How to prep tiffins for kids with strong aversion to vegetables?

Question

Can meal prepping help you regulate your kids' sugar intake? Learn how having healthy, homemade options ready can reduce reliance on sugary snacks.

Answer 1

Focus on incorporating finely grated or pureed vegetables into familiar dishes like pasta sauce, muffins, or parathas. Offer small portions of raw vegetables with dips as a side.

Detailed Explanation:

Preparing tiffins for children who dislike vegetables can be challenging, but it's achievable with some creativity and patience. The key is to sneak vegetables into their meals in ways they won't notice or find objectionable. Here's a step-by-step approach:

1. Start Small: Don't overwhelm them with large portions of vegetables. Begin by adding small amounts to their favorite dishes.
2. Puree or Grate: Finely grate vegetables like carrots, zucchini, or beetroot and add them to pasta sauces, muffins, or even pancake batter. Puree vegetables like spinach or pumpkin and mix them into mashed potatoes or lentil soups.
3. Disguise the Flavor: Use strong flavors to mask the taste of vegetables. For example, add cheese to cauliflower mash or use spices like cumin and coriander in vegetable parathas.
4. Make it Fun: Cut vegetables into fun shapes using cookie cutters. Arrange them creatively on a plate to make them more appealing.
5. Offer Dips: Serve raw vegetables like cucumber sticks, carrot sticks, or bell pepper strips with dips like hummus, yogurt dip, or guacamole. The dip can make the vegetables more palatable.
6. Involve Them: Get your child involved in the preparation process. Let them help wash vegetables or mix ingredients. This can make them more likely to try the food.
7. Be Patient and Persistent: It may take multiple attempts before your child accepts a new vegetable. Don't give up easily. Keep offering vegetables in different ways.
8. Lead by Example: Children often mimic their parents' eating habits. Make sure you are eating plenty of vegetables yourself.

Pro Tip:

Avoid turning mealtimes into a battleground. Pressure and forcing can create negative associations with vegetables. Instead, focus on creating a positive and relaxed eating environment.