Few parents have not encountered the challenge of convincing their baby or toddler to eat vegetables. Whether they are testing their independence or just simply do not like their veggies, at some point you can be sure they will refuse them. Follow the simple steps below and you will be amazed at the wide range of vegetables you will be able to feed your little one without them even knowing. Someday they will grow into vegetable loving adults thanks to your persistence and dedication.
Step 1:
Select a great new recipe that has flair or a family favorite that you know your child will love.
Step 2:
Decide whether the recipe has a mild flavor overall or a strong, pungent flavor. For example, rice pudding would be considered a mild flavored dish while enchiladas, on the other hand, have a strong, spicy flavor.
Step 3:
Choose a mild or strong flavored vegetable that will complement the recipe you are preparing, and blend well. You might also want to consider the color of the vegetable if your child has an aversion to veggie colored particles in their food. Another way to disguise the vegetable is to peel it, if it has a brightly colored peeling.Examples of mild vegetables: zucchini, squash, eggplant, turnips, cauliflower, baby spinach, corn, jicama, yams.Examples of strong vegetables: bell peppers, carrot, broccoli, celery, turnip greens, beets, tomatoes, pumpkin, onion.
Step 4:
Grate or shred as much of the vegetable as you can reasonably pack into the recipe, while still maintaining a consistency that will work. Don't be timid, you would be surprised how many handfuls of grated carrots you can add to a bowl of oatmeal cookie batter!
Step 5:
Mix vegetable into recipe and prepare as you normally would. In some instances, vegetable might need to be cooked slightly or blanched before adding. Use your own judgment, but keep in mind that you will probably be cooking the vegetable more later on in the recipe after combining with the other ingredients. Don't forget to add some chocolate/carob chips or cheese as appropriate if these are needed to help distract your little one from the orange or green veggie specks!
Step 6:
If your little one is EXTRA picky, turn the vegetable into a puree before adding to the recipe. Chop and boil the vegetable just a few minutes in order to get it soft enough to puree in food processor or blender. Don't overcook; you will lose many of the nutrients. After pureeing, add to the recipe and prepare as directed.
Step 7:
Some great foods to mix veggies into are: cookies, cakes, breads, pasta dishes, macaroni and cheese, rice dishes, rice pudding, stir fries, burritos, enchiladas, casseroles, pizza, pan-fried salmon, crab or tuna cakes, pancakes, quiches, soufflés, soups, sauces, cream cheese/sour cream dips served with chips and anything else you can think of!
Step 8:
Be sure that your food has lots of flavor. Don't be afraid to add fresh garlic, onion, chili powder, cinnamon, pure vanilla extract, ginger, etc. These flavorings have great nutrients, as well as making the food much more interesting. Additionally, fresh herbs are a delicious and healthful way to add flavor to food: basil, dill, mint, cilantro, and any others.
Step 1:
Select a great new recipe that has flair or a family favorite that you know your child will love.
Step 2:
Decide whether the recipe has a mild flavor overall or a strong, pungent flavor. For example, rice pudding would be considered a mild flavored dish while enchiladas, on the other hand, have a strong, spicy flavor.
Step 3:
Choose a mild or strong flavored vegetable that will complement the recipe you are preparing, and blend well. You might also want to consider the color of the vegetable if your child has an aversion to veggie colored particles in their food. Another way to disguise the vegetable is to peel it, if it has a brightly colored peeling.Examples of mild vegetables: zucchini, squash, eggplant, turnips, cauliflower, baby spinach, corn, jicama, yams.Examples of strong vegetables: bell peppers, carrot, broccoli, celery, turnip greens, beets, tomatoes, pumpkin, onion.
Step 4:
Grate or shred as much of the vegetable as you can reasonably pack into the recipe, while still maintaining a consistency that will work. Don't be timid, you would be surprised how many handfuls of grated carrots you can add to a bowl of oatmeal cookie batter!
Step 5:
Mix vegetable into recipe and prepare as you normally would. In some instances, vegetable might need to be cooked slightly or blanched before adding. Use your own judgment, but keep in mind that you will probably be cooking the vegetable more later on in the recipe after combining with the other ingredients. Don't forget to add some chocolate/carob chips or cheese as appropriate if these are needed to help distract your little one from the orange or green veggie specks!
Step 6:
If your little one is EXTRA picky, turn the vegetable into a puree before adding to the recipe. Chop and boil the vegetable just a few minutes in order to get it soft enough to puree in food processor or blender. Don't overcook; you will lose many of the nutrients. After pureeing, add to the recipe and prepare as directed.
Step 7:
Some great foods to mix veggies into are: cookies, cakes, breads, pasta dishes, macaroni and cheese, rice dishes, rice pudding, stir fries, burritos, enchiladas, casseroles, pizza, pan-fried salmon, crab or tuna cakes, pancakes, quiches, soufflés, soups, sauces, cream cheese/sour cream dips served with chips and anything else you can think of!
Step 8:
Be sure that your food has lots of flavor. Don't be afraid to add fresh garlic, onion, chili powder, cinnamon, pure vanilla extract, ginger, etc. These flavorings have great nutrients, as well as making the food much more interesting. Additionally, fresh herbs are a delicious and healthful way to add flavor to food: basil, dill, mint, cilantro, and any others.
