Other than poop, lack of sleep, and time-outs, I don’t think there is a more discussed parenting topic than “how do I get my kid to eat vegetables?” There are oodles of tips out there:
- Hide greens in their smoothies
- Blanch the veggies to make them softer to eat
- Let them dip veggies in hummus or other dips
- Give them a treat if they eat all their veggies
And, I’ve tried them all. There are days when at least one of the bullet points above works on my 18-month old son. There are other days where I could have a list of 100 things to try and he still wouldn’t eat anything I put on his plate. Sound familiar to anyone else?
However, here are some tried and true recipes that, more often than not, are a success in my household.
1. Creamed Spinach: don’t let the name fool you. This is actually a healthy creamed spinach. And, don’t let the word “healthy” fool you. It’s every bit as delicious as creamed spinach sounds, without the fat and calories from heavy cream.
2. Chicken Zucchini Poppers: I started making these for my son when he was about 9 months old and he still loves them. You can’t taste the zucchini in them, unless of course you want to.
3. Easy Vegetable Curry: this recipe is full of flavor, which can make eating boring veggies a lot more fun. Have your kids participate and vote on which veggies they want go into the curry.
4. Broccoli Fritters: who wouldn’t want to eat broccoli and cheese? Pro tip for this recipe: you can buy already “riced” broccoli in a bag at Trader Joes.
5. Vegan Pesto with Zoodles: I am obsessed with this pesto! The nutritional yeast used in place of parmesan cheese adds protein to the dish. Make some zucchini noodles or “zoodles” and top them with this healthy, herb filled sauce.
Happy veggie tales to all!