Easy Recipes To Sneak Veggies Into Kids!
We all know how fussy kids can be- they know what they like and they aren’t afraid to tell you what they don’t. And while most kids go through a picky phase when it comes to food, some are like this all the time and as parents it can be frustrating. We know our kids need to eat well to get the vitamins and minerals we need to grow, be healthy and thrive.
Sources like Parenting Healthy reveals that one of the key things to get right when it comes to healthy eating is balance, but what can you do when they point blank refuse to eat anything that looks like a vegetable or piece of fruit? The best way in this case is to sneak it in. Come up with tasty, family friendly recipes that are packed with the good stuff but not in an obvious way. Keep trying them with different things of course, and in time a lot of kids will become more open but for now- at least you know they’re getting what they need. Here are some ideas!
Meat based sauces
Ground meat based sauces can be used in a variety of dishes- chili, lasagna, bolognese and more, and are a great way to sneak added veg in. The trick here is to dice everything very finely, a food processor is your best friend since it can get everything very small and uniform. Add carrots, mushrooms, peppers, courgette and anything else you fancy to the processor, and then cook this up with the ground meat (turkey is a great lean option, otherwise choose lean beef). Once it’s all cooked together in the sauce with herbs and spices added, most people won’t be able to tell the difference since the meat and vegetable pieces all blend together. Add a handful of lentils for even more fibre and vitamins. You could go fifty fifty with the meat and vegetables, this makes it lighter, cheaper and gets all that good stuff in. Serve with wholegrain rice or pasta for an even healthier alternative.
Smoothies
Even if your child turns their nose up at a piece of fruit, chances are they will drink a tasty smoothie. And this is your chance to get in plenty of the good stuff. A base of frozen berries and banana is always a good start, then add a splash of fruit juice or almond milk. A good trick here is to add a handful of spinach, it’s packed with vitamins and you can’t taste it when it’s all blended together. You could add some goji berries or other powerful boosters to increase the nutritional value further. Buy a good blender so it gets everything very smooth, and you have an easy breakfast for the whole family. Just be aware of portion sizes, when you’re drinking rather than chewing in this way it’s easy to overdo it. And while it’s good for you, the calories still need to fit within what you easy each day.
Soups
Soups are another brilliant way to load your kids up with vitamins without them knowing they’re eating vegetables. There are lots of recipes online, but a simple veggie soup that’s full of healthy ingredients along with some stock, herbs and spices will do the trick. Cook or roast everything until it’s tender and then wait for it to cool. Blend the cool mixture until it’s very smooth and add stock until it’s the right consistency. Reheat and serve with some hearty wholemeal bread, a great weekday dinner or weekend lunch especially on a cold day.