"Deceptively delicious" recipes - hide the fruit and veg!

[jennyb133]

I made the meatloaf with carrot puree last night. I think it turned out good.  But James my picky eater, didn't even want to try 1 bite. 
Alex who was always a great eater, now sees James refusing food or pushing it away, so he has started to become picky as well.  He ate the meatloaf all down, so that was good.
What to do with my James? I offered ketchup for him to dip it in. Then I offered to make it on a sandwich. He said yes to the sandwich, but then he proceeded to take the meat out of the sandwich and just eat the bread!

[nwmm]

I am wondering aloud because my lo has become picky with meat.  I wonder if a veggie puree would make a good dipping sauce?  My lo doesn't like to dip her meatloaf in Ketchup.  I don't like pushing Ketchup because it is sugar, but when I want her to eat meat I am flexible. 

She likes sweet potatoes.  I wonder about a veggie puree of sweet potatoe.  Even a fruit puree of a fruit they like.  Sounds gross to me, but might work.

My lo will sometimes ask for A1 Steak Sauce.  Not sure how you feel about that as a dipping sauce.  Have to be careful of all the vinegar because they can start coughing.  I kind of know what to expect and so does she so  I don't worry as much.  Always have plenty of milk or water there.

Some people use honey as a dipping sauce.  Also sugar so, again, don't know how you feel about it but might start the ball rolling.  I love it on chicken (and oatmeal).  So much so I don't buy it any more.   

[TERESA-E&C's Mommy]

My dd loves ranch dressing for dipping.   I have never heard of vinegar making you cough.  good to know.  I imagine if you made the puree just right it could be a good dipping sauce.  It seems kind of yucky for my taste too, but what ever works with the LO's right?
Teresa

[Colin Macs Mom]

nwmm, Colin was the same until one day when I offered him some honey mustard as dip. It was off to the races then!

[jennyb133]

Yeah, not a fan of ketchup either but for awhile it was the only way he would eat meat!  Will have to try honey next.  I guess I could try a veggie purree dip, but not sure he would go for it. 

DH tried homemade chicken fingers last night, but b/c it didn't LOOK like the frozen chicken fingers that he likes, he again refused to try!!!

[Deb_in_oz]

Just want to say i got the "Sneaky CHef" book out of the library and it is quite good.  last night i added sweet potato puree to the ingredients for french toast (whicsked all together) and even though the orange bits were still visible alex LOVED it and inhaled 2 big slices with a little bit of maple syrup spread on top. (was still a bit lumpy so will really blend next time). i tasted it and it was yummy.

some other recipes i am planning (if this heat ever stops and i feel like baking more)
brownies that have spinach and blueberry puree in them (just a bit of cocoa makes them chocolatey, seem really healthy) - done the purees just not cooking much lately
"cookies" that have oats, almonds, chickpea puree, wheat germ...
another one that has ricotta and wholegrain cereal flakes
crackers made from cheddar, parmesan, chickpea puree, wheatgerm, flours and spices...
a sweet variation on roasted chickpeas (alex actually likes the salted roasted ones whereas liv only likes the canned ones plain)  you add just 2 tsp of sugar, 1 tp of cinnamon and 1/4 tsp of salt to a whole can of chickpeas (tons of protein) and bake/roast them in the oven until crunchy. so it is a "treat" that is protein packed and only a tiny bit of sugar

for me i need portable protein for alex for school (it is nut free and she lives on PB sandwiches for lunch at home so 5 days of food is hard for me) and veggies for both girls.

anyone made any recipes from the sneaky chef??

[Peek-a-boo]

Hmmm . . . the roasted chick pease sound yummy.

[sanaya]

going to read thru this thread, seems like a god send!

