Tricking the Kids...
Cali's cauliflower thread made me think of the ways I trick my kids by adding certain things to certain regular foods inorder to make sure they get the vitamins and nutrients they need.
I add Benifiber to just about anything I can stir it into. My family does not eat enough green veggies and it is a great way to get that fiber in their diets.
I put purreed cauliflower into all the things I mentioned in the other thread, to add some more vitamins into everyday foods.
I give my children Morning Star nuggets and sausage links and they don't know the difference from the real thing.
I buy a very small portion of calf liver from the butcher and freeze it then shred it with my food processor, then put the frozen shredds into anything I make with hamburger meat; chili, spaghetti, enchiladas, etc...Just adding 4 oz of liver to any of these dishes more than doubles their iron content. The great thing is you can't taste or smell it.
I grew up eating liver and I hate the stuff, and if I can't detect it you won't be able to.
I also make fun foods like sweet potatoe french fries, which my kids go a bit whaky over. I'll make a seperate post for those if anyone wants the recipe.
So how do you trick your family, friends, and kids into eating just a tiny bit healthier?
ROzbeans
19 years ago
I don't trick - I ground her. =D
Sarah
19 years ago
I'm glad that works for you. Wish it did for me. *sigh*
Den
19 years ago
Yea, I never had to trick my daughter either, I just fed her healthy things and for the most part she ate them. She even likes things I don't cause I gave them to her even when I wouldn't eat them...like cottage cheese, peas, and green beans (shudders). She would still probably even be eating beets, but I used to freak out when she'd pee red in her diaper that I quit serving those to her lol
tamaelia
19 years ago
My son doesn't like spagetti bolognese *what kind of mutant child is he, I mean everyone likes spaggy bog* so I get him to eat it by chopping up bits of frankfurt/sausage in the bottom of the bowl before serving and he has to eat down to the *treasure*. It has worked where no other amount of yelling, pleading, ordering, toy banishing etc has.
Temprah
19 years ago
I have to ask my Mom if she did any of that to me.. I'll be seriously pissed if she did! About the worst I know she did was she'd make lasagna and use thinly sliced zuccini or eggplant instead of noodles.
Den
19 years ago
My mom never tried to hide anything...she just told us either we ate what was put in front of us, or we didn't get dessert...or when that didn't work, she made us stay at the table when she knew we wanted to get finished and go outside to play.
I got very good at spitting peas into a napkin and flushing them down the toilet :P
With my daugther I would have her try one bite of everything I fixed and if she didn't like it after that, I wouldn't force it. I still don't know why parents do that. Most adults I know have things they don't like to eat, so why force a child otherwise? :P
I got very good at spitting peas into a napkin and flushing them down the toilet :P
With my daugther I would have her try one bite of everything I fixed and if she didn't like it after that, I wouldn't force it. I still don't know why parents do that. Most adults I know have things they don't like to eat, so why force a child otherwise? :P
Sarah
19 years ago
I can do the try everything thing with my eldest daughter, and she very willingly eats vegetables, and just about anything I put infront of her, which is probably because I gave her a huge variety of foods as an infant/toddler and give her lots of choices.
However, I did the exact same thing with my youngest and she has a very small menu of items that she is willing to eat, so I have to sneak things in on her.
My husband is also quiet the picky eater and so I have to do the same to him.
However, I did the exact same thing with my youngest and she has a very small menu of items that she is willing to eat, so I have to sneak things in on her.
My husband is also quiet the picky eater and so I have to do the same to him.
Calimaryn
19 years ago
I dont hide things to get picky people to eat, I add them to put more nutrition in to the foods I do enjoy.
Mashed potatoes are great if you dice the potatoes tiny and add only enough water to cover them. Then pour off a tiny amount once done to fork tender. Add in half a roasted squash and chunks of roasted garlic. I have used butternut and acorn and you cant taste it but it gives it that 'cheesy' look.
Good way to get fiber is to switch to whole grains. Brown rice not white. Whole wheat pasta or brown rice pasta instead of white. Rye or whole wheat bread instead of ... white! Try Quinoa (pronounced keen wah), couscous, millet or amaranth. Fabulous whole grains and tastey. If the kids do eat rice, try a pilaf with half whole grains and half rice. Its good and even a bit fancy for the adults!
I was very lucky. Angel was quite happy to eat veggies and occasionally try some things that were a bit 'out there' for her. Poor child lived through my tofu experiment stage! I am much better at tofu now thankfully.
Remember kids taste buds are waaaay more sensitive than ours. So if its a sharp flavor, they may not like it.
Mashed potatoes are great if you dice the potatoes tiny and add only enough water to cover them. Then pour off a tiny amount once done to fork tender. Add in half a roasted squash and chunks of roasted garlic. I have used butternut and acorn and you cant taste it but it gives it that 'cheesy' look.
Good way to get fiber is to switch to whole grains. Brown rice not white. Whole wheat pasta or brown rice pasta instead of white. Rye or whole wheat bread instead of ... white! Try Quinoa (pronounced keen wah), couscous, millet or amaranth. Fabulous whole grains and tastey. If the kids do eat rice, try a pilaf with half whole grains and half rice. Its good and even a bit fancy for the adults!
I was very lucky. Angel was quite happy to eat veggies and occasionally try some things that were a bit 'out there' for her. Poor child lived through my tofu experiment stage! I am much better at tofu now thankfully.
Remember kids taste buds are waaaay more sensitive than ours. So if its a sharp flavor, they may not like it.
Sarah
19 years ago
Thanks Cali!
Though I do use whole grain mostly organic foods. I have for some time, my problem is getting it to them in a way they will all eat it.
My husband will not eat brown rice, so I don't use rice unless it is covered by a sauce of some kind or in a stew or cassarole.
