complete veggie strike!

[*Becky*]

he is funny...he does not like fries! then again we have not offered them much although dh did make some home made ones.
I love the idea of putting b squash into the mac n cheese! Thanks x

[Mom to M&M]

Does he eat pizza? Both my kiddos love it and while they prefer takeout/restaurant pizza they happily eat homemade pizza (i use premade dough/crust) with a thin layer of chopped baby spinach (grated carrots work well too) between the cheese and sauce.

Zucchini bread (with or without chocolate)? apple carrot muffins?

[*Becky*]

Yes he does like pizza. We often give buy the basic bases and then add veg on top but I ile the idea of the spinach layer. Thanks for the great ideas. have you a recipe for the apple carrot muffins? He LOVES cake!

[Mom to M&M]

The reason I like to add the spinach UNDER the cheese is cause it's much harder to pick off than veggies on top LOL!

Here is my apple carrot muffin recipe. They come out really moist and tender - almost like a fruity carrot cake!

1 3/4 cups raisin bran cereal
3/4 cup AP flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup sugar (I use half brown sugar, half raw white sugar)
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
3/4 cup light buttermilk
1/4 cup canola oil
3/4 cup finely chopped peeled tart apple
3/4 cup finely grated carrots
1/4 cup chopped walnuts

In a bowl, combine the first six ingredients. In a small bowl, beat the egg, buttermilk and oil. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in apple, carrots and walnuts. Fill paper-lined muffin cups or cups coated with nonstick cooking spray three-fourths full. Bake at 400 degrees F for 20-23 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Serve warm.

Also, I've used this one for zucchini bread and it comes out really good and DS likes it. You could also add cocoa powder and/or mini chocolate chips to it... http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/2580

[Mom to M&M]

Thought of two more hits here... Similar idea with both - roasted chickpeas and baked kale chips.

For the chickpeas, I simply take a can of chickpeas (or garbanzo beans, same thing). Drain and rinse well and then toss with one tbsp brown sugar, one tsp cinnamon and 1/2 tsp salt. Spread on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 55-60 minutes, shaking the sheet and mixing occasionally until the chickpeas are crisp and "rattle" on the pan.

For the kale chips just take one bunch of kale and with a knife or kitchen shears carefully remove the leaves from the thick stems and tear into bite size pieces. Wash and thoroughly dry kale and drizzle it with one tbsp olive oil and sprinkle with one tsp sea salt. Put on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes (edges should be brown but not burnt).

I personally prefer the kale chips (mmmmm) but my kiddos like both!

[*Becky*]

well we are going for it this weekend. making a spinach smoothie today and then trying a sweet potato pancake and shepherds pie tomorrow. please oh please make him like something

[anna*]

Remember too, if he turns his nose up at it, keep offering. Ask him to have a taste (we do it together in steps, talking about each step as we go - first smell it, then touch it, then kiss a piece, then put it on our tongue, then put it in our mouth and take it out (a few times), then put it in and chew it). It can take like 20 tastes (not even 20 exposures) before they will decide they like it.

[*Becky*]

thanks anna
He hated the smoothie and cried when I asked him to have another sip. It did not taste great tbh. My fault as we had loads of w-melon and no pineapple so I substituted it and it tasted pretty bad!
He loved the s-potato pancakes and I did them with cream cheese so pleased about that
I remember about the repeated exposure. That is true of banana. We must have offered that to him about 40 times before he would eat it and now he loves it.

[*Becky*]

just to say we have had big success with Annabel Karmel hidden veg sauce spread on a pizza base with cheese on top......

[Mom to M&M]

Yea! Glad to hear it. Now maybe try to sneak in a layer of kale or spinach under the cheese too? (or is that me being too greedy LOL).

[*Becky*]

will do
Used the same sauce with macaroni and he till ate it. Really pleased. I know it is only one thing but it is super healthy and has lots of veg in x

[15milner]

Will he eat mashed potato
I manage to hide cauliflower.  In a really good, mash, added extra butter etc.  No-one noticed, I've even managed to do pure mashed cauli and managed to pass it off as mash potato!!!

[Mom to M&M]

WTG Henry!!! Hey it's all about baby steps and that's a really good one!

[MummyToBen]

Hey that's great about the sauce 

We make a quick thing for lunch which is like a mini pizza which Ben wolfs down - and it has loads of veg....

Muffin (cut in half) or a wholemeal tortialla wrap (am trying to find organic ones as the normal ones have loads of E numbers in I noticed the other day  )
Spread with tomato puree or homemade tomato/veg sauce
Grate half a corguette and half a red/yellow pepper (I find that the green ones are too bitter for Ben) and spread over
Grate some cheese on top and pop under the the grill until cheese is melted and veg are cooked
I sometimes add ham, or tiny bits of mushroom (most of which get picked off  ), or tuna and sweetcorn

I used to pre-cook the grated veg in the microwave for 30 seconds, but now don't bother as I forgot to do it once and Ben still loved it!

SO quick and I love the fact that I can see he has eated a large amount of veg in a relatively small meal 

x

[*Becky*]

ooh thanks claire - I am all for quick and easy! I have not tried tortilla's with him but that is a great idea too x