How to Sneak Vegetables into Your Kids Meal

Every parent will experience it at some point: a child who refuses to eat their vegetables.  In fact, some parents may experience this every day!  Although it’s not always their favorite, kids need vegetables in order to grow healthy and strong.  Luckily, there are a number of ways to disguise vegetables so they are happily consumed by picky eaters. 

Covering vegetables in cheese is a great way to get kids to consume vegetables.  It doesn’t matter what it is, if it’s covered in cheese it has to be delicious.  Keep this dish healthy by using low fat, part skim cheeses. 

Hiding vegetables in other foods is another great technique.  Finely chopping up broccoli, cauliflower, or any other vegetable and adding it to a hamburger or meatballs will make them unnoticeable. 

The same premise is easily accomplished with soups or stews.    After blending vegetables in a blender or food processor, the fine vegetable paste that is created can be added to all sorts of soups and stews, even chicken noodle!

Although tricking children into eating vegetables is one technique, kids should still always be encouraged to try vegetables.  Be sure to present kids with vegetables at every meal to give them as much opportunity as possible to try new things.  And don’t be beyond offering rewards for finishing their plate; if a child will eat their vegetables if they are promised chocolate when they are finished, then give them the chocolate! 

It is also important to lead by example.    If kids see you eating and enjoying your vegetables, they’re more likely to try them for themselves.