan Broccoli and Cheese Quesadilla. If you have picky eaters at home, or if you’re a picky eater yourself, you are guaranteed to find something you’ll enjoy in her recipe index.

4 - Natural/Clean-Eating

Serious about taking charge of your health? Rebecca from My Natural Family is the best health food blogger for you (IMHO). She struggled with health issues for a long time, and decided to take charge by eating only clean foods. Her site’s organization is really helpful - she has her recipes categorized into dietary concerns like gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, etc. But of course you don’t have to be following one of these diets to try out her tasty recipes, like these Clean-Eating, Dairy-Free Blueberry Muffins. This site is also a great resource if you’re making snacks or meals for a party where you don’t know your guests’ dietary concerns, but want to bring something delicious that everyone can enjoy.

5 - Crockpot Meals

motherearthnews.com

I LOVE Crockpot meals. They are perfect this time of year, and there’s nothing more convenient. I know what you’re thinking, “Yes, but crockpot meals are so unhealthy!” Usually you’d be right, but on Stephanie’s site A Year of Slow Cooking, she focuses on health and fresh foods. With her recipes you’re getting two for one: convenience AND health, not to mention deliciousness. My personal favorites are the Salsa Chicken and Black Bean Soup and the Coq au Vin - I’ve made both of these so many times. Yum. These recipes require minimal prep-time and then you can go to work or attend to all your daily tasks while the crockpot does the rest. Bonus: Stephanie includes a verdict from everyone who tried her meals, so you know what she, her husband, and her kids thought of each one.

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