10 Sneaky Ways to Get More Fruits and Veggies in Your Diet
You want your child to eat more vegetables. You beg and you plead, but her diet consists of grilled cheese, pizza, chicken nuggets and other stereotypical kid fare.
You have good reason to want your children to eat veggies. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, vegetables offer nutrients such as folate, vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium and fiber. These nutrients are vital for the body’s maintenance and health.
Don’t give yourself a guilt trip if your kids fear the celery stick. It is possible for your little ones to learn to love veggies. Doubtful? Follow these tips and your kids will soon learn that a broccoli floret can be just as tasty as a goldfish cracker. We promise!
Blend them. The blender isn’t just for making fruit smoothies. Use your blender or food processer to whip up a yummy veggie beverage. This recipe from Eating Well will get your kids to even try kale. (If the kale taste is too strong for your little one, try adding a tablespoon of peanut butter to the mix.) You can also take advantage of the blender to create a veggie dip, such as this one from Glamour that boasts zucchini.
Make them exciting. Just like you make Mickey Mouse-shaped pancakes for breakfast, vegetables can be transformed into something fun. Let the kids help you create vegetable kabobs like this one from Food.com and throw them on the grill. Another idea is to host a theme night and integrate veggies into the menu. For example, on Taco Tuesday, kids can assemble their own soft or hard tacos and load them up with lettuce, tomatoes and more.
Hide them. Take your kids’ favorite foods and sneak in some veggies. This Rainbow Pepper Pizza is brimming with various peppers and red onions, boasting vitamins A and C and fiber. Puree vegetables into macaroni and cheese, as is done with this Carrot and Cauliflower Mac and Cheese.
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