If kids could have their way, many would eliminate veggies – or anything remotely healthy – from their diets and fill up on sweets and starches. The struggle for moms and dads is real. But that’s where having hidden vegetable recipes for picky eaters can help.
After all, parents know little ones need to eat those peas and carrots in order to grow up big and strong.
It can be a definite challenge, however, to get your kids to like vegetables or coax your picky eater to try new foods.
Need a boost? Try these eight hidden vegetable recipes for picky eaters, from breakfast food to desserts, that make feeding your kids veggies a bit easier.
Red Beet Pancakes
With this recipe from Weelicious, you can turn the breakfast staple into a fun and funky-colored dish using detoxifying beets.
Drizzle your favorite syrup on top and you’ve got a delectable dish!
Black Bean Brownies
Although black beans aren’t technically veggies (they’re legumes), these brownies from Stylish Cuisine are packed with protein.
Better still, all the healthy stuff is masked with very distracting deliciousness of chocolate.
Hidden Veggie Sloppy Joes
This simple Sloppy Joe recipe from Campbell’s Kitchen uses chopped onions and vegetable juice right in the sauce, rendering the healthy veggies unnoticeable.
Chickpea Cookie Dough Dip
Satisfy everyone’s raw cookie dough guilty pleasure with no guilt at all, using this recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie.
It’s made with chickpeas and sugar-free chocolate chips so it’s high in both protein and flavor!
Hidden Vegetable Meatloaf
Slip vitamin-loaded veggies like mushrooms, carrots and celery into your meatloaf using a food processor – and this recipe from Tasty Kitchen.
Spaghetti with Hidden Veggies
Chef Michael Smith shows how to sneak carrots, bell pepper, zucchini and spinach into this kid-friendly Italian sauce. Pour it on top of your family’s favorite pasta; then watch your kids chow down.
Smoky Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
Cookies & Cups offers this no-pasta option for mac and cheese, and we’re pretty sure your kids won’t even miss it! You’ll mix cauliflower, smoked Gouda, cheddar cheese and some spices for this dinner dish that’s sure to please the kiddies and parents, too.
Pizza Panini
Who doesn’t love fun pizza recipes? This delicious kid staple can easily be turned into a panini for lunch. And the best part of this pizza meal: You can sneak chopped broccoli into it without your kids even noticing. Try this recipe from Parenting.com.
Still in a bind? Check out our download for 14 foolproof tips to helping improve picking eating in kids.
This post was originally published in 2012 and is updated regularly.
