Kids LOVE Veggies (right!)
Do you believe that kids love veggies? I recently read a quote that said something like, “Your body already deeply loves vegetables, your taste buds just don’t know it yet”. Too true!
How ‘bout this one? “The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.” ~Thomas Edison. Thankfully, that day is upon us.
Wondering how to get your kids to be as excited about eating Harvest2U’s local organic produce as you are? Are you continually trying to lead them down the healthy road? Here’s a kid-friendly recipe for you.
Try these tips.
Set a good example yourself – If you are seen enjoying the foods and they see that Mommy hasn’t gagged, then they will be more inclined to follow your example. We all know that good habits are “caught not taught”.
Mince them – Minced vegetables may be added to most anything. Add them to foods you know they like. Try spaghetti sauce, other pasta dishes, scrambled eggs, pesto, salads, soups, mashed potatoes, rice dishes, casseroles. The list could be endless. And they won’t know the difference.
Dip them – Kids love to dip. Let them dip their raw carrots, zucchini, cucumber, celery, bell pepper strips, broccoli, and more. For dipping try, hummus, salad dressing, cream cheese, peanut butter, almond butter, tahini (a sesame seed paste), yogurt, cottage cheese, pureed tofu with herbs, or even ketchup!?
Top them – Sprinkle grated cheese on them. Try different cheeses as toppings. How about butter or sesame oil? Make your own breadcrumb topping with diced bread, oil, herbs/spices and bake until toasted. Crumble over the top.
Puree soups – If your kids don’t like chunks of vegetables in their soup, puree the whole thing. Try your favorite soup after it has taken a spin in the blender. Kids can drink it right from a cup!
Make veggie burgers – add grated carrots, minced kale (or other hearty greens), an egg, sesame seeds, coconut aminos, salt, and pepper to clean ground meat and you’ve got a veggie burger.
Drink them – Try an “All In” smoothie. In your juicer or food processor place 1 ½ cups apple juice, ½ apple (cored and sliced), ½ orange (peeled), ½ raw sweet potato or 1 carrot (sliced), ¼ cup chopped kale or cabbage, 1 banana. Puree together. Try your own combinations until you hit on the magic recipe!
Is That It?
OK, so you have the tips, now everything will be fun and games at the dinner table, right? Not so. You still have your work cut out for you. Remember, you are not only changing your habits but those of your family. That will take patience, positive reinforcement, and consistency.
To quote Winston Churchill (remember him?), “Never, never, never give up.”
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