Hiding vegetables

[kparker]

I'm just curious how you feel about hiding vegetables in foods. Someone gave me the book "Deceptively Delicious" and I have a friend who loves to hide pureed spinach, sweet potato, whatever into foods of all kinds. I'm not against that, really, but it seems like a lot more work to me than necessary. Also, since I skipped purees by doing BLW I don't really want to start now! However, we're at a picky stage (he's 16 months) where my son doesn't really want to eat vegetables all that often. I may grate some carrots into spaghetti sauce or hide lentils in blueberry muffins (not a veggie, but still sneaky) but I don't want to just hide veggies and puree stuff all that time. Just wondering about your thoughts.

[Brigitte]

Hey, if it's a good recipe and you would eat it yourself, I don't see why not!

I would still keep in the habit of offering recognizable vegetables alongside everything else, though, so that he has the opportunity to appreciate them like that some day too.

[pirate_han]

B has a few that she will eat most of the time - peas, sweetcorn, green beans - and I put veg in stuff that I would have anyway - spaghetti sauce, lasagne etc - but I wouldn't go to the extent of puréeing spinach specifically to add to a dish. Mostly because I can't be bothered. B eats fruit and I figure that helps in the limited veg times!

[Sallie]

Every nowand then I do a blended pasta sauce that has spinach (defrosted frozen cubes), red pepper and tinned tomato (with garlic etc). It;s delicious and we all enjoy it. I think sone toddlers go through a stage where they don't like stews or sauces/curries to have lots of things in. My girl will eat raw veg if offered separately but doesn't like it all cooked together which is why I hide the variety in the pasta sauce. I've also tried mashing a bit of broccoli into pesto but she didn't like it. I don't think it;s harmful. I mean people eat pancakes and don't worry about eggs, flour and milk being hidden.... as long as it tastes good, they still get offered veg in their natural form at other times and you're not killing yourself to get it done then it's ok, but equally if they eat a balanced diet over time I don't think it's necessary.

[StJuniper]

I wouldn't do it for a 16mo in a fussy stage. Watching P I have come to believe that when his body needs vegetables, he'll eat them. He's had two carb-monster fussy phases, but come out of them, and is currently quite into vegetables. Then again, as Brigette said, if it's a delicious recipe in its own right, if have no problem making it as a delicious recipe.

[Gizmo]

I'm with SJ, kids go through phases. If they need them they'll eat them. Try changing up a bit how you serve them, mine have gone through definite phases of preferring them roasted, boiled, stir-fried and at the moment raw.

[Fish&Chips]

[UnhappyRightFoot]

I do as Munchies fussy phase is 3 years and counting!!! She can't go that long eating only cucumber and the occasional tomato and carrot! I grate carrots and corgettes into spag bol.

[Alstarofwonder]

[kparker]

Thanks for your ideas! I agree with pretty much all you said. I may make some of the yummy looking recipes sometime but I think right now I'm feeling to lazy to do it very often! I do a lot of cooking as it is and try to fill things with veggies. He does seem to be in a fussier stage right now where he'll spit out the chunks of carrot from a sauce, for example. I'll just keep offering and perhaps try one or two dishes a week with "hidden" veggies. I also agree it's important to offer "unhidden" veggies too. I'm sure this is just a phase! Thanks again for sharing.

[AngelofTroy]

I make sweetcorn muffins with blended veg regularly and these go down a treat. I love them myself but would never have thought of it before having LO (who's also 16 months). Tbh I find this particular recipe easier than normal baking, as the whole thing is made in the food processor, I don't even have to mix it! It's super quick and easily adaptable to include whatever veg we have in/whatever I think he might be lacking.

I see them as back up, I still offer veg with every meal, in all sorts of forms, but I feel a bit better knowing that he's definitely had a portion or 2 and it makes mealtimes more relaxed for both of us.

[Treeb]

AngelofTroy those muffins sound great - would you mind sharing the recipe? L and I both love muffins, but I need more "healthy" ones in my arsenal!

[Treeb]

Oh, nevermind! I've just seen that you posted a link to them in another thread.

[AngelofTroy]

Glad you found the link! I'll post it here anyway in case anyone else wants it:

www.taste.com.au/kitchen/recipes/cheese ... muffin,352