It can be hard for kids to get enough produce, especially picky eaters. That’s why I love these 12 recipes to add secret fruit and veggies to their meals.
In my experience, repeatedly offering vegetables to kids, in lots of ways, eventually works. But in the meantime, kids still need to shoot for the five recommended servings of vegetables and fruits into four kids every day. If not for nutrition, all that fiber helps kids avoid constipation.
I serve my kids veggies straight up but also add them into unsuspecting dishes: Eggs. Smoothies. Popsicles. And you better believe it, muffins. Here are a dozen ways to do it.
Magic Muffins: The Healthy 5-Fruit & Vegetable Muffins Kids Love
Our new favorite healthy muffins are adapted from Super Healthy Kids, with our version coming in a little less sweet and easier to make as well.
Very Veggie Filled Tomato Sauce for Pizza, Pasta and More
I have four small kids, ages three, five, seven and eight and whether anyone will eat it matters to me as much as I’m guessing it matters to you.
Guess what, this veggie-filled tomato sauce is DELICIOUS.
Good for you. Good to eat. A double win!
Chocolatey, chewy and as decadent as a brownie, your kids will NEVER guess the mystery ingredient.
It’s avocado.
And these chocolate avocado cookies are total keepers.
Baked Turkey, Pesto & Spinach Meatballs
What makes these meatballs special:
- Our meatballs are baked, not fried. So you pop one pan into the oven and never once worry about getting splattered by grease from the stove.
- We use whole oats instead of breadcrumbs, adding fiber while doing the same job.
- These meatballs have spinach and carrots baked right in–and guess what? They only make the whole thing yummier, adding moisture and natural sweetness. Thank you, veggies.
Double Chocolate Fruit & Veggie Muffins
Some muffins are really just cupcakes pretending to be good for you. These are not those muffins. If you want to add secret fruit and veggies to your mornings, start here.
My kids LOVED these healthy popsicles. Spinach doesn’t have a lot of flavor, so it’s ideal for adding to already sweet treats like fruit-filled popsicles.
Healthier Mushroom-Ground Beef Meatloaf
If you’re looking for a way to boost nutrition (better for your bodies!) while lowering your family’s beef consumption (better for the environment!), without sacrificing flavor at all, this is the healthy meatloaf recipe for you!
I love this chunky monkey green smoothie so much, it’s my favorite easy smoothie recipe!
But not as much as my four-year-old.
When she hears the blender (And who wouldn’t?), you can be sure you’ll have a small person at your hip with a suggestion: “How about if we share?” Nothing better than a simple recipe that somehow add secret fruit and veggies.
What makes this mac & cheese magical? We’ve got pureed sweet potatoes blended into the cheese sauce!
Perfect for toddlers or to round out lunch boxes, these little spinach cupcakes taste like sweet vanilla treats.
BBQ Quesadillas (With Carrots. Shhh!)
All you need is a grater.
And for the ultimate way to add secret fruit and veggies: Combine fruit and vegetables in different colors, blend it all up and surprise!
Besides being a fun experiment, there are tons of health benefits of eating the rainbow.
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