Hiding veggies from DS

[skuttle]

Well...after all my worrying about DS eating table foods and feeding himself, yet another worry.

DS has been eating strictly table foods since his first birthday in July. He has just started to enjoy feeing himself and loves to do that as much as possible. If I try to feed him with a spoon mac-n-cheese, he pulls it off the spoon. So, of course now that he likes to feed himself, I can't sneak veggies to him on the spoon like I used to. And he won't feed himself veggies...he plays with them and he used to love them! Luckily he'll still feed himself fruits. He ate rice and gravy with veggies mixed in tonight with no problem, but I can't give him that every day! Any creative ideas re veggies?

 

[grinningghost]

I used to mix peas and tiny pieces of carrots into DD's mashed potatoes - until she got a bit bigger and figured out my trick - then I had to start all over again finding ways to sneak the veggies in.

BTW - he's so adorable!

 

[skuttle]

DS isn't too fond of mashed potatoes yet...the thickness gags him still. I think I'll start giving them to him with milk in it to thin it out a bit to sneak in the veggies...he needs something other than rice and gravy! LOL! Thanks for the idea.

 

[JetMom]

You could also try mixing veggies with pasta.

 

[skuttle]

Pasta doesn't work since he can feed himself pasta. Although I've never tried something like angel hair which would be harder for him to grab...I may try that! Thanks!

 

[Serena]

Have you tried frozen veggies? I don't remember how old they need to be before they can handle it though.

 

[Lanshark]

I tried to sneak veggies into my sons food many years ago. After he hurled on me at the dinner table I decided not to do that again.

 

[Pin Wizard]

LOL, Lanshark!

DS used to love the baby food veggies, especially the sweet potatoes! For a little while he liked salad when he was a little older. Now the limit seems to be carrots. Sheesh! And it's tough to get him to eat those. Good luck!

 

[mommytotwo]

Fried rice with little pieces of veggies, mashed veggies in soup, and dehrydrated veggies-make it seem just like chips.

 

[mtemm]

wish I could help. my 2.5 year old is still eating baby food veggies because he won't touch any other kind. he'll eat all kinds of fruit and other foods, just not veggies. doesn't matter if I cook and mash them, raw, cut in cutsie ways, hidden in foods, nothing works. hey, at least he's eating veggies is my theory.

 

[WishingOnAStar]

Don't know if this will help or not, but, I put (okay, sneak) veggies into a lot of things i make. Shredded zucchini in pancakes, cookies, etc. (I even have a recipe for chocolate cake with zucchini). Shredded carrots in pasta sauce, etc.

Good luck!!!!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Can he dip them in something? That might be a new "fun" thing for him to try.

 

[skuttle]

Thanks for the ideas! I know I'll only have to get more and more creative as my little man gets smarter.

Jenn Lynn...I'm not sure I'm ready for him to dip! I'm not much of a dipper (only sauce/dressing I eat is BBQ sauce) so I never thought of that. It's worth a try.

I haven't tried covering veggies with cheese yet, so I guess that may be an option, too.

 

[kellib36]

ah, yes, the old "dippy dippy"....a friend to all parents....

 

[shortbun]

LOL! Ds used to love broccoli florets in chocolate pudding!
Now that's dippin!

 

[my3kids]

I am the Vegetable Hiding Queen! Vegetables can be hidden lots of ways. You can go the hiding it out in the open route and use spagetti squash instead on noodles, or you can go the sneaky route and make good use of the food processor you got for a wedding present!

Cooked carrots can probably be mashed up with a fork well enough to not need the power tools. Raw or tougher things will require the processor. Smash or grind any vegetable until is more paste like than piece like, then just stir it into anything. They can be mixed into hamburger patties or ground beef with sauces, muffins or homemade breads if you make them. You can take a little pureed sweet potatoes or carrots and mix with butter and cinnamon for a topping for breads or muffins. As someone above said, shredded zuchinni can be added to most anything.

I make some Chinese foods which the kids love. I can put a lot of finely chopped carrots and cabbage in wontons before they notice. Pasta sauce can hide pureed vegetables really well and doesn't affect the taste at all. He can't pick out what is pureed.

Spinich can be added to pesto sauce like nobody's business! Just grind it up along with the basil. Throw in one of those versatal carrots too!

One thing they would eat without hiding were things like snow peas or other pod type of vegetables. They wouldn't eat the outer part, but would open them up with surgical precision to extract the peas inside.

 

[JetMom]

Originally posted by shortbun
LOL! Ds used to love broccoli florets in chocolate pudding!
Now that's dippin!

Ok, I thought it was bad when my then 3 year old DS used to dip his green beans and carrots in ketchup!

 

[shortbun]

DS still dips unconventionally. He dips his french fries in a
chocolate milkshake. it's his favorite fast food! Something
about chocolate I guess. LOL!

I forgot to mention, I have 2 friends who have 2 year olds
still eating baby food veggies as this is the only way-other
than french fries-they will eat them.

 

[skuttle]

OMGosh! Broccoli in pudding and green beans in ketchup! I guess you gotta do what ya gotta do.