OUICOOK: 3 Kids-friendly french dinners you should know

Making dinner for a family can be difficult. Everyone wants different types of food, comes home at different times, and has different preferences/dietary needs. Trying to please everyone is hard! Especially when you have kids, it can feel like pulling teeth to find something that they love. It also gets quite boring making the same PB&J everyday. Usually for kids I like to cook things that are pretty simple and mild, so leave the oysters for another time! I have three french recipes that I love that are perfect as crowd pleasers. They are super delicious, easy to make, and pretty mild. Kids and adults love them! If you are looking  to try out something new while bringing a little French flair to your meals, check out some of these ideas!

 

Whatever the Parents are Eating, the Kids are Eating Too

Going along with the mandatory family dinner times, French parents often do not provide a “child’s menu” at home. Whatever the parents are eating, the kids are eating too. Creating a more wide-ranging palette for your child at a young age teaches them to not be picky, and thus disrespectful, when they venture out to eat with different people (introducing them as early as 5 or 6 months to different fruits and vegetables is totally fine). The French believe in exposing their children to these strong and more mature flavors, making mealtimes a time to be grateful and experience fun and exotic flavors all together as a family.

If your baby is younger you can ‘purée’ your meal

zero-snack policy is key

Contrary to what one may think, the correct number of meals per day is four: breakfast, lunch, “goûter” and dinner. There is a strict zero-snack policy in-between those meals.

 

 

1. Crepes 

Crepes are super yummy and easy to make. Each person can but whatever they want inside of them, so its great for families who have different tastes! My favorite are spinach, mushroom, and cheese ones. You can also use the left over crepes and use them for dessert – nutella is a must for dessert crepes. The batter is really easy to make, and you can use this recipe for reference! I recommend making a few crepes for your family and then having a buffet style crepe bar! Include foods such has ham, cheese, chicken, spinach, mushrooms, artichoke, bacon, tomatoes, and more. 

My Favorite Crepe Pans 

2. Croque-Monsieur

Croque-Monsieurs are so simple that everyone is sure to love them. They are just fancier ham and cheese sandwiches! I am such a sucker for super cheesy meals and this recipe is one of my favorites. I like them for lunch, but you can also make them for dinner. Here is my favorite recipe and how to make this amazing mornay sauce. 

Croque-Monsieur Sauce Pans 

3. Fondue

This is such a fun meal that it is great for kids! Fondue is great for families, but is best for kids who are a little bit older – after all it is hot cheese! It will definitely get messy, so be sure to put a tablecloth on the table to try to catch any spills. Your kids will have such a fun time “playing” with their food and trying out a bunch of different combinations. Similar to the crepes, everyone gets to choose their own dinner so everyone is happy! Here is my comprehensive guide to fondue, check it out for some inspo. 

Perfect Fondue Pots 

Here are some other kid friendly cooking essentials:

Let me know what your favorite kid friendly meals are in the comments below! If you decide to try any of these out, make sure to post on instagram and tag us @ouiplease! 

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