These Frozen Meals Include Hidden Vegetables, and I Did Not Expect My Picky Kids’ Response

Getting dinner on the table is often a struggle in my house. With my husband usually working late and me finishing up my workday, I’m immediately faced with the task of preparing a fast, healthy, and appealing meal for my notoriously picky 3- and 6-year-olds. They resist anything new, so the food has to be familiar, yet I still want it to be nutritious and delicious. My options often feel limited, which is why I was thrilled to find Kidfresh.

With foods like chicken nuggets and buttered pasta, packed with hidden vegetables, and priced under $11, Kidfresh is a frozen food option that you can easily microwave and serve for dinner or a snack. There are also plenty of choices that you can mix and match with meals you’ve already prepared. I recently put a selection of these offerings to the test with my extremely choosy children. Here’s my full review.

Kidfresh is a brand of frozen kids’ meals that offers classic kid-friendly options like mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, fish sticks, and more, with hidden vegetables (like cauliflower, carrots, sweet potatoes, onions, beets, and celery) inside. According to Kidfresh, some meals provide as much as a half a cup of veggies per serving. The brand also boasts that there are no artificial preservatives, ingredients, or flavors, and no antibiotics. Plus, the serving sizes are great for little eaters (no leftovers!). 

You can find Kidfresh in all 50 states and Canada, from retailers like Target and FreshDirect. Or you could buy it in the frozen section of your local grocery store by using the handy store locator on the Kidfresh website.

The cost of Kidfresh depends on the store or website you go to. Online, I’ve found a bowl of buttered pasta for $6.49 and a value pack of chicken nuggets for $10.99, so you’ll find all options within that range.

To be honest, my kids didn’t like everything (as I said, they’re very picky). We tried the Spaghetti Loops in meat sauce, Chicken Nuggets & Buttered Pasta, Wagon Wheels Mac & Cheese, and the Chicken Meatballs, and they were super easy to make in the microwave. My sons aren’t fans of meat sauce or meatballs, so the Loops and the Chicken Meatballs were immediately dismissed. However, my husband and I thought they were very tasty and would eat them again.

I had almost given up hope until I tried the Chicken Nuggets & Buttered Pasta. This was the meal that they’ve actually requested multiple times. Like the other Kidfresh meals, it was easy to warm up in the microwave. The portion size was great for both my 3- and 6-year-olds (they ate the whole plate together). The buttered pasta was easy for them to pick up with their forks, and I cut up the chicken nuggets. Later on, they tried the Wagon Wheels Mac & Cheese, which they only ate a few bites of (but that was progress for them!).

The fact that there exists a quick and easy frozen meal that my kids like and contains ingredients I can actually pronounce — I consider that a win. Kidfresh is definitely worth it, especially if the kids in your life are as picky as mine.

Even if your kids aren’t picky, you should give Kidfresh a try. There’s not a ton of variety (only 12 options of mostly chicken and pasta), but what they do offer traditionally goes over really well with kids. 

Everything arrived quickly in Styrofoam with no excess packaging and immediately went into the freezer. One meal was enough for my two sons, but I will say the Chicken Meatballs were a 16.45-ounce value pack that lasted a few months (between my husband and me, who really liked them!). So, they’re great for kids and adults who might eat what their kids don’t finish.

In my five years as a shopping writer, I’ve had the chance to sample and review hundreds of food and household products. And in my six years as a mom, I’ve also navigated the challenges of feeding extremely picky eaters. This dual experience has given me a sense of what’s truly worth your time and money, and what you can easily pass up. It’s my goal to simplify the lives of anyone raising children.