December 2010

Veg Out

During the colder months, finding fresh fruits and vegetables may be difficult, and getting your kids to eat them even more so. From new preparations of old favorites to some future favorites they (and maybe you) have yet to try, these surefire hits promise to get your kids inducted into the Veggie-Lovers Club.

To start, keep in mind how imaginative kids can be. Sometimes, something as simple as a creative or funny new presentation will produce surprising results. Carve notches into radishes to make roses, or stick raisins into the top of a banana to make a dolphin. Looking to really step things up? Try cauliflower sheep. Cut a head of cauliflower into florets and set them aside – these florets will act as the sheep’s body. Take black olives and insert two cloves in each; these will be the heads and eyes. Using toothpicks, attach four baby carrot “legs” and an olive “head” to each piece of cauliflower. Put the finished cauliflower sheep on a bed of parsley and voilà. You have just introduced your kids to one of the most notoriously kid un-friendly veggies on the market.

If creativity doesn’t work, try good old-fashioned trickery. By liquefying vegetables in a blender and adding the mixture to your kids’ favorites like spaghetti sauce, you can increase their intake of the good stuff without having to deal with any of the bad attitudes. 

Boxed macaroni and cheese is a universally loved kids’ food that can be easily doctored up. Next time your kids get a hankering for this traditional favorite, try mixing in a puree made from yams and carrots. An extra slice of American cheese will add additional calcium and mask any carrot taste. If you are truly daring, add broccoli and ground turkey to the mac and cheese and bake for a truly delicious – and healthful – treat. For dessert, add a baby spinach and blueberry puree to your favorite brownie recipe. It adds moisture and vitamins, and your kids won’t notice a thing.

Getting a kid to try something new is always an event, but these new and fun fruits and vegetables might make it a more frequent occurrence. Grapple®-brand apples combine the crunch of an apple with the flavor of a Concord grape, and one thing’s for sure – kids absolutely love them. Available in supermarkets, as well as online (www.grapplefruits.com), Grapples are easy-to-find and relatively inexpensive. Heirloom tomatoes and carrots are also great, kid-friendly items. Take your kids to a farmer’s market and let them choose from the kaleidoscope of colors, which range from green and purple to red and yellow.

Test your family’s taste buds by mixing mashed cauliflower into your mashed potatoes.  Skip the canned cranberry sauce and make your own cranberry compote from scratch by combining cranberries, apples, freshly squeezed orange juice, raisins and ginger.  Skip the calorie-laden green bean casserole for fresh French green beans (also known as “haricot verts”) tossed with sliced almonds and a splash of olive oil. Most important, disregard the old adage and don’t for one second be afraid to play with your food!