Vegetables by stealth
Posted by kathryn in Vegetables
I’ve written before on strategies for getting kids to eat more vegetables. Even the best eaters tend to go through a phase where they “go off” vegies. Persistence and consistency are important, but sometimes meals are in danger of becoming a battlefield. In that situation I recommend vegies by stealth:
Hide the vegetables in what you’re making. Add vegetables to soups and then puree the lot; make a risotto with the vegetables grated through; make fritters and burgers that include vegetables.
This sneaky strategy has recently been backed up by research. Scientists from Pennsylvania State University served lunches to children one day per week for four weeks. Some of the lunches included pasta with broccoli and cauliflower blended into the sauce and the kids ate it.
As the researchers pointed out, you don’t want to be hiding vegies all the time. Kids still need to learn what vegetables look and taste like and that they’re a normal part of a healthy meal. However, if you’re having a bad week nutritionally with your kids, then this is a good back-up strategy.
Thanks to Calorie Lab for pointing me to this study.
25 May, 2007
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