Dinner Made Simple: Balance Without the Stress

Dinner Made Simple: Balance Without the Stress

It’s 5:30 p.m., and you’re staring into the fridge, hoping for divine inspiration. You need something quick, something healthy, and—most importantly—something your kids will actually eat without all the dramatics and gagging noises. My kid even asked me once if I only made gross things for dinner! If this feels like an everyday struggle, you’re not alone.

Dinner doesn’t have to be a battle between nutrition and kid-approved taste. The key? Balance. Not every meal needs to be a kale and quinoa masterpiece, just like it shouldn’t always be mac and cheese. Enter: the Plate Method.

The Plate Method: Simple, Balanced, and Realistic

The Plate Method is a game-changer because it’s flexible, visually easy to follow, and doesn’t require making sure they are getting enough of this or that. Here’s how it works:

Half the plate: Fruits and vegetables (carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, broccoli, applesauce, berries—whatever your kids tolerate!)

A quarter of the plate: Protein (chicken, fish, eggs, beans, tofu—whatever works for your family)

A quarter of the plate: Starches or grains (rice, pasta, potatoes, bread—yes, carbs are important!)

This approach gives kids variety while ensuring they’re getting the nutrients they need. Plus, it takes the pressure off making every meal perfectly healthy. A little cheese on the broccoli? A side of fries alongside grilled chicken? Totally fine. As parents in the age of social media we are too hard on ourselves. Balance wins over perfection every time.

Making It Work for Picky Eaters

If your kids are skeptical of vegetables or new foods, try these tricks:

• Pair the new with the familiar. If they love pasta, mix in some diced veggies with their favorite sauce.
• Make it interactive. Let them build their own plate with a few different options from each category. This is something we do in our Katrina’s Kitchen Adventures classes, and it helps kids feel more in control of their food choices.
• Lead by example. Kids are more likely to eat what they see you eating—so enjoy those veggies yourself!

Giving kids hands-on experience in the kitchen, whether at home or in a cooking class, helps take the mystery (and fear) out of trying new foods. When they get to chop, stir, and create their own meals, they’re more willing to taste and explore flavors they might otherwise avoid.

A Balanced Dinner Idea: Creamy Chicken and Veggie Pasta

This meal is creamy, comforting, and packed with veggies, making it a great way to get the whole family on board with a balanced dinner. It’s also the kind of meal that kids can help prepare—whether it’s stirring the sauce, sprinkling in the cheese, or choosing which vegetables to include.

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
• 2 cups whole wheat pasta, use regular pasta if your kids won’t do whole wheat yet
• 1 zucchini, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through. Remove from the pan and set aside.
3. In the same pan, add garlic, zucchini, bell pepper, and cherry tomatoes. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until veggies are tender.
4. Pour in chicken broth and milk, stirring to combine. Bring to a simmer.
5. Stir in Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Add cooked pasta and chicken back into the pan, tossing everything together until well coated.
6. Serve warm, garnished with extra Parmesan if desired.

This meal checks all the boxes—protein, colorful veggies, and whole grains—without feeling too healthy. And if your kids just want plain pasta with cheese? That’s okay. A little progress is still progress. It’s all about keeping mealtime stress-free while encouraging variety. Plus, meals like this are great for getting kids involved, whether they’re learning knife skills or just stirring the sauce.

The Takeaway

Dinner doesn’t have to be a nightly battle. Aim for balance, not perfection. Use the Plate Method as a guide, and keep meals simple, flexible, and family-friendly. Some nights, you’ll nail it. Other nights, you’ll order pizza. And that’s okay—because a healthy relationship with food starts with balance, not food rules. And if you’re looking for ways to get your kids more excited about food, a hands-on cooking experience in a Katrina’s Kitchen Adventures class might be just what they need.

Now, what’s for dinner tonight? 😉

Want help getting your kids involved? Our next cooking class will be at the Distillery Labs kitchen on March 22nd at 1pm. Sign up here.

To learn about upcoming cooking classes or to book a private class for a birthday party or a scout troop follow my Facebook page or sign up for my newsletter.