Get Your Kids to Eat Vegetables – Even at Lunchtime!
We can’t always follow our kids to school and insist they eat a least a few bites of the veggies on their plate. So, how can you be sure your little ones are getting the amount of vegetables they need every day? Sneak them in – that’s how. No one ever said we moms couldn’t be sneaky when it was for the good of our children. Check out these few ideas to get those veggies in your child’s lunch and their growing bodies too.
Play Hide Without the Seek
Kids who won’t voluntarily eat their veggies don’t have to be your defeat. If you can’t get the kiddos to eat their veggies willingly, try the sneak attack and hide them. Here are three ideas to get you into sneaky mode. Add grated veggies, such as carrots or zucchini to bread or muffin mix before baking. Add lettuce and tomato to their favorite sandwich. Turn their favorite sandwich into a pita pocket with veggies (just a few) and meat and cover with hummus or their favorite shredded cheese.
Kids Love Soup
If your kids love soup, here’s a great opportunity to give them the veggies their body needs. Try combining vegetables like canned tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onion, garlic and a bit of olive oil in a blender to create a cold soup. Remember to keep it mild in flavor for best results in the taste department.
Hot Lunch Hiding Spots
These ideas are great for dinner time too. Cut up veggies such as peppers and onions and add to your pasta sauces. Making meat loaf or ground beef? Be sure to add lots of veggies like carrots, zucchini, peppers and celery to the mix. Just make sure to cut them up or grate them into small enough pieces to not easily be recognized by the kids. The kids will never know they are there.
Veggie Wraps
Wraps are a great way to give your child healthy lunches and snacks. Fill a tortilla or pita bread with lettuce and whatever vegetables your child does like. Add protein to the wrap with sandwich meats, chicken, tuna and boiled eggs. Top with their favorite cheese and you’ve got a yummy and healthy snack or lunch.
Dunk ‘Em
Children love to dip their food in different sauces and dressings. Give them lots of variety by cutting up raw vegetables such as carrots, peppers, cherry tomatoes, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, etc. Add a bit of ranch dressing, their favorite yogurt dip, or sour cream and let them dip away. Trying new veggies and dips, like avocado, every now and again will keep them from getting bored with the same tastes.
Drink Those Veggies
Lots of kids don’t like vegetables because of their texture. If this is the case for your child, juice the veggies and let them drink it instead. You can make your own with a juicer or buy vegetable juices like V8 juice, in their favorite flavors.
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