HIDE AND SEEK
Sometimes kids have an unwarranted bias against veggies, so some parents “hide” them or “pair” them with more popular food choices. While this may be seen as a cop-out by some, research suggests that it this associative conditioning could be helpful in encouraging kids (and adults) to eat more fruits and vegetables in the long term. Many people have learned to love eating celery with peanut butter or broccoli with cheese.
Bulk up store-bought sauce – Add extra veggies in your favourite canned or homemade pasta sauce like sautéed onion, garlic, mushroom, or grated zucchini, carrot, parsnip, or finely chopped spinach and kale. Almost anything grated and finely cut will go unnoticed. Puree to disguise any textures, if your kids are really picky.
Eggplant Dip (Baba Ganoush) – Some people don’t love eggplant but this is one of our most popular recipes on Produce Made Simple! Make your own dip from veggies, and dip in veggies! You can try a variety of veggies to dip; carrots, cucumber, celery – but also zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, etc.
Another idea is to use vegetables with something kids love – dessert! You can avoid red food colouring by preparing this naturally Red Velvet Cake recipe made with beets. Try an Avocado Chocolate Tart or a yummy Carrot Cake!
When in doubt, cover it with cheese. Cheesy Asparagus Penne Bake blankets asparagus with cheese to encourage kids to enjoy it more. Looking for more veggies that pair well with cheese? Think cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, mushrooms or cucumbers with cream cheese, cheddar cheese… the possibilities are endless!
