Easy (and preferably quick) 'hidden veg' recipes for toddlers

[MeadowHay]

Hit me!

My DD is almost two and doesn't eat many vegetables. Does anyone have some good recipes where the veg is a bit disguised and I might be able to get some down her?

Pasta bake www.mrsrachelbrady.co.uk/2015/09/recipe-hidden-roasted-vegetable-pasta-bake/
Hide courgette in this recipe for Mac and cheese www.myfussyeater.com/one-pot-mac-cheese-with-hidden-veg/
Or hide cauliflower with this version www.bbc.com/food/recipes/macaroni_cauliflower_53315 Cauliflower is good for hiding in mash, as are parsnips.
Add puréed sweetcorn to scrambled egg.
Meatballs realfood.tesco.com/recipes/sunitas-secret-veg-meatballs.html
Burgers www.hungryhealthyhappy.com/hidden-vegetable-beef-burgers/
Shepherds pie www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/hidden_vegetables_05418
Pasta bake www.ocado.com/webshop/recipe/secret-veggie-pasta-bake/23305
Cauliflower tots www.healthylittlefoodies.com/cauliflower-tots/
Fritters www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/toddler-recipe-sweetcorn-spinach-fritters
The carrots in these bean enchiladas are grated and are therefore barely noticeable when cooked. www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/bean-enchiladas
Hidden veg lentil bolognese www.mrsrachelbrady.co.uk/2016/09/hidden-veg-and-lentil-spaghetti-bolognese/
Risotto supervalu.ie/real-food/recipes/mummycooks-hidden-veg-risotto
Muffins realfood.tesco.com/recipes/cheesy-courgette-muffins.html
Pear and/or bananas are good for hiding in porridge

Wow thanks for those, will have a good gander!

I grate a carrot using the fine bit of the grater and add passata for a smooth ish pasta sauce. Heat and simmer it a bit to thicken the sauce so it sticks to the pastas. I think the carrot adds sweetness so my children tend to eat it. And its very quick to do!
Handily they also like soup, so I can hide lots of different veg in there, as long as it's blended well, no lumps! And I try and make either carrot or parsnip the main flavour then they seem to eat it ok. They don't like green soup... even flecks of green gets rejected so If I add a courgette I have to peel it first

I find savoury muffins are good. Grate courgette and carrot to muffin mix and some grated cheddar. Sausage rolls are good with the same, or mini quiches. Berry smoothies are good as their colour masks any kale or spinach you blend in. Freeze your fruits and veggies before use and then don't need ice. A bit of Greek yogurt makes it creamy. Lasagne can hide carrots, spinach and zucchini in a tomato sauce with cheese.

When you say doesn't eat many vegetables, what do you mean by that? eg she eats carrots and broccoli but little else? Or she'll spend 20 minutes picking out the tiniest piece of anything she can see?

DD isn't brilliant on veg but does eat carrots/corn/broccoli etc. But, for example, I can do a huge tomato based tomato sauce to whichI will have added multiple other veg and as long as they're chopped, she's okay with it. Would that work?

I sometimes make "red" pesto - roasted vegetables and tomatoes, which I then blend with some cream cheese (I put nuts in too sometimes) and, f necessary, a little extra olive oil (although water would work too). It creates a thick paste like a pesto. Handily frozen in individual sizes too if you make enough up front.

Mash other veg with potatoes?

No, in pasta sauces she picks out the vegetable bits, she only eats the actual pasta pieces.

She will reliably eat cucumber, boiled or mashed carrots, potato, baked beans, and has now started eating boiled brocolli stalks too (but not the florets). I think that's it. She used to eat sweetcorn and peas too but hasnt eaten them in months now. I've bought some little corn on the cobs to see if she will eat them if it's a bit of a novelty factor too.

Aaah, okay. Then pasta sauces that are blended are good. Use large pasta shapes that will inevitably have sauce lodged inside or that are thick enough to coat the pasta. Mashed carrots is a great way to add variety by mashing up some butternut or sweet potato with them.

Have you tried creamed corn? Either by itself or perhaps as a fritter?

I'd also say if she's eating those vegetables, relatively speaking, you're doing well. It's boring as hell, but is providing some nutrition which is a good first step. I remember my aunt despairing when my cousin would literally only eat cheese pizza and chicken nuggets. He wouldn't even eat fries! Does she eat fruit as well?

Have you tried veggie dips? Neither of mine will eat these now for some reason but as toddlers they loved them. DS lived on Hoummous for a while...! Smashed avocado can work and there are recipes for all kinds of other dips out there.

If she likes finger foods, we sometimes roast chickpeas. Usually when I'm roasting cauliflower but you can do them just as a snack. We usually flavour ours with a little cumin but you could leave them plain with just a little salt.