If you have a picky eater then you know the stress and worry that comes with getting them to eat a balanced and nutritious diet. Or anything at all, if they are like my toddler. With a some imagination and creativity I realized I could feed my little girl vegetables without her even realizing it. I still offer vegetables with every meal, but these are some great ideas to sneak in a few extra. Some of them may surprise you!
Source: www.babyfoode.com
1. Green Smoothie
This is a winner at my house! Smoothies are a quick and easy way to pack a whole lot of nutrition into your kids. Once my little girl figured out how to drink from a straw I started offering her some of my morning smoothie or juice everyday. Soon enough I was making double the amount so she could have one of her own. This is a perfect go to idea, especially if a dreaded food strike has arrived. If you think the green color is going to put your child off, just serve in a fun cup so they won’t be able to see it.
If you are looking for more ideas on what to feed your little ones? Head over to www.babyfoode.com for tons of amazing recipes.
Source: www.cupcakesandkalechips.com
2. Cheesy Veggie Quinoa Bites
If you have spent any amount of time on Pinterest you will have seen a bunch of creative kid snack ideas. These bite size snacks are popular for a reason, they are delicious! Having made a few variations of them myself I can say they are a family favorite all round and we make them for ourself as much as we do for our toddler.
Go and check out www.cupcakesandkalechips.com for more meals and sweet treats for the whole family.
Source: www.noshandnourish.com
3. Green Pancakes
These may look a little too crazy for you, but from my experience kids like to make everything fun, even with their mealtimes and I bet they would get a kick out of these. The pancakes are sweet and delicious and also packed full of green goodness. Win Win!
Find this recipe and many more at www.noshandnourish.com.
Source: www.mamalovesfood.com
4. Creamy Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Mac and Cheese is a kid favorite and a popular dish in most homes. Unfortunately the in-a-box variety does not offer much nutritional value. Luckily, here is a quick and easy recipe to makes this crowd pleaser even more popular. And you can feel better knowing you sneaked in some extra veggies without the fight.
Take a look at www.mamalovesfood.com’s recipe index for your next meal!
5. Cheesy Cauliflower Breadsticks
In my house I feel like we just cannot keep enough bread stocked, we used it for everything. It is so convenient that I find myself in a toast and sandwich rut. I have seen the many uses of cauliflower but I was not convinced, until I saw this. Cheesy cauliflower bread! Such a great idea for snack time or side dish to go with dinner.
(Learn to make it at www.jocooks.com.)
Source: www.livesimply.me
6. Fruit & Veggie Gummy Snacks
My kid loves fruit snacks, and while we do buy the organic ones from the store, they cost a pretty penny and at the end of the day, they are still processed. I thought making my own would be intimidating but this recipe makes it super easy. I love how you can include both fruit and veggies, and it doesn’t hurt that it makes a delicious, healthy replacement to candy.
Check out www.livesimply.me for this recipe and many other great healthy meals for your family.
Source: www.thechicsite.com
7. Fruit/Veggie Popsicles
Popsicles are always a welcomed treat for any kid. It doesn’t even have to be summer. These are much like the smoothies, except just pop them in the freezer and you have a yummy and healthy snack. You can be creative with the recipes and sneak in lots of green and healthy vegetables hidden within sweet delicous fruit.
www.thechicsite.com has more recipes, fashion and home decor you will definitely want to check out!
8. Add Pureed Veggies To Sauces
An idea we got from one of our readers is to add pureed vegetables into pastas sauces. If my kid wont eat anything else, I can almost always guarantee she will eat pasta, sauce and cheese. I actually keep a stash of pureed veggies in the freezer that I can pop into dinners or smoothies without any fuss.
9. Hide The Veggies
Our favorite and most creative idea from another one of our readers, and winner of the April giveaway, is just old fashioned hiding of the veggies. You can do this many ways, but the one that really made us chuckle is hiding peas inside pasta tubes. What a genius idea, and lets be honest, desperate times call for desperate (and hilarious) measures.