By Paloma Cortez
Finding yourself trying to get your kids to eat more vegetables?
Don’t feel alone! It is common among parents. So why don’t you try to make everyday vegetables into yummy snacks or meal components? An easy way of knowing what would kids like is thinking about regular snacks or meals they enjoy.
Let’s take chips as an example, now try to convert this snack into a heathier version using vegetables. For instance, use sweet potatoes, parsnip or beet root for a sweet version or kale leaves for a savory option. You can season these chips with different flavors to get the most flavorful snack out of these vegetables. Also, you could make sweet potato fries instead of chips. If you think of pasta, there is an easy way to add on more vegetables by blending them into the sauce.
Other good examples of foods that kids enjoy are pancakes or muffins. You can add different vegetables like zucchini, carrots, beets, or spinach to them and make a healthier sweet baked good ready to go. Kids will be fascinated to have a colorful breakfast or snack.
Finally, children like to drink delicious and refreshing beverages, so why not indulge them with a super healthy smoothie, using equal parts of fruits and vegetables.
It is really important to introduce veggies to your kids at the earliest stage of their lives and stay on that road through the years to come. This will ensure they easily eat and enjoy whatever enhanced food you provide to them.
I truly hope you find what your kids crave for using these tips so you can rest assured you are doing your best when nourishing your family. Here are some delicious recipe ideas that are easy to make at home.
Sweet potato chips:
| 1 big sweet potato, thin slicedPowdered cinnamon or salt (you get to choose!)1 tbsp olive oil | Preheat oven at 360°FAdd the oil and desired seasoning to the sweet potatoes and toss until coated. Spread evenly on a wire rack pan the sweet potato slices and bake for about 20 min. |
Green pancakes:
| 1 cup of oats1 cup of fresh spinach1 egg¼ cup pf almond milk 1 bananaPowdered cinnamon and vanilla extract to taste | Mix everything in a blender until smooth. Add more milk if necessary.Grease a heated pan with some oil or butter and spoon the mixture into circle shapes. Cook the pancakes until done. |