Veggie Recipes Your Kid Will Eat

By Karen Cicero
March 19, 2012
Camouflaged cauliflower. Onions incognito. Secret squash. Has hiding veggies become a nutritionist-approved option for picky eaters? Experts face off -- armed with recipes and clever ideas
Start Slideshow

1 of 7

Pasta Bake

Kang Kim
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

When all the ingredients for this meal are mixed together, the pureed veggies are undetectable. "The kids liked this the best of all the entr?es we tested," says Dr. Rolls. "They told us it tasted like pizza."

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 7

Snack-Cake Squares

Kang Kim
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

"Vegetables make baked goods moist and delicious," says Dr. Rolls. "The kids actually preferred this version of the recipe to one that contained half the amount of zucchini."

3 of 7

Mini Meatballs

Kang Kim
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Shhh! Mushrooms and onions help keep the lean meat moist, and kick in a serving of veggies per three-meatball portion.

Advertisement

4 of 7

Berry-Good Peas

Kang Kim
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Your kid likes juicy blueberries, right? "When you pair a veggie with one of your child's favorite fruits, she'll be more likely to eat both," says Dr. Wansink.

5 of 7

Kooky Kale Chips & Dip

Kang Kim
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This vitamin-packed leafy green can be a tough sell for children, so you'll want to win them over with two strategies: Turn kale into a food nearly all kids love (chips) and then up the ante with a dip. One recent study at Temple University found that 3- to 5-year-olds chowed down about 80 percent more veggies when they had something to dunk them in.

6 of 7

Orange You Happy Carrots

Kang Kim
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

A little bit of sugar (well, in this case OJ and honey) helps the carrots go down.

Originally published in the May 2012 issue of Parents magazine.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

  • By Karen Cicero

Popular in Kids Nutrition

All Topics in Kids Nutrition

Advertisement