Sneaky Nutrition

Nearly every kiddo gets a little picky when it comes to his eating habits. And although sometimes it's OK to let Kyler (OK... and ourselves) indulge in an all-out sugar fest, the rest of the time we like to feel good about what is going into his growing body. Ky is usually a pretty good eater, broccoli being a favorite snack, but sometimes I like to "amp up" his meals and add even more nutrition.



Here are a few Kid Tested, Kid Approved "sneaky" ideas.

Add some vegetable puree to tomato sauces for dishes like spaghetti, and slip broccoli, spinach, or squash into lasagna.

Brownies are a great opportunity to sneak in blueberries and even oat bran.

I have even heard of people using carrot or sweet potato baby food in Mac n' Cheese or in baking.

Whenever possible, replace vegetable oil with applesauce or yogurt in baking recipes. Applesauce works best in cakes, cookies, and brownies, while yogurt is great for breads.

Make your own healthy popsicles by blending different fruits with a little water then freezing in an ice-cube tray with a stick. (Check out these cute guys and other ice-cube trays at Perpetual Kid!)
I must say I'm not a fan of tricking kids into eating healthy though. I do believe it is important to teach kids that healthy foods such as vegetables, fruits and whole grains are yummy and good for their growing bodies. If we sneak healthy foods into unhealthy foods, we might be encouraging kids to love brownies and other treats.
My advice to get your kiddo to eat better -- just keep trying. For a long time Ky hated celery, but I just kept offering it as a side with his carrot sticks (and made sure he saw me really enjoying it ) and eventually he tried it with some almond butter. Now he's an addict.

I hope these quick tricks can help you on your way to a not-so-picky eater!
Thanks for stopping by!

Love & Los Locos,
Katie