As parents, we want to make sure our children are getting all the essential nutrients they need to grow and develop properly. Unfortunately, many kids are notoriously picky eaters, making it a challenge to get them to eat their veggies.
But fear not! Here are ten easy ways to sneak in some extra vegetables into your child’s diet without them even noticing.
1. Blend them into a smoothie
A smoothie is a great way to pack in a lot of nutrition without your child even realizing they’re drinking vegetables. Add kale, spinach, or carrots to a fruit smoothie for a healthy and delicious drink.
You can even freeze the smoothie into popsicles for a fun and refreshing snack.
2. Shred them into pasta sauce
Vegetables like zucchini, carrots, and mushrooms can be shredded and mixed into pasta sauce without changing the flavor too much.
Try adding finely diced veggies to a homemade spaghetti sauce or pureeing them into a creamy alfredo sauce for some added nutrition.
3. Make veggie fries
Making sweet potato, carrot, or zucchini fries is a fun and creative way to incorporate more vegetables into your child’s diet.
Simply cut them into fry-shaped pieces, toss them in some olive oil and seasonings, and bake them in the oven for a healthy snack or side dish.
4. Sneak them into muffins
Vegetables like zucchini and carrots can be grated and mixed into muffin batter for added nutrition. Try making a batch of healthy morning glory muffins for breakfast or a snack.
5. Add them to smoothie bowls
Smoothie bowls are a popular breakfast or snack choice and are easy to customize. Try topping a berry or banana smoothie bowl with fresh sliced fruit and shaved carrots or adding spinach to a green smoothie bowl for some extra nutrition.
6. Mix them into meatballs or burgers
You can add finely diced vegetables like onions, peppers, and carrots to ground beef or turkey when making homemade meatballs or burgers. This will add some extra nutrients and texture to your child’s favorite dishes without them even noticing.
7. Hide them in mac and cheese
Add some pureed butternut squash, cauliflower, or sweet potato to your homemade mac and cheese for added creaminess and nutrients. The cheese will help disguise the flavor, and your child won’t even know they’re eating vegetables.
8. Stuff them into sandwiches or wraps
Stuff some sliced cucumbers, bell peppers, or lettuce into your child’s sandwich or wrap for some added crunch and nutrients. You can also use hummus or avocado as a spread instead of mayo or mustard for some added protein and healthy fats.
9. Make a veggie pizza
Pizzas are a great way to get your child to eat veggies without them even realizing it. Try adding bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, or spinach to your homemade pizza for some added nutrition.
10. Mix them into mashed potatoes or rice
Boil or steam some vegetables like cauliflower, carrots, or broccoli and mix them into mashed potatoes or rice for added nutrition. The added vegetables will also give the side dishes a fun and colorful twist.
Conclusion
By getting creative in the kitchen, you can easily sneak in some extra veggies into your child’s diet without them even noticing. These ten easy tips will help ensure your child is getting all the essential nutrients they need to grow and thrive.