Sneaking in Veggies

[Sasha at Parenting.com]

In the April issue of Parenting, we featured Sneaky Chef dessert recipes (http://www.parenting.com/recipes-gallery/Recipes/6-Dessert-Recipes-from-The-Sneaky-Chef) that incorporate baby food for totally-can't-tell nutrients. (We've also got 6 more recipes online (http://www.parenting.com/recipes-gallery/Recipes/6-Easy-Recipes-from-The-Sneaky-Chef).)

Do you have any tricks for sneaking veggies into your kids diet? We're always looking for new creative ones.

[rayasmom]

Well...I have to admit that I got these two from Sneaky Chef, but they are both great tricks--add 1 tbsp each of pureed carrots and sweet potatoes (or just use baby food) to boxed mac 'n cheese. Also, whenever I make pasta, I add 1 tbsp of carrots to the pasta sauce. And the only juice I give my kids is the Juicy Juice or V8 versions that are both fruit and veggies. And, if you have a Trader Joe's in your area, I've discovered that the store carries an applesauce/carrot product called Apple Crushers that I mix in with strawberry applesauce. My kids have no idea!

[EVsMom]

Even though Evie is slowing getting better at eating veggies, I still slip some in with other foods. May sound strange but I have mashed up steamed peas and mixed in scrambled eggs. Evie loves eggs so she didn't seem to notice. Also when making pasta like elbows or penne, I usually coat in some kind of tomato sauce for flavor and using a chunky sauce gives her more tomatoes. I also add lima beans and peas to a small bowl of beans, like kidney or black. She doesn't distinguish between the shapes so since she loves all kinds of beans, adding some other "round" finger foods are just fun for her.

[bluegrassmom]

I mash up veggies and throw them into practically everything we eat. My DD's favorite food is pancakes and I always throw a boatload of veggies in them. She hasn't noticed yet! I also have had to resort to drowning a lot of her food in ketchup to get her to eat it. Actually, she won't eat it if I put the ketchup directly on her food, it has to go on the side so she can dip her food or fingers into it at will.

[may2mac]

I've tried pureeing carrots and sneaking it into boxed mac n cheese, but DD noticed after about two bites. I haven't tried it since. I have on occasion added pureed carrots to our marinara sauce. No one has noticed.

[alittlebouncingsoul]

I love sneaky chef recipes! My DS won't eat veggies at all anymore, so I have to sneak them into foods he enjoys. I've been using avacado on his grilled cheese sandwiches, and he loves it!

[Jill_at_StorkRadio]

mash them up!

[lou]

I use pureed baby food squash (1 jar gerber 2nd foods) in 1 box mac n cheese instead of milk and butter. I also make him special meatballs with wheat germ, cooked and mashed up frozen peas and carrots, and pureed sweet potatoes, minced onion and garlic for a flavor boost, and a dash of worcestshire sauce. I also use wheat germ when making burgers for my stepsons. I call them GERM burgers and they love it. I use wheat germ in meat loaf as well and in a lot of sauces I make. I also make a lot of one dish casseroles where I sneak in purees instead of milk or some other wet ingredient.