How do you make veggies?

Dd1 who is 6 is still an extremely picky eater, eating only carbs. We’ve been through everything, including feeding therapy. Her doctor recommended I try cooking veggies in different ways, trying new recipes. Problem is, I’m a working mom with hardly any time to spend on side dishes. Usually I just throw frozen veggies in the microwave or sauté something with olive oil and garlic.

Do any of you have easy standout veggie recipes that your kids love?

How do you make veggies?

Mashed cauliflower, mashed sweet potatoes, ST zucchini tots, pumpkin mac and cheese. I make a broccoli potato soup she loves. I used to be able to get her to believe riced cauliflower was rice but she wised up. Finely diced tomatoes and peppers mixed with quinoa.

The one surefire way I get DD to eat veggies are the frozen Trader joe’s pastas with veggies. There is a farfalle and spinach one that she loves. You can heat them on the stove or in the microwave so it’s heaven during the hour of hell between work and dinner.

How do you make veggies?

I do a lot of raw veggies for my kids bc it's easy to set a little side as I'm cooking and they're more likely to try them that way. My super picky 6yo prefers pain baby spinach over any other vegetable.
She used to love the green giant frozen green beans with almonds which is super easy.
I sneak a lot of butternut squash into things. I roast the biggest one I can find and then puree it and freeze into cubes like when I made baby food. I throw a cube into smoothies or defrost two and add them to boxed mac n cheese or pancake mix. Takes some prep work but one squash lasts me months.
My 4yo's favorite is roasted or steamed broccoli.

Re: How do you make veggies?

I'm no help because the only veggies DD likes ARE carbs- potatoes, corn, , carrots etc

How do you make veggies?

So my one is VERY picky and also has some texture issues with his low muscle tone. So he loves meat so I grind up broccoli(I use the food processor or my kitchen aid attachment) and make chicken meatballs with broccoli. I make a bunch of food Sunday’s I don’t cook every night, I don’t have time and I only work 2 days. Also try that veggiti thing that makes zucchini noodles it’s quick and easy to use and may work for her, I bake mine

Re: How do you make veggies?

Posted by NervousNell

I'm no help because the only veggies DD likes ARE carbs- potatoes, corn, , carrots etc

Re: How do you make veggies?

Posted by Momma2015

Posted by NervousNell

I'm no help because the only veggies DD likes ARE carbs- potatoes, corn, , carrots etc

And also the only veggies I like are carbs.

We usually sneak broccoli in with pasta cut up really small in the sauce. She'll also entertain the idea of it smothered in cheese sauce but usually only for a bite or two.

How do you make veggies?

My Dd will eat peas, broccoli, sweet potato, corn, carrots (only raw, not cooked) and cauliflower (if we force her). I usually just roast the veggies or steam them. Sweet potato she will eat right out of the skin with a little cinnamon on it.

Re: How do you make veggies?

Will she help you prepare them? She might be more into trying something she “made”

I make a big salad and meal prep on the weekends. My kids love to help by putting the veggies into the containers and washing them. My 3 year old snacks the whole time eating raw peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, etc. it’s my sneaky way to get the veggies in. My son also loves dips like hummus and guacamole.

Green giant makes yummy cauliflower tots (also broccoli and others but haven’t tried yet).

Try adding some butter/salt to the frozen to add some flavor.

Roasted veggies are a fav of mine and easy to prepare.

Try sweet potatoes, carrots, butternut squash and peas as they are a bit sweeter than others.

My daughter is pickier but loves steamed green beans and broccoli and raw carrots. Sometimes they eat salad with kids dressing -ranch.

Will she eat fruit? I always think that’s at least one healthy way for the vitamins/minerals.

How do you make veggies?

If I casually put out a platter of raw veggies and dip my kids will go to town on it. Especially if I tell them it’s MY snack.

Re: How do you make veggies?

My youngest is an extremely picky eater, so much so that we had a feeding therapist come to the house to help us when he was 3. Anyhow one of the things she suggested was to blend spinach into anything and it’s pretty tasteless and packed with vitamins. We were like ok, sure, yeah right. Well we tried it-my son loves pediasure and smoothies so we blended the spinach really fine into it (of course making sure you can’t see any green or he wouldn’t touch it). I tasted it and could not taste the spinach at all! I would def recommend this.

Re: How do you make veggies?

Posted by NervousNell

Posted by Momma2015

Posted by NervousNell

I'm no help because the only veggies DD likes ARE carbs- potatoes, corn, , carrots etc

And also the only veggies I like are carbs.

We usually sneak broccoli in with pasta cut up really small in the sauce. She'll also entertain the idea of it smothered in cheese sauce but usually only for a bite or two.

