Every parent knows that it can be a challenge to get their little ones to eat – much less eat a healthy and balanced meal. Sometimes it’s tempting to give into their pleas for junk food just to get them to eat something, anything at all. This kids’ meal of Baked Parmesan Chicken Tenders & Eggplant Fries recipe acts as the perfect compromise. The kids’ get a tasty dinner that looks like fast food and you get to rest easy knowing they’ve eaten their veggies.

Baked Parmesan Chicken Tenders & Eggplant Fries

Image Via: Key Ingredient

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Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 25-30 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

For Eggplant Fries:

1 large eggplant

1 cup ground almonds

½ tablespoon seasoning salt

¼ teaspoon dried parsley

Ground pepper, to taste

1 egg, beaten

For Chicken Strips:

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 cup grated fat-free Parmesan cheese

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Salt and ground pepper, to taste

1 egg, beaten

Image Via: One Green Planet

Procedure:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Wash and peel the eggplant.
3. Create the “fry” shapes by slicing the eggplant in half and then cutting each half into matchstick shapes that are about 1/8 inch thick.
4. Set up the breading station by combining the ground almonds, seasoning salt, dried parsley, and ground pepper in one bowl and the beaten egg in another.
5. Dredge the eggplant sticks through the egg and then coat entirely with the dry mixture. Set the finished ones on a greased baking sheet.
6. Coat the top of the eggplant sticks lightly with cooking spray and transfer them into the oven.
7. Rinse the chicken breasts.
8. Trim off any excess fat. Then, create the chicken tenders by cutting each breast into strips that are about ¼ inch thick.
9. Make a new breading station by mixing the grated cheese, Italian seasoning, onion powder and garlic powder in one bowl and the eggs in another.
10. Dredge the chicken tenders through the egg and then coat entirely in the breading. Placed the finished chicken tenders on a greased baking sheet. (Note: Do not reuse any ingredients or kitchen tools that have touched the raw chicken. Doing so risks contamination.)
11. Coat the tops of the chicken tenders in a light coating of cooking spray and add them to the oven. Take this opportunity to flip the eggplant fries.
12. Bake everything for an additional 15-20 minutes or until the eggplant fries are crispy and browned and the chicken juices run clear.
13. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Since kids love to dunk their food, feel free to serve it with their favorite dipping sauce. However, marinara sauce pairs particularly with the eggplant and parmesan cheese. This kids’ meal also freezes well, so go ahead and prep extra Baked Parmesan Chicken Tenders & Eggplant Fries to save on a busy weeknight.

For more recipes on Stagetecture, click here.

Getting ready for that Halloween Spirit? Why not try a kids’ Halloween dinner? This idea is creative for your little ones for the season and help spark their creativity too.  That’s right, the monster pizza face recipe will be a sure fire delicious scare that your kids will enjoy. The recipe is easy, quick and just the trick for your treats!  So take a few moments and prepare this meal for your dinner today.

Kids’ Halloween Dinner: Monster Pizza Face

Image via: Celebrations

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Ingredients

English muffin halves or Bagel halves
Pizza sauce
Parmesan cheese
Pepperoni
Olives

Image via: Flickr

*Optional Topping Items

Carrot curls
Italian Sausage or regular sausage
Basil Leaves
Tomato slices

(Whatever else you or your children want to put on your monster pizza face)

Directions

1. Take a whole English muffin and pull apart into halves.  Then lightly butter the halves and repeat this process for how ever many monster faces you plan to serve.
2. Then spread pizza sauce over the halves, and sprinkle on cheese on them.
3. Have each child make a face from the toppings above or other toppings that they enjoy and create little monster faces from them.
4. Broil briefly to heat the pizza and melt the cheese. Parmesan “dandruff” can create a pretty horrific look to them.

For more Halloween ideas on Stagetecture, click here.