Getting your little ones to eat a healthy meal can be a bit of a struggle, even if you've been blessed with a child who loves to eat. Early in life, your child's tastes are developing and they are struggling to gain control over something in their daily life.

Often times, food becomes that sticking point. We know the struggle, so we've collected a few healthy meal ideas that will have your kids eating up without a fuss. Not only will they gobble down their food, but you can rest assured they are getting all of their necessary nutrients, too!

1. Hide veggies in meatloaf.

Using lean ground beef or turkey, you can create a meatloaf packed with minced up veggies that the kids will never even realize they are eating. Experts suggest crafting meatloaf in muffin tins to make them more interesting and palatable to little mouths.

You can use any meatloaf recipe you like for this one, and simply mince onions, carrots, bell peppers, or celery, and add it to the mix. Place the mixture into muffin tins and bake away. They will take about 25 minutes to cook through at 350 degrees. This is one of the great, easy, healthy meals for kids. 

2. Create creamy mashed potatoes with brocolli.

If you want a mashed potato that your kids will love, and one that is nutritiously sound, try adding broccoli and cheese. To create this culinary delight, cook 1 pound of potatoes and ¾ pound of broccoli until they are both tender.

Transfer the broccoli into a bowl and mash. Add ½ cup of skim milk, about a cup of Fontina cheese, and the potatoes to the broccoli, and continue mashing and stirring until they are the perfect, cheesy, mashed potato consistency.

If you are concerned that the green color of the broccoli will turn your little ones, off you can also substitute the broccoli for cauliflower.

3. Use their favorites in a healthy way.

If you have a youngster that loves chicken fingers, but you hate the unhealthy nature of it, we have an idea that will save you a lot of tears at the dinner table. Instead of frying chicken fingers, or buying the frozen variety, try baking them.

To make these crispy and delicious start by cutting boneless, skinless chicken breasts into strips. Coat them in flour, then an egg white wash, then roll them in crushed up cornflakes mixed with a bit of shredded cheese.

Place them on a non-stick cookie sheet and bake for 25 minutes at 375 degrees. Turn them over half way through cooking to get an even crisp on the crust.

Your kids will love these chicken fingers, and you'll feel confident in the nutrition of this healthy meal!

Extra Tips and Tricks

Helping your children develop healthy eating habits has to start young. Experts warn, however, that it can take up to 20 exposures to a food for a child to feel comfortable with it. Offer new foods, but don't force them to eat it. If they don't like it at first, that's okay, just take it away. Try again later to see if they are more open to the idea of it.

Experts also suggest having your kids help in the kitchen. If they feel like they have had a part in creating the healthy meals, they are more likely to eat it. 

Armed with these great recipes and knowledge about how food and children work, your meal times should be a little less stressful and a lot more flavorful. Enjoy!