Sneaky Greens for Kids
And even adults who like to feed their greens to the dog…
I LOOOOOVE to sneak some greens past my kiddos. My daughter (who shall remain nameless) loves to say, “But I hate peppers! But I hate tomatoes! But I hate broccoli! But I hate brussels sprouts!” You get the idea. And sometimes I get to rub it back in her beautiful little face… “Well you ate them last night SUCKA!” We’re uber mature over here.
Honestly, aren’t we all doing the best we can? We just want our people to eat their veggies without throwing a conniption fit. I mean, is that too much to ask? Can you eat your vitamins so you don’t develop rickets or scurvy or some other nutrient deficiency?
Here are some tips for getting those veggies down those throats of your tiny tyrants:
Soups- if you can’t get your kid to eat a kale salad, add kale to your soup. From chicken noodle with carrots and celery, to my new salsa verde chicken, that’s full of kale, soups and stews are a really easy way to get greens, carrots, tomatoes, squashes, onions, and other vegetables into your family’s belly. Other kids friendly: chicken gnocchi soup.
Casseroles- Have you heard of the tiny chop method? I chop up veggies so small, they are rendered almost unrecognizable. Try this trick and when they say they don’t like it, you can honestly say, “That’s so small I don’t even know what that is!” I cook up a great spaghetti squash casserole that I literally “kitchen sink” whatever vegetables I have. With the tomato sauce, they can hardly tell it’s full of tiny broccoli and carrots! #IWIN
Stir Fry- you can add a hecka lotta vegetables to your stir fry. We eat a delicious stir fry with peas, carrots, cabbage and alternating proteins pretty frequently. The kids have yet to complain- I think it’s likely the coconut aminos flavor that makes the vegetables more palatable for the littles.
Hash- Man I love a hash! They are so simple and one of my favorite “leftovers-for-breakfast” weeknight meals. (My mantra: “Add an egg, it’s breakfast!”) Our hash usually starts with onion and garlic like every good recipe, a spicy sausage, ground or sliced natural kielbasa, then we add a combination of sweet (sometimes red) potatoes, brussels sprouts or asparagus, colored peppers, apples, and craisins. Get creative with it!
Tacos, taco casserole, or taco pie- When you start with the base of ground beef, add your Mexican spices, then throw in Rotel or salsa, then add some corn, beans, and chopped kale or spinach. They can’t even taste it beneath those Mexican spices. And the kids really love Mexican flavors, so it’s not an issue to have the added veggies. If you’ve got chicken rather than beef, chicken taco chili is another Mexi fave!
Dressing- if you’re not cooking, an avocado oil based ranch or Green Goddess dressing for dipping will typically get my crowd to dip a few carrots and broccoli. Peanut butter is also great for celery or apples or bananas.
Pizzas- I’m not one to try and drown all my vegetables in cheese, but pizzas can be a great enticing treat if you make a deal that your kid needs at least one or two vegetables as toppings. Get them involved in the process and let them choose. And if you haven’t tried cauliflower crust, let me tell you, RUN AND GET IT! It’s a fantastic alternative to traditional and every bit as delicious!
What are your favorite ways to sneak greens into your dishes? What of these recipe would you like me to post next to help you sneak more veggies on to the plates of your loved ones?
