To sneak or not to sneak, that is the question…

Hey Chicks!

Welcome to the first official Mama Chick Monday post! Hope you all had a fab Mother’s Day weekend. If you are just catching up on the blog, make sure to check out Head Chick Laura’s first Wellness Wednesday post, and Head Chick Amanda’s Fab Friday instalment!

Ever since that book came out a couple of years ago about sneaking veggies into everyday foods, it’s been a hot topic amongst mommies. On one side we have the moms who think that sneaking is a good idea and it’s the only way to get little Johnny to eat his veggies. On the other side we have moms who think that kids should learn to like veggies and sneaking them in is well, just plain sneaky!

Where do I stand?

I do both! I think veggies are absolutely fabulous, and in my opinion – the more the better. Kids need as many nutrients as possible to help their tiny growing bodies. Apparently only 1 in 10 North American adults eats the recommended serving of produce a day, and kids aren’t eating it either if Mom and Dad aren’t.

My goal is to make everything my girls eat as nutrient rich as possible. I’m always thinking of ways to get more veggies into them.

Veggies make kids healthy and happy!

Can I puree extra carrots and spinach into the tomato sauce?

Definitely! But that doesn’t mean I won’t add chunks of peppers, zucchini, and mushrooms. (Though one daughter doesn’t like mushrooms. That’s ok, she knows to pick ’em out and give them to her sister!)

Can I stir pumpkin into the ground beef for tacos?

You bet, but the tacos will still be topped with tomatoes, lettuce and avocado!

Can I puree cauliflower and serve it instead of mashed potatoes?

Always – but I still serve two other veggies on the side.

So I encourage Moms to serve veggies with every meal or snack, and sneak them in wherever you can. That way they still get a taste for veggies and a variety of foods, yet their meals are extra nutritious! It’s a win-win 🙂

What’s your fave way to sneak extra veggies into your wee ones? I’m always looking for new ideas, so leave a comment below!

Have an awesome week!

Sarah