Seven easy ways to sneak vegetables into your child's diet.
In a perfect world, small children would eat vegetables because they enjoy them. In a near-perfect world, they would eat them because you tell them to. In the real world, it can be a challenge to get a toddler to even taste a vegetable, let alone consume one. If your child is resistant to veggies, here are seven great ways to sneak some into their diet.
Burgers
The next time you make burgers, finely chop some carrots, celery, and/or onions and mix them in with the ground beef or turkey. Top the burger with a slice of cheese and your child will never spot the veggies.
Smoothies
If you make smoothies with a highly flavorful fruit such as pineapple or strawberries, you can easily sneak some pureed carrots or carrot juice into the mix. The strong flavor of the fruit should mask any hint of the carrots.
Corn Muffins
Corn muffins are similar to corn bread and can be made from scratch or from a mix. They are a very good base for all sorts of add-ins resulting in a variety of flavor combinations. One such combination is broccoli and cheese. Just toss in some chopped broccoli and grated cheddar cheese for a yummy veggie muffin.
Salsa
Salsa, made with vegetables to begin with, can hide a multitude of veggies. In addition to the tomatoes, onions, and peppers already present, you could easily add chopped carrots or zucchini for an added burst of nutrition.
Sweet Potato Fries
Though these vegetables will be in plain site, their familiar fry shape may make them more appetizing for toddlers. Cut sweet potatoes into strips and spray them with butter-flavored cooking spray. Sprinkle with salt if desired and bake for 10 minutes on each side in a 400 degree oven.
Burritos
For a nutritious filling, simply toss cooked beans and chunks of avocados into a blender and blend until smooth or nearly smooth. Spread into a flour tortilla and sprinkle the filling with cheese. Fold the tortilla and pop into the microwave until cheese is melted.
Pasta Sauce
Grated carrots, zucchini, or squash can be easily concealed in a batch of tomato based pasta sauce. The sauce can then be used to top your child's favorite pasta.
