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How to Get Kids To Eat Healthier - Without Them Knowing!

Updated on December 2, 2014
Jadelynx-HP profile image

Tracey has been writing online for over 10 years. She also is a graphical artist for social media sites. She loves writing about home life!

Ways to Add Hidden Healthy Ingredients to Kid's Favorites Foods

Do you despair because you cannot get your kids to eat healthier foods? Does it take an act of Congress to get your child to eat anything green? Are you sick and tired of fighting with your children about junk food and high fat snacks ? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, then I may be able to help you. There are ways to add healthy ingredients to kid's (and adult's) food, without them ever knowing, or even suspecting. Below I have several methods on how this can be accomplished and how you too can eat healthier without having to force yourself. It takes a small extra effort, but in the long run it is better for everyone, you, your kids, your whole family and even the family pet!

I will also be reviewing some books that will move forward and extrapolate on the ideas I have listed, and provide delicious recipes and even more hints and tips on how to introduce more healthful ingredients into the diet of you and your family.

~photo courtesy of Flickr.com Collage by Jadelynx

Tip #1 When Using Meat

When making meatloaf, hamburgers, sloppy joes or meatballs, mix finely grated vegetables in with the meat. Dense vegetables like carrots, onions and peppers are best. Switch ground turkey for ground beef whenever you can.

~photo courtesy of Flickr.com

Tip #2 When Making Soup

Soup
Soup

Dice peppers, onions, mushrooms and other vegetables super small and put them in soup. To thicken soup, puree navy beans for light colored soups, and kidney beans for darker colored soups. You can also puree rice or quinoa and use it to thicken soup without changing the taste. Doing these things increases protein, fiber and good carbs.

~photo courtesy of Flickr.com

Chops Veggies for Salads or Soups in a Jiffy

Tip #3 When Making Sauces

sauces
sauces

Spaghetti and macaroni and cheese are usually family favorites. Make them healthier by pureeing vegetables and adding them to the sauce. Puree onions, peppers and spinach in spaghetti sauce, and squash, carrots and cauliflower in macaroni and cheese.

~photo courtesy of Flickr.com

Tip #4 Use Zucchini Instead of Oil

Puree zucchini and use it to replace half the oil when baking chocolate cake, cupcakes or brownies.

~photo courtesy of Flickr.com

Tip #5 When Making Rice

rice
rice

Replace white rice with brown when making fried rice. Use extra virgin olive oil and low sodium soy sauce. DIce onions, peppers, mushrooms and carrots, very very fine. The soy sauce hides that the rice is brown, and finely chopped veggies are hidden in the rice.

~photo courtesy of Flickr.com

Tip #6 Use Fruit Instead of Sugar

fruit
fruit

Use pureed fruit instead of 1/3 of the sugar, when baking. Such as if the recipe calls for 1 cup of sugar, use 2/3 cup of sugar and 1/3 cup of pureed peaches or pears. The fruit will sweeten and moisten the finished product.

~photo courtesy of Flickr.com

Tip #7 Use 1/2 Whole Wheat Flour

Increase fiber and protein by substituting half of your regular flour with whole wheat flour, when baking.

~photo courtesy of Flickr.com

Tip #8 Buy Calcium Fortified Juices - Juices

Try to use calcium fortified juices. Everyone can use more calcium, especially kids, to make strong bones and teeth.

~photo courtesy of Flickr.com

Tip #9 When Making Smoothies

smoothies
smoothies

Puree vegetables and fruits of your choice, add ice, low-fat milk, and a bit of honey if you like more sweetness. Protein powder can be added if you are making a meal replacement.

~photo courtesy of Flickr.com

Tip #10 Delicious Frozen Treats

popsicle
popsicle

Mix chunk or pureed fruit with low-fat milk and freeze into popsicles. or ice cubes for a cool and healthy snack.

~photo courtesy of Flickr.com

How to Puree Using a Food Processor

Introducing

The Sneaky Chef

she has done all the

research for you and provided

RECIPES !!!

The Sneaky Chef

Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Anyone's Favorite Meals

The Sneaky Chef is Missy Chase Lapine, former publisher of Eating Well magazine. Like so many other parents, she had a very hard time convincing her two daughters to eat vegetables and healthier types of food, so she decided to do something about it. And so, the Sneaky Chef was born. Her books have hundreds of recipes that "hide" exceedingly healthy ingredients. You would never know they are there.....and neither will your kids or husband! WIth a few simple replacements, sustitutions and purees, you will be surprised at how much fiber-enriched, lower calorie, and vitamin packed you can make any meal.

Below is a quick review of some of her books and a link to see the rest:

The Sneaky Chef to the Rescue

101 All-New Recipes and "Sneaky" Tricks for Creating Healthy Meals Kids Will Love

This book includes specially crafted meals that are targeted for specific needs, such as:

1. Sneaky Chef Light - low fat, lower calorie meals for those wanting to lose a few pounds

2. Sneaky Chef for Food Allergies - recipes that are gluten free, egg free, dairy free, etc.

3. Sneaky Chef for More Variety - make ahead purees, and the like.

4. Sneaky Chef for Celebrations - recipes for holidays and parties!

The Sneaky Chef: How to Cheat on Your Man (In the Kitchen!)

Hiding Healthy Foods in Hearty Meals Any Guy Will Love

These guy-loved meals include special hidden ingredients that are especially for men's health problems, like cholesterol, prostate health and other issues that affect men.

The Speedy, Sneaky Chef

Quick, Healthy Fixes for Your Favorite Packaged Foods

This book is wonderful ! Down to earth advice on how to do damage reduction when buying pre-packaged foods.

1. Simple and easy fixes you can do to pre-prepared tomato sauce, and box mac and cheese, cereals and pancake mix.

2. Shortcuts to speed up weeknight dinner preparations.

3. Tips to make grocery shopping easier and faster and advice on what to buy.

4. Recipes that are good for you and your body and taste great!

5. Original "Sneaky Swaps" and "Sneaky Supercharges" that will make your meals rock!

Find The Sneaky Chef Cookbooks Here

Click here to see all The Sneaky Chef Cookbooks:


Healthier Ways of Cooking Your Food - At Great Prices!

This mister allows you to choose your own kind of oil and you can mist your food or pan as light or heavy as you want. Also good for lightly misting oil on a salad.

The Sneaky Chef - How To Videos

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Amazon Affiliate Disclosure. Jadelynx is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

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