How To Make Vegetables Taste Good For Children And Fussy Adults

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If you have children, chances are you have the fussy variety that has become accustom to modern day junk food. If that is the case, you present them with a plate full of dark green or deep orange vegetables, they may look at you as if you have insulted them. Sometimes they may pick this up from a spouse who is equally snobbish when it comes to eating what they think of as "rabbit food".

Whatever the case, you know your child must eat the vegetables since they are full of vitamins, minerals, fibers and antioxidants they need to combat the other bad eating habits. Eating a proper, balanced diet will help them keep their weight in check and prevent them for serious illness such as cancer and heart disease. If they don't eat right as a child, chances are not great that they will do it as adults either, so you want to start the good habit as soon as possible. But how?

There are many things you can do that really don't take much effort and don't compromise the quality of the nutrition. Some of these tips will add extra calories and fats, but at least it will get the vegetables down your fussy eater's mouth. Other ideas would involve shaping them in fun ways or simply hiding them. Here is the low down on how to get your loved one to eat their vegetables.

Toppings

• Adding melted butter - this works for virtually any type of cooked vegetable.
• Add seasoning - for cooked vegetables, you can try adding a touch of lemon pepper, dill, oregano, onion or garlic powder, popcorn cheese powder, chili powder, or curry powder. Experiment until you discover what the fussy eater will like best.
• Adding melted cheese - this will work for cooked vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, carrots, peas, and cauliflower, but it will add extra calories and fat and if you have overcooked these vegetables which most people do, you will have already eliminated the health benefits of these foods. Buy these products fresh, not canned or frozen. Cook until they are just barely tender and still a bit crisp. Then add the melted cheese. Velveeta is the easiest to use, but not the most healthy. Better cheeses do not melt as well. You may have to compromise and use the processed cheese just to make it look more appetizing.
• Adding bacon bits - with salads and cooked greens, this works well. Fry your own fresh bacon and crumble it. Or cook it with your green vegetables. Extra calories, fat and sodium, but it does usually make the fussy eater eat. Just be sure not to overcook the vegetable.
• Spread with cream cheese - with cold vegetables such as carrots, radishes, and celery, spread with cream cheese.
• Use a pre made dip or salad dressing - also with carrots, radishes, celery or other fresh vegetables, you can use a pre made vegetable dip. Salad dressing is also a good dip.
• Spread with peanut butter - this only seems palatable to carrots and celery.
• Add oil, vinegar and lemon juice - create an even mixture of oil, vinegar and juice to pour on fresh vegetables or cook your vegetables in this mixture.
• Add a cream soup - using canned soup cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, cream or celery or any other cream soup, heat it undiluted and pour over your cooked vegetables.
• Put in a Jell-O mold - cut up fresh celery or carrots into cubes or use fresh green peas. Choose your favourite type of gelatin flavor and add vegetables when the gel is semisolid. Stir vegetables in gently and then let set.
• Squeeze fresh lemon or lime - this probably won't work for very fussy eaters, but it is the best way to cover the taste of the vegetables since it does not add too many calories, and has no fat or sodium. Squeeze them over any cooked or fresh vegetable.
• Add honey - this works for cooked or fresh vegetables. Do not use honey for children under age 2.
• Add orange juice - just like with lemon or lime juice, it does not add much in the way of calories and has no extra fat or sodium. You can use this on fresh or cooked vegetables.

Shaping

• For vegetables such as celery, carrots, or any other narrow vegetable, cut into sticks. Or use a special knife that
• For vegetables such as turnips, potatoes, or other wide and solid vegetables, use a cookie cutter to shape before cooking. You can also use a special knife for this.
• For tomatoes, cucumbers or other soft vegetables, try using specially designed knives that will help you shape it in an interesting pattern.

Hiding

• Puree and vegetable juice - If you have a food processor, blend the vegetable of your choice to puree it. Alternatively, get a fresh vegetable juice or at least V-8. Using about 2 cups of the juice, add to ground beef or turkey when making hamburgers, meat loaf or meatballs.
• Make it into a gravy by adding 3 tablespoon of melted butter with 2 tablespoon of flour in a pan on low heat and stir until all the flour is dissolved then add juice and stir until sauce thickens. Alternatively, you can use 1 tablespoon of corn starch and 1/2 cup water mixing that together and put it in the already heated vegetable juice.
Make it as a base for a casserole. Instead of your normal sauce in your recipe, just add the fresh juice.

If All Else Fails

Take 4 servings of green vegetables and 2 servings of orange vegetables with 1/2 cup apple juice. Liquefy the vegetables in a food processor and mix with apple juice. Tell the fussy eater to drink this mixture first thing in the morning and they won't have to eat any vegetable the rest of the day. Alternatively, you can use 2 tablespoons of hot sauce for adults who may like a spicy kick.

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