Veggie Packed Meals for the Picky Eater at Your House

Some kids love to eat their vegetables, most do not. If you are sick of forcing your child to sit at the table until they have eaten their vegetables, you are not alone. More and more kids are filling up on processed, refined, sugary, and salt filled foods, and are neglecting to eat enough fresh vegetables. If your kids fit this description, it is time to do something about it so that you do not become part of the rising statistic for childhood obesity. The following are a few simple, but kid friendly meals that are veggie packed, and healthy!

Veggie pizza: Kids love pizza, and hate veggies, but they will love a veggie pizza. The trick is to keep the veggies cut small enough that the kids either do not notice it, or do not care about it. So, dice your veggies up small, and sprinkle them in among the cheese, and meats, and pineapple that the kids do enjoy. Try the following recipe:

1. Pizza crust.
2. Can of tomato sauce.
3. Cheese.
4. Pineapple.
5. Ham.
6. Broccoli (chunked up very small, precooked if the pizza crust is precooked)

Put the sauce on the crust, then the veggies, then the cheese, and the other toppings. Putting the vegetables under the cheese will make them less obvious, and the kids may not even notice them as they enjoy the ham and pineapple, with cheese pizza. Cook the pizza until the cheese is melted and the pizza sauce is warmed all the way through.

Veggie pasta: Pasta is a great way to introduce more veggies to your child. Kids love pasta with cream sauce or tomato sauce, some chicken, and veggies. Dice the veggies up small so that the kids get pasta with their vegetables. Throw in some peas, some diced up carrots, some diced up broccoli, and whatever other veggies you have on hand. Just be sure to cook the vegetables thoroughly, as your kids may not love biting into a crunchy carrot while eating their softer pasta.

1. Can or jar of Alfredo sauce
2. A pound of pasta
3. A half pound pre-cooked, diced chicken
4. One cup peas, thawed
5. One cup diced, cooked carrots.
6. One cup diced, cooked broccoli
7. One cup corn, thawed

Cook the pasta, and warm the sauce with the cooked veggies and meat mixed in. Then serve with a light side salad.

As you introduce some vegetables to your child, consider adding them to every dish. You can stick a couple in their scrambled eggs in the morning. You can add some fresh veggies with dip to their snack regime. You can add some cooked veggies to just about anything, just cut them small, and keep them inconspicuous so that your child is not fully aware that they are being fed veggie packed meals.