Mamas & Papas -
DS is two. After a recent cold, he's not only rejecting the "try me foods," but also his usual "staples." See my question from earlier today. Was already inclined to approach this with patience and humor, but you mamas have totally seconded that. Nonetheless, thought that some sneaky food recipies would probably be a good idea for the whole family. No harm putting canned pumpkin into this, or pureed blueberries into that.
Do you have any good recipies or recipe sources you would like to share to that end.
Thanks,
F. B.
You could make pumpkin bread or zucchini bread, serve it up warm with a bit of margarine, etc...oh, so yummy. I want some now. I also want a pumpkin pie...I make them crustless in a round cake pan, and it's SUPER simple. Just follow the recipe on the can, and feel free to adjust as you like...less sugar, one more egg, etc.
We love creamy sauces... but as it turns out, we love those sauces made from peas or butternut squash just as much if not more than the ones made from cheese and cream!
I just sauté an onion, garlic and a LOT of the veggie (a bag of peas or a whole butternut squash) season it up and cook until everything is soft. Then dump it all in the blender or food processor, drizzle in chicken stock and puree. It's great over tortellini, ravioli, really any pasta. DS used to call it "green sauce" or "orange sauce" until he helped me cook it. Now he just calls it "pea sauce" or whatever, so not as sneaky.
My mom is the food service director for the local public school and because of the new laws regarding school food she is required to purée black beans and add them to the brownies if she wants to serve them. So far the kids haven't noticed... But the cooks won't eat the brownies anymore, lol.
I add wheat germ, protein powder and flax seed to everything - cereal, pancakes, oatmeal, biscuits, cakes, brownies, salad, veggie toppings, soups, breading on meats and even in bread.
I chop up garlic and any kind of veggies very small and mix them up in ground meat for hamburgers, meatloaf, and meatballs.
Super-Secret Brownies
1 box ghirardelli mix
1 can 15 oz pumpkin.
Mix. Bake in pan or muffin wraps. 350, 1/2 hour, check middles, still wet? every 5 minutes after that. OR JUST EAT WET AND FUDGY. Mmmm.
Got these from friends when we came home from hospital with DS1.
You can sub your own mix for Ghirardelli if you like. Not sure what the standard box weighs. Go by that for mixing. Or by sight. : )
Cube squash and bake it with coconut oil. Mhmmm, you heard me. don't make the layer too thick in the pan. Stir them before serving so the oil is on everything. A little salt (sea salt is better). Nom nom nom. All you have to do is just walk by the pan and eat one while he is looking, and keep it in his reach. : D
Banana, blueberry, raspberry, pineapple pureed. Simple. Freeze them first and you have another concoction. Make unsweetened muffins and pull the centers out and fill with this and freeze. Or just drink or eat with spoon. If you pour a glass for yourself and drink it, you'll get some looks. Just try not to eat it too fast ; ) or you'll eat it before they notice it.
you can puree any leafy green in or dairy drink, and it won't be noticed really. It'll give a little cast (depending on how much you put in it).
cheesy veggies. Unless you are having to eat raw cheese, then you bake your veggies and grate your raw cheese over it when it is done cooking (1/2 cooled so you don't 'cook' the cheese accidentally!)
Sun Warrior makes a good supplement but uses stevia (we can't).
Have fun with all this! Try eliminating added sugar altogether and you'll see how much better he'll get and how much faster, as well as how long he'll stay away from a cold in the future.
Sugar is an inflammatory as well as an immune-reducer. They just don't advertise it like that when they say 'chocolate chip cookies'.
good luck,
M.
Meatloaf! I've hidden more food in meatloaf than I ever though possible. Puree a few carrots,a tomato, peppers, zucchini and mix them in.
I always add a can of creamed corn to corn bread. Might not be the best form of corn but it's better than extra oil or butter.
And applesauce in place of oil in cakes and brownies. Experiment and you'll find something that works well.
I am with the others - any baked good (and meatloaf is baked!) can have some hidden yummies in there. I have hidden carrots and all kinds of stuff in meatloaf. You could do a yummy bread and make it loaded with veggies and nuts, too.
I also do smoothies - that is where I get my biggest bang of veggies. Kale, spinach, flax oil, pretty much anything you can imagine - put it in with some frozen fruit, a little greek yogurt or banana and some oj, mix in blender and the kids think they are having dessert!
will he drink a smoothie? you can sneak many things into those. I have the Nutribullet and it's grinds things really well.. Example, I make a frozen berry, banana and spinach (yes spinach) smoothie.. .the nutribullet purees the spinach so well that you can't even tell it's in there.. and the taste is great..
plus, if you use frozen berries (or other fruits of your choice) it makes the smoothie for like a dessert.. if it so happens that your son likes desserts or sweet items.. However, in this case, it's all good nutrition without the junk
Good luck
Chocolate zucchini bread! Yum! Pintrest
