These 13 Tips For Sneaking Veggies Into Meals Will Get Your Kids Eating Healthy — Without Having Any Idea

Self Proclaimed Foodie

Even if your little one isn't a particularly picky eater, getting them to try new vegetables can be a struggle. Instead of fighting about tasting healthy sides every night at the dinner table, get smarter (and sneakier!) about how you approach the situation. With these 13 tips for hiding vegetables in your kids' meals, you'll have your little one loving what you're serving up, which means you can take a load off and enjoy their ignorant bliss. As long as they're tasting a healthy meal without giving you a hard time, it counts as a success in our books!

01
Use a Holiday to Make It a Special Occasion
Paging Supermom

Use a Holiday to Make It a Special Occasion

Whether you surprise them with a lucky green smoothie for St. Patrick's Day or heart-shaped beet pancakes in honor of Valentine's Day, they'll get excited to try these special treats.

02
Overpower With Flavor
Shutterstock

Overpower With Flavor

The trick to disguising the vegetables in this hush-hush lasagna is to puree the onion, zucchini, carrot, and red bell pepper in the tomato sauce. With all of the flavorful herbs and hearty meat, kiddos will be too distracted to wonder what else is in there.

03
Don't Always Disclose
Food Network

Don't Always Disclose

If you know you have an extremely picky eater on your hands (who also happens to be a big fan of garlic mashed potatoes!), don't call out the mock recipe's new main ingredient (cauliflower) before they try it.

04
Give Chips and Dip a Twist
POPSUGAR Photography | Anna Monette Roberts

Give Chips and Dip a Twist

Kids just love to dunk, so whether you dress up Greek yogurt to pass as ranch dressing to get them to eat some veggies or make a fun broccoli dip for little hands, they'll have fun getting their dunk on.

05
Start With One of Their Favorites
Shutterstock

Start With One of Their Favorites

Kids can barely taste the 10 ounces of chopped spinach packed into these meatballs florentine, and since their favorite meal is the vessel that's disguising the healthy ingredients, it won't be a fight to get little ones to take a taste.

06
Don’t Count Out Dessert
POPSUGAR Photography | Leta Shy

Don’t Count Out Dessert

Believe it or not, these vegan brownies are packed with spinach for extra fiber, iron, and phytonutrients. The best part is no one will taste the difference!

07
Consider the Texture
Just a Taste

Consider the Texture

One thing about veggies that many little ones object to is their texture. Instead of trying to force it, try getting creative with how you prepare it and have them give crispy fritters a taste.

08
Don’t Go Over the Top
Well Plated

Don’t Go Over the Top

In order to keep from startling your child and causing them to shut down when it comes time to taste, don't go rogue with a ton of new ingredients. Just adding one veggie, like peas to this creamy chicken bacon pasta, is a less intimidating way to approach new vegetables at dinner.

09
Remember That Cheese Hides All
Pinch of Yum

Remember That Cheese Hides All

When in doubt, opt for a recipe that incorporates a bunch of cheese, like these spaghetti squash lasagna boats. Not only is the fun presentation something that kiddos can get behind, but the multiple types of cheese in the dish help to mask the variety of veggies used throughout.

10
Let Them Help With the Prep
Cookie and Kate

Let Them Help With the Prep

If you let your kids get involved with the dinner prep, not only will they be excited to try their final creation, but the meal will also seem less intimidating to taste.

11
Start With the Mornings
POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar

Start With the Mornings

Not only are sleepyheads still waking up before school, their guard is down when it comes to being on the lookout for dreaded vegetables. Sweet potato banana pancakes will start their day off right, and you won't feel guilty about what you're serving.

12
Play the Mind Game (but Make It Fun!)
How Sweet It Is

Play the Mind Game (but Make It Fun!)

If you make it fun and let your little ones feel like they have some control, dinner will go much smoother. One option is to do pizza with cauliflower crust, but instead of talking about the veggie base, let them pick which vegetable toppings they want to add. They'll have fun decorating the pizza and think they're making a big compromise with the colorful additions.

13
Stick to the Magic Word: Fry
Tried and Tasty

Stick to the Magic Word: Fry

There's something irresistible about the word "fry" to little ones. So whether you decide to serve up sweet potato fries or give carrot and zucchini fries a try, incorporating the fry aspect will soften the missing potato blow.