Same here! I am not a vege fan. At all.
But I've survived all these years, and we are rarely sick
I was watching something online recently about how you really shouldn't stress over eating veges because they aren't really as so vital and necessary as they are made out to be.
I am living proof of that!

Re: How do you make veggies?

Posted by Momma2015

Posted by NervousNell

Posted by Momma2015

Posted by NervousNell

I'm no help because the only veggies DD likes ARE carbs- potatoes, corn, , carrots etc

And also the only veggies I like are carbs.

We usually sneak broccoli in with pasta cut up really small in the sauce. She'll also entertain the idea of it smothered in cheese sauce but usually only for a bite or two.

Same here! I am not a vege fan. At all.
But I've survived all these years, and we are rarely sick
I was watching something online recently about how you really shouldn't stress over eating veges because they aren't really as so vital and necessary as they are made out to be.
I am living proof of that!

Seriously- if they were that vital... I'd have been dead a long time ago. I take vitamins and call it a day! I was worried when I got pregnant and forced myself to eat all sorts of veggies in the beginning. I drank kale and spinach smoothies for effs sake. Morning sickness quickly put a stop to that. Even typing the words "spinach smoothie" now makes my gorge rise.

Re: How do you make veggies?

Kale: sautéed with garlic or roasted
Spinach: as above or raw
Carrots: raw or roasted
Corn: boiled or raw if in season (yum!!)
Green beans: haricot verts work best: boil for 1-2 minutes, then stir fry with onion flakes and oil. Add salt. This is our signature recipe and we haven’t had a kid ever refuse it. Just don’t tell them there are onions in it!
Potatoes: roast the multicolored ones
Butternut squash: roast
Broccoli and cauliflower: boil with salt and butter (this is a favorite and a regular)
Broccolini: with some oil pan fry
Brussels: cube up salami and roast
Zucchini: slice in half and put Parmesan on it and roast in oven.

As with everything, the fresher, the better and we do a single veg with simple meats. We do have kids pick the stuff when in season: it got us all eating kale and carrots. The kids actually like things I don’t (like peas), so I never make a face or complain. I also will not mix vegetables. I don’t like that myself...

Message edited 12/31/2018 5:17:36 PM.

Re: How do you make veggies?

Thanks for all the ideas! Dd does not eat fruit either (except for bananas). That’s on our list too...

How do you make veggies?

My kids like the Green Giant cauliflower tots, & broccoli and cheese tots. Maybe your DD will like those? I can also get them to eat veggies in soup- chicken noodle, minestrone, beef barley, broccoli cheddar. I put veggies in meatloaf, smoothies, pasta sauce, mac & cheese. I am lucky that my boys like straight up veggies, with my DD's it gets a little more tricky.

How do you make veggies?

My son loves steamed green beans and broccoli. He loves corn on the cob. He likes to eat fresh green beans and carrots. He also likes to eat frozen corn. Yes, frozen. He calls it cold corn. I tried to fight him on this, but he loves it, so I gave up. He can eat bowls and bowls of it. My son also loves pickles.

Re: How do you make veggies?

I'm laughing at this thread because you all can hide veges in food.
My dd will only eat pb&j, mac and cheese...but it has to be Kraft...she won't touch homemade mac and cheese, chicken nuggets/fingers and fries, pasta with butter (no sauce so i can't hide veges in there, pizza but only from a pizzeria and NO toppings, grilled cheese, and an occasional burger.
Nowhere to hide a vege.
I wish she would eat half the shit listed here!

Re: How do you make veggies?

Re: How do you make veggies?

I don't. I've honestly just given up. I've tried so. many. different. ways of preparing veggies, and my kids just won't eat them. The pediatrician said as long as they're eating fruit, don't stress about it. Thank goodness they eat fruit at least.

How do you make veggies?

If you have an air fryer, it's so easy to make crispy brocolli. My kids go crazy for it. Just cut the broccoli into even sized bite-sized pieces, toss them in oil and sprinkle with desired seasonings. Then cook in the air fryer until desired crispness, making sure to toss every few min for even cooking. Or it can also be done in the oven. Same prep directions. Then spread evenly on a cookie sheet and bake until desired crispness. (Also can follow the same recipe with asparagus- toss with oil and seasonings and bake on a cookie sheet. My kids also love that).

Re: How do you make veggies?

Re: How do you make veggies?

Re: How do you make veggies?

How about edamame with soy sauce or steamed broccoli with a brown garlic sauce? My DD loves that.

Re: How do you make veggies?

She won’t eat broccoli from chicken & broccoli from the Chinese restaurant. Good idea to try edamame!