[Katet]

I haven't read the recipe book, but I'm already a sneaky cook (but my boys know it) It has been lots cooler this week & so I've been using the oven (something I don't do lots over Summer - which it is here) & 3 lots of cake/bread - chocolate cake with carrot & beetroot, banana cake with zucchini (corgette) & choc chips (incentive for DS1, who loves the cake) & Zucchini bread (I have heaps of zucchini growing in my Veg garden... but the recipe has heaps of sugar so need to play around with it)... each recipe makes 2 bar tins & has between 1.5 & 2 cups of Veg/fruit in them.... by using powdered milk for the milk content I've been able to up the Veg content & the whole family love the cakes & I don't feel too bad about giving DS1 a peice of cake/sweet bread for his recess at school.

I also use Veg puree in my pikelets I use powdered milk so the liquid comes from the dilute puree (mostly zucchini puree). Pikelets have egg & milk in them so good for the protein & easy to take to school.

Deb When I was at school my Mum used to freeze a tub of normal yogurt & by lunch it would thaw out & I'd eat that.

Protien isn't an issue for my boys as they eat more meat than I do... DS1 loves meat (of any type) & is ok with fish too. Infact as of the last 6 months I can feed him a meal with Meat & 4 veg & it will all get eaten if the y veg are caramaised onion, corn, lettuce & jacket potato... needless to say we have them A LOT... this is a child who at 10 things at age 2.5... we have come a LONG way. So for me putting the veg in things is just about saying you can have a treat that has good stuff in it too & you can never have too much Veg KWIM... also veg makes the cakes more moist.

[Deb_in_oz]

kate can you share some of those cakey recipes - that is what i am working on sending with alex - still really hot up here so hate the thought of baking (but raining today so i may just get something in the oven by this evening - perhaps the brownies)

[nwmm]

I am interested as well.  I assume enough of us need to be peanut free for lunch, *at least* 5 days a week - - if not more!!

[sanaya]

i read thru 4 pages...lovely thread.

i used to make this one alot for ds1 and one day he just went off it. i should do it again, was yum.

take a bunch of raisins, dried figs, apricots and stew them. puree nice and fine. stock some in your fridge, some in the freezer. i used to add a tablespoon or two to a banana/yogurt smoothie.
 like a dessert portion. yum.

[Deb_in_oz]

well the brownies came out great - i made them after the kids went to bed and they are fudgy, chocolatey and not a trace of the blueberries or spinach. it uses a 1/2 cup of the puree of both + wheatgerm + oats as the hidden nutrients.  to make them brownies it took 3/4c chocolate chips, 1/2 c sugar and 2TBS unsweetened cocoa (if i remember correctly). i think that is a good trade off for spinach and blueberries in a kid who eats no veggies and only raisins and bananas as an occasional fruit source.  dh had 2 and i had to tell him to leave them alone as he gets his nutrients the old fashion way and has access to chocolate on his own... might have to make him a batch of my famous (at least in some circles in Sydney LOL) brownies with kaluah (or rum) to keep him away from this stash.

next on the agenda will be some of one type of cookie and one type of muffin.

[jennyb133]

Deb- the chick peas idea sounds great!  James needs peanut-free too, and he's not been eating the meat & cheese sandwiches I send for lunch.  He only wants plain cheese sandwich or apple butter sandwiches.  What degree & how long do you cook them?  He's not a big fan of beans at all, so I'm at a loss with the protein, but if they are sweet & crunchy he might like.

DH just brought home some zucchini bread the other night that a women at work made. It was good and got me thinking about making some as well. Only prob was it had walnuts in it and James has the nut allergy so we couldn't let him try it.  James also has an egg allergy so I'm finding it challenging to try and do the baking recipes without eggs. A lot of trial and error.

I pack yogurt a lot for James to bring to school, I just stick an ice pack in his lunch bag.

[Katet]

Deb I will post the recipes but a word of warning I'm a bit of a "granny" cook, I do things by feel a lot of the time & so do tend to play around a bit & also work on the cakes being healthy & taste good rather than show quality KWIM

My zucchini bread has walnuts too, but I'm going to try it without so can send to school with ds1 & also try it with some white choc chips & reduce sugar. I've also got a friend with a recipe for pear & raspberry bread, so going to get that from her.