Kids' menus in restaurants are a controversial area. While keeping a bag of chicken nuggets in the freezer and having a tin of dinosaur spaghetti to hand is a relatively thoughtful option, it's hardly healthy.

However, if it keeps the little ones from throwing their food over the next table and screaming at the waitress it's probably a happy result for everyone.

Back at home, when it comes to giving your kids the necessary vitamins, a little gentle deceit can go a long way. If wee Johnny or Jemima expects their dinner to look a certain way, then use that to your advantage.

Making your own versions of your youngster's dinnertime favourites is obviously going to be a lot more labour-intensive than simply scanning the freezer cabinet in your local supermarket. But as well as the health benefits for the next generation you can also produce some really tasty dishes that parents can enjoy too – no matter what shape.

Fish fingers are the original processed foodstuff and generally a hit with the youngsters, thanks to Captain Birdseye and his crew of hardy marketing executives.

Try making your own version using fresh fish with green vegetables mixed through them. If you think the deception is going well, then you could grill instead of frying them and serve with oven-baked chips and home-made ketchup or tartare sauce for an all-round healthy dinner.

Burgers seem to be the official foodstuff of the under-12s. Ignore the greasy takeaways or the frozen grey multi-packs and take advantage of the fact that it's very easy to make practically anything edible look burger-shaped.

There are many recipes for veggie burgers consisting of such healthy ingredients as beans, lentils, spinach, mushrooms or chick peas, which as well as providing vital nutrients, often taste much better than the minced beef varieties.

Macaroni cheese is a popular calcium-rich kiddie dish which can be subtly altered by using organic or wholewheat pasta and given the addition of vegetables, such as leeks or peppers to up the health count.

Baked potatoes are another simple dinner option that children generally approve of. If grated cheddar and baked beans are the usual requests when it comes to fillings, try persuading the little ones with feta and roasted vegetables instead. Tuna and sweetcorn or flakes of smoked mackerel in a potato are another way to sneak some fish into your kids' diets.

If you've been landed with catering for a children's party, try to avoid the traditional jelly, ice-cream and chocolate.

Instead of sugar icing and bought-in cake decorations, try being imaginative with whole raspberries, sliced strawberries, halved grapes, orange segments as well as sultanas, kiwi fruit and peaches. Yoghurt mixed with honey can make a great alternative to sweet icing.

And if the kids are insisting on a chocolate course, then dipped fruit could be a healthier answer. Whole cherries, pineapple cubes, banana slices and cape gooseberries skewered with toothpicks, dipped into melted dark or white chocolate then allowed to set will provide a tasty and healthier selection than opening a box of chocolate biscuits.

So you have tread a fine line between what kids should eat and what they will eat, but with disguise and persuasion you can introduce your children to some healthy homemade food.

And maybe that could rub off on the adults too.

Andy McGregor is owner and head chef of Blonde Restaurant, 75 St. Leonard's Street, 0131-668 2917