How to Sneak Veggies in Your Child’s Diet

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As a new mom, I had dreams of feeding my children only the healthiest, most nutritious foods.  I imagined that they would grow up with a palate that didn’t crave junk, but only wanted the best for their growing bodies.

Looking back I almost laugh out loud at that thought, as my children often beg for gluten-free pretzels and dry Chex cereal.

Ha!  Oh, the ideals of a new mom who has never met the match of child who craves cake and cookies for breakfast!

 

I am thankful though, that besides the occasional junk food, my kids LOVE vegetables.  Raw, in salads, steamed; they seriously love their veggies.

But it wasn’t always that way.

For a long time I had to sneak veggies into their food, hoping and praying they were getting enough nutrition.

So from one mom to another, here’s my favorite tips to sneak veggies in your child’s diet without tears and tantrums.

Smoothies

Oh, the joy of smoothies!  Masked by natural sweeteners, such as fruit, honey and natural peanut butter, the options for hidden vegetables are endless.

Try spinach, carrots, kale, and/or beets to add a healthy dose of added veggies to the smoothie.

Kids love the delicious taste and are none the wiser that the “milkshakes”, as we call them, are loaded with healthy nutrition.

Here’s three easy smoothie recipes for you from Right from Home to help you  get started on your path towards smoothie blending.  Get the recipes here.

Juice Plus

I decided to incorporate Juice Plus into our children’s diets to boost their immune system and help them fight off illnesses.

My kids were sick all the time, and even though they liked vegetables, I knew they needed to boost their immune system to fight off those nasty school germs.

The Juice Plus gummies are packed with all of those vegetables you’d struggle to feed your child.

Each gummie is packed with all natural, whole foods, with no chemicals or additives.

I shudder to think about the chemicals and additives I was pumping into my children before Juice Plus!

The veggie gummie includes carrots, parsley, beets, kale, broccoli, spinach, cabbage, tomato, oat bran, and rice bran.

So in those seasons where my children refuse to eat their vegetables, I am providing a nutritious, whole-food alternative and don’t blink an eye when a plate of broccoli is pushed away.

That makes my mom heart jump for joy, and they are staying healthy, too!

{The veggie gummie is also paired with a fruit chewable, that includes apples, oranges, pineapple, cranberry, peach, papaya, and acerola cherry. Together, the gummie duo boots immune systems and provides optimal nutrition for growth and development.}

 Sauces

I make a lot of sauces from scratch, and will use my food processor to mince vegetables into unrecognizable pieces and add them to sauces to enhance the nutritional value and taste of the sauces.

Spinach, mushrooms, cauliflower, and onion are some of my favorite sneaky mom veggies to mix in, and the kids are none the wiser!

Baked Goods

What child doesn’t love a muffin or a baked treat from mom?  My kids will eat almost anything if I call it a muffin!

I started getting smart and adding in minced or shredded veggies to the already nutritious recipes I was making.

Try adding in mashed sweet potatoes, shredded zucchini, or carrots to boost the nutritional contents of your treats.

I even substitute raw honey for sugar and cut the amount used to lessen the sugar content.

These Triple Hitter Toddler Muffins aren’t just for toddlers, but are packed with multiple veggies, yet will fool even the pickiest of palates!  Visit Simply Made with Love here for the recipe.

Shredded In….

You might say I’m slightly obsessed with hiding vegetables from my kids, and have found that if you shred or mince, you can add them to pretty much anything!

My other favorite foods to hide the veggies in includes, omelets, soups, burgers, and home made pizza.

Sky’s the limit on where you can stash the veggies without kids knowing and don’t be afraid to try!

You can do it, mom!

What your sneaky mom trick for adding more vegetables to your child’s diet?