My oldest and myself will pretty much eat anything in whatever form I put it in.
My youngest does not eat pasta or rice in any way, shape, form, or flavor, not even mac and cheese. She has texture issues and pasta and rice are more texture problem than anything else.
I worry that my family doesn't get enough vegetable based vitamins, so I sneak them in on them. It's easier than begging everyone to eat the damn broccolli.
Though I do use whole grain mostly organic foods. I have for some time, my problem is getting it to them in a way they will all eat it.
My husband will not eat brown rice, so I don't use rice unless it is covered by a sauce of some kind or in a stew or cassarole.
My oldest and myself will pretty much eat anything in whatever form I put it in.
My youngest does not eat pasta or rice in any way, shape, form, or flavor, not even mac and cheese. She has texture issues and pasta and rice are more texture problem than anything else.
I worry that my family doesn't get enough vegetable based vitamins, so I sneak them in on them. It's easier than begging everyone to eat the damn broccolli.
carpex
19 years ago
Raise the pimp hand strong and the child will eat.
Or let them eat whatever they want and suffer the consequences!
Or let them eat whatever they want and suffer the consequences!
Calimaryn
19 years ago
Glad to be any help at all! I know how hard it can be with picky eaters. Thankfully Angel's stay in that stage was short. Of course she always messed up what she did and didnt like after that. So one night she liked mushrooms and the next, she didnt! Was frustrating.
In regards to texture, is it too firm? or not soft enough for the little one?
If the rice or pasta is too hard / solid then you can try a rissoto or cheat like I do! Smushy rice is 2.5c water to 1c rice, put water, bullion AND rice in pot and bring to boil. Stir for 1 min once its bubbling. Cover, turn to low and cook the standard time (20 to 45 min depending on type). Once you open it up, add in some margarine and it should be like rissoto only without the cheese and broken arm from stirring nonstop!
If its too mushy and squishy, I dont know honestly. Other than cook it less so its reeeealy al dente. :ohmy
In regards to texture, is it too firm? or not soft enough for the little one?
If the rice or pasta is too hard / solid then you can try a rissoto or cheat like I do! Smushy rice is 2.5c water to 1c rice, put water, bullion AND rice in pot and bring to boil. Stir for 1 min once its bubbling. Cover, turn to low and cook the standard time (20 to 45 min depending on type). Once you open it up, add in some margarine and it should be like rissoto only without the cheese and broken arm from stirring nonstop!
If its too mushy and squishy, I dont know honestly. Other than cook it less so its reeeealy al dente. :ohmy
Sarah
19 years ago
hehe, saddly I've tried everything. I think it might be the outside texture, since anything even remotely like pasta, (kinda wet and slimy) is instantly rejected.
I'm rather sensitive to textures to, but I manage to muscle my way past it so I can eat the flavors I like.
I'm rather sensitive to textures to, but I manage to muscle my way past it so I can eat the flavors I like.
Verileah
19 years ago
Good tips in this thread :). My kid has a pretty limited menu too...there's at least one or two foods from each food group that she'll eat but it's a struggle to get her to eat enough, especially meat and veggies. She's fine with whole grains as long as there aren't any seeds or oats on the top of the bread, for example. Green veggies are an issue though, any tips for slipping in the greens? *ponders ways to sneak spinach into peanut butter* In all seriousness, substitues for jelly that are a little more healthy would be appreciated - pb&j being one of the few things she'll eat.
Anyway, I totally sympathize on the texture issues...mine has texture issues...and color issues...and having to eat at exactly a certain time issues...*eyepoke*
Anyway, I totally sympathize on the texture issues...mine has texture issues...and color issues...and having to eat at exactly a certain time issues...*eyepoke*
Sarah
19 years ago
It is really really hard ti hide green veggies, but I do every once in a while sneak some past her by buying the vegan and vegitarian versions of her vavorite foods. There is a vegan company down here that makes a veggine nugget that is chicken shaped but green on the inside, it has spinach and carrots and a vew other little goodies in it. Kate will eat those with ketchup.
Saddly ketchup is the only way I get lycopene into the child, but at least she's getting some.
I'll also add green things to her cheese dip. I take a block of velveta, melt it with a can of rotel and then add in some very finely chopped spinach. I just tell her it's spices and she eats it. Oddly spinach does not alter the taste of cheese dip.
Saddly ketchup is the only way I get lycopene into the child, but at least she's getting some.
I'll also add green things to her cheese dip. I take a block of velveta, melt it with a can of rotel and then add in some very finely chopped spinach. I just tell her it's spices and she eats it. Oddly spinach does not alter the taste of cheese dip.
Mileron
19 years ago
Some? Some!?
I think Kaytana underestimates the sheer amount of ketchup her daughter eats.
Yeesh.
Kaytana
Saddly ketchup is the only way I get lycopene into the child, but at least she's getting some.
Some? Some!?
I think Kaytana underestimates the sheer amount of ketchup her daughter eats.
Yeesh.
Den
19 years ago
lol - eating at exactly a certain time...my daughter drove me crazy when she was 3-7...every night when I got home from work she HAD to eat within 30 minutes of then, around 5:30, which was a royal pain in the ass, and resulted in a lot of mac/cheese, french toast, and fast food. Ultimately I did start stretching that time frame out and cooking better meals, but that was one avenue of child rearing I slacked on. She took vitamins, and has always been super healthy, plus her breakfasts and lunches were very nutritious.
I, on the other hand, have always had HUGE texture issues, and my family still teases me horribly about it...not that this bothers me much. I like enough foods that the ones I won't eat really don't matter.
I, on the other hand, have always had HUGE texture issues, and my family still teases me horribly about it...not that this bothers me much. I like enough foods that the ones I won't eat really don't matter.