Top 5 Meals for Intense Training that Your Kids Will LOVE (Too!)
In order to cross the finish line of a Spartan race, you need the right fuel to get there—and that means a mix of healthy carbohydrates, protein, and fat. “Food is literally the fuel for our bodies and the better the fuel, the better the performance,” says Angela Lemond, RDN, co-founder of Lemond Nutrition. “Eating quality food while listening to your increased hunger cues while training is the way to go.”
Of course, getting the right fuel can seem easy when it’s just you—but when it comes to cooking for the whole family, that might feel a little more difficult. That’s why we rounded up five top meals that will enhance your performance, and that the kids will enjoy, too.
Lemond says adding ripe fruit to dishes often gets children more excited to eat it thanks to the sweetness boost, and it also provides extra hydration, plus vitamins and minerals. “The earlier children eat wholesome food in their life, the more it is second nature,” she says.
Related: 5 Classic Comfort Foods Packed with More Nutrients to Fuel Your Race
Top 5 Healthy Meals for Kids (That Fuel Your Next Race, Too!)
Check out these five Spartan-worthy meals that help introduce those wholesome food elements to your kids. (So delicious, they'll never know!)
1. Tuscan Sausage Pasta
Ingredients:
- Basil
- Spinach
- Garlic
- Sun-Dried Tomato
- Wheat Pasta
- Squash
- Vegan Cream
- Vegan Italian Sausage
- Onions
- Zucchini
- Dijon
- Vegan Cheese
Lemond says swapping whole wheat products for white is always a good idea, as it adds more fiber to your meal—and that leaves you fuller, for longer while aiding in healthy digestion. You’ll get whole wheat pasta in this dish, along with vitamin-heavy veggies like zucchini, squash, and spinach.
2. Sloppy Joe
Ingredients:
- Spinach
- Potato
- Carrots
- Vinegar
- Tomato
- Worcestershire
- Soy Protein
- Deli Flat
A classic kids’ dish now made nutrient dense! This vegan version of a sloppy joe features soy protein instead of beef or chicken. It also provides potassium from potatoes, health-promoting antioxidants from carrots, and iron and B vitamins in spinach.
3. Chicken Ratatouille
Ingredients:
- Squash
- Tomato
- Chicken Breast
- Olive Oil
- Zucchini
- Basil
- Garlic
- Eggplant
- Olives
This colorful meal will catch a kid’s eye while offering a delicious range of cooked vegetables, including squash, tomato, zucchini, and eggplant. In addition to produce’s usual antioxidant-providing advantages, you also get vitamins like A, B, and C and minerals like potassium. The chicken breast provides added protein, bringing it up to 27 grams.
Related: 5 Lean & Mean Spartan-Worthy Dinners to Fuel Up Like a Warrior
4. Bison Burger Club
Ingredients:
- Aioli
- Pork Bacon
- Sweet Potato
- Tomato
- Avocados
- Ground Bison
Bison gives your burger that beefy taste and texture you love in this kid-friendly meal, but with less fat. The sweet potato and tomato also add the vitamins you want to stay healthy and perform well, while avocados offer healthy fats and a creamy texture kids and adults often crave.
5. Chicken Burrito Bowl
Ingredients:
- Brown Rice
- Tomato
- Onions
- Chicken Breast
- Avocados
- Brown Rice
- Peppers
- Black Beans
- Corn
A Mexican-inspired meal that has just 372 calories with more than 30 grams of protein, 42 grams of carbs, and just 8 grams of fat. You get an excellent source of plant protein in this meal, too, courtesy of the black beans, which also fill you up with fiber.
