Best Healthy Recipes of 2012 (52 New Foods) January 03 2013, 5 Comments

best healthy recipes of 2012


The best healthy recipes of 2012 as voted by the toughest food critics at the table!

My kids were great at the 3 Ps: Pasta, pizza, and peas. Getting them to try new foods was a terrible struggle, until I turned healthy eating into a game with Crunch a Color. Kale became cool when it was worth 15 points and earning bonus points for trying new foods was irresistible. 

So last January, as a way to earn those alluring bonus points, we decided to take on one simple challenge, together as a family: 52 weeks, 52 new foods. The goal was to make it easy and fun for the whole family to cook and enjoy new, healthy foods together. This simple, singular goal was one that we all agreed would be fun to achieve and easy to remember.

Best Healthy Recipes of 2012

Of the 52 New Foods we tried, these 10 easy recipes were voted “Best Healthy Recipes of 2012” by my kids:

broiled grapefruit recipe

Broiled Grapefruit: This deliciously simple broiled grapefruit recipe adds a flavorful twist to your table: a sweet and juicy treat without a drop of refined sugar.

apple pear crisp 

Mini Apple Pear Crisp: Filled to the brim with sweet, bubbling fresh pears, apples and cranberries, this mini apple pear crisp is the perfect treat to serve at a cozy winter get-together by the fire with friends and family.

romanesco broccoli


Romanesco Broccoli: Romanesco was a new discovery for my kids and me! This spiraling spectacle looks like a cross between broccoli and cauliflower, and made a deliciously fun addition to our family table.

easy butternut squash soup


Easy Butternut Squash Soup: This easy butternut squash soup recipe is a healthy version of my favorite holiday soup – and can be made ahead to give you more time to celebrate with friends and family.

tomato mozzarella skewers


Tomato Pops: Tomato mozzarella skewers with a kid-friendly twist, this easy recipe for Tomato Pops makes the seasonal bounty of fresh picked cherry tomatoes even more fun to enjoy with your kids!

nut free basil pesto


Nut Free Basil Pesto: Nut free basil pesto made straight from our garden. Dig in!

healthy zucchini muffins


Healthy Zucchini Muffins: Healthy zucchini muffins are fun to make and even more fun to enjoy cuddled up with your kiddos on a leisurely Saturday morning.

homemade tomato sauce


Easy Homemade Tomato Sauce: That’s amore! No longer will plates be brimming over with boring buttered pasta. Enjoy a boost of color with this deliciously easy, homemade tomato sauce that will have your whole family singing the praises of simple Italian cooking.

healthy no bake cookies


Healthy No Bake Cookies: Quick and easy (for you or your kids) to make, these tasty no bake cookies use sunflower butter instead of peanut butter to create a delicious batch of nut-free, healthy, no bake cookies that are great for dessert or a lunchtime snack.

quinoa stuffing


Quinoa Stuffing: For a healthy twist on a holiday favorite, this easy recipe for gluten-free stuffing made with quinoa, apples, sweet potato and walnuts is just the ticket.

What’s Next?

In 2013, Crunch a Color’s 52 New Foods adventure is setting off on a tour around the world with Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution! I hope you and your family will join us for the ride.

What new healthy foods will you try this year? Start your list of 52 Healthy Foods to Try in 2013!

About the author: Jennifer Tyler Lee is a mom of two children and the creator of Crunch a Color® -- the award-winning nutrition games that make healthy eating fun. Like most parents, she struggled to get her kids to eat healthy, balanced meals, so she decided to make it into a healthy eating game and she’s giving back to support non-profit kids’ nutrition programs. Winner of the Dr. Toy and Parent Tested, Parent Approved awards, Crunch a Color® has been featured by Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, Laurie David’s Family Dinner, Kiwi Magazine, Dr. Greene, and Yum Food & Fun For Kids, among many others, as a simple, fun and playful way to get kids to eat healthy and try new foods. Jennifer’s passion is making mealtime fun, easy and healthy for busy families. Her easy recipes, quick tips, and new food adventures are regularly featured at Pottery Barn Kids, Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, The Huffington Post, and on her weekly recipe blog at crunchacolor.com.