Kids are notoriously picky about their food, especially when it comes to greens and veggies. Here are 7 simple tricks to get your little ones the nutrition they need (without the headache).
And if you find that your childhood dislike of all things green has carried over to adulthood, try a yummy supplement like Green Qi by Modere, which has delicious fruit notes already!
From Averie Cooks
Makes one 12 oz. smoothie
Total cook time: 2 min.
Ingredients
1 to 2 cups frozen spinach
1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
1 cup frozen mango chunks
1 medium ripe banana, peeled (previously frozen in chunks is ideal)
1 cup strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or a favorite berry, optional
1 cup milk (we suggest almond or coconut)
1 teaspoon+ vanilla extract
Sweetener to taste (we suggest agave, stevia or honey)
Prep & Cook
Strong flavors like cheese and garlic simply turn otherwise-despised veggies like broccoli into satisfying texture points. Here’s a recipe that’s sure to get the job done.
From Delish
Makes 4 servings
Total cook time: 35 min.
Ingredients
12 oz. angel hair pasta
2 c. broccoli florets
1 pt. cherry tomatoes (yellow and red)
1 8-oz. package baby bella mushrooms
1 15-oz. can artichoke hearts, drained and roughly chopped
2 tsp. garlic powder
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
3/4 c. grated parmesan, plus more for garnish
Sliced fresh basil for serving
Prep & Cook
Consider pesto your secret weapon. It goes in pasta, on chicken, with rice; it’s a veritable sneaky-veg hero. Full of bold flavors like lemon and garlic, pesto masks greens without batting an eyelash – even bitter ones like kale. The recipe below will rock your (kid’s) world.
From Marin Mama Cooks
Makes 2 cups
Total cook time: 10 min.
Ingredients
2 cups spinach, lightly packed
1 cup kale, rinsed and de-stemmed, lightly packed
1 cup basil, lightly packed
¾ cup unsalted raw whole almonds, lightly toasted
½ cup olive oil
¼ cup parmesan cheese
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
3 large cloves garlic, peeled
3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
Prep & Cook
Research(1) suggests that we’re more likely to grab carrot sticks over candy if they’re closer in reach. Why? Good ol’ fashioned human laziness.
The ultimate kid-approved food can take a major heap of veg without getting caught, especially when you include textures similar to macaroni. This recipe is a great example of how to get lots of nutrients into an already-beloved dish (plus, extra points for the baking).
From Snixy Kitchen
Makes 6 servings
Total cook time: 40-50 min.
Ingredients
1lb gluten-free quinoa macaroni or your favorite macaroni
1-1/2lbs sharp cheddar cheese, shredded and divided
8 ounces cottage cheese
8 ounces sour cream
½ head of cauliflower, finely chopped (I just send mine through the grater of the food processor)
3 yellow squash or 1-2 small zucchini, shredded
1 teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper, to taste
Prep & Cook
It’s one of those little tricks that’s hardly noticeable, thanks to cauliflower’s natural starch-less creaminess. Plus, it’s just as easy to make as your favorite mashed potato dish (if not more so). Give the below recipe a whirl!<
From The Kitchn
Makes 8-10 servings
Total cook time: 35 min.
Ingredients
2 (16-ounce) packages riced cauliflower, or 1 large head cauliflower (about 3 pounds)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cups water
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Prep & Cook
Studies show that people – including kids – are far more likely to consume what they can regularly see. Part of the challenge with greens is that they take more time to dig out of the fridge and prepare. Out of sight, out of mind. Junk food, by contrast, is ready for consumption with little to no effort albeit the tear of a freshness seal. Keeping vegetables in easy-to-see (and access) places will introduce them into your kids’ consciousness. For example, displaying a bowl of fruits or a platter of baby carrots and moving the chips up a shelf or two can go a long way in helping along good eating habits.
(1) Viskontas, Indre. Mother Jones. How to Trick a Child into Eating a Vegetable. motherjones.com
Ever wonder why it can be so hard to stick to a wellness routine? Turns…
Have you ever wondered why supplements you find in the grocery store aisle are often…
El cuidado personal es el viaje de toda la vida que es esencial para mantener…
Occasional stress and anxiousness have become almost unavoidable occurrences in our daily lives — so…
Self-care is a lifelong journey that is crucial to maintaining an optimal mind-body balance. But…