Whether you homeschool your kids, they’re in remote learning temporarily, or they attend public school, you’re responsible for dinner every night. If you’re the parent of a picky eater, every night can feel like a battle to get your kids to each something besides plain noodles and butter. These recipes sneak in veggies so well that your kid won’t even know they’re there.
Alphabet Pasta with Veggie Sauce
This meal can be pulled together quickly for dinner and reheats well for lunches. Alphabet pasta is fun for kids to eat and they won’t even realize how many veggies are packed into the tomato sauce.
To make it, pulse three garlic cloves, one onion, and one carrot in a food processor until finely chopped. Add three red peppers and one yellow zucchini; pulse until finely chopped. Next, heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the vegetable mixture and cook for 20 minutes until the vegetables are very tender.
Pour in a full jar of your favorite pasta sauce and stir until everything is incorporated. If your kids are pros at picking out the smallest sign of a vegetable, blend everything in a blender until smooth. Pour the sauce over alphabet pasta and enjoy!
Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
These muffins are packed with chocolatey goodness and will be a favorite for dessert. Hidden zucchini adds some nutrition and your kids will never know.
Mix two cups of all-purpose flour with one teaspoon of cinnamon, one and one-half teaspoons of baking soda, and one-third cup of cocoa powder. In a separate bowl, whisk two eggs with one-fourth cup of oil, one-fourth cup of maple syrup, and one teaspoon of vanilla. Mash one medium-sized banana and add it to the wet ingredients until fully incorporated. Then, pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until everything is mixed.
Grate two medium-sized zucchinis and strain the excess liquid before stirring into the mixture. Finally, mix in one-half cup of chocolate chips. Transfer to a muffin tin and bake for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees.
Blended Vegetable Soup
This soup is easy to put together and can be full of any veggie you want. Heat a saucepan over medium heat and cook one diced onion and three garlic cloves until soft. Chop up whatever veggies you want and add them to the pan. Vegetables with a milder taste, like peas, carrots, and cauliflower work best here. After cooking for a few minutes, pour in three cups of vegetable broth and boil until veggies are soft. Pour everything into a blender and blend until smooth.
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve the soup with crackers or some crusty bread for a creamy and satisfying meal.