Veggies - It's Versatility and Seasonality
Where are all of my parents? This one is for you! Sitting down for dinner and having your kids willingly eat their veggies is on the horizon. We all know that eating veggies is good for you, that's a no-brainer. But do we even understand how easy it is to get kids to eat it once we embrace the fact that veggies are very versatile?
Lets take the cauliflower for instance. Mashed cauliflower looks a lot like mashed potatoes. Why not sub a quarter to half of your potatoes with cauliflower? Your children won't notice the switch up and in turn can reap the benefits of added immune system support, increased antioxidants and fiber in their diet. Feeling adventurous? There are many recipes online for cauliflower crust pizza! Let the kids help you by adding their favorite toppings to this healthier crust alternative. Check out these recipes
What's your child's reaction to zucchini? Probably not a great one! This high in potassium (higher than bananas) and fibre rich summer squash can transform into lovely spaghetti noodles. Try subbing a quarter to half of your regular spaghetti with spiralized zucchini. Simply toss the zucchini noodles in a little olive oil and seasoning in a frying pan until cooked and incorporate into your spaghetti dish. One more for you! The beautifully bright beetroot! Jam packed with antioxidants,calcium,fiber and potassium, this sweet tasting root vegetable can be added to pasta sauces. Simply peel, cut and boil till softened and blend in with some tomatoes, Italian seasonings, onions and garlic or blend and add to an already made sauce. Depending on how much beetroot you add you shouldn't affect the color of the sauce too much, it will be a deep purplish red color. Start a child early on this and they won't even have a problem with the color as the taste is delicious. Now how do we incorporate more fruits and veggies into our diet without breaking the bank? Buy in season and buy local. There are many farmers markets getting set up world wide now that the weather is warming up.
Below is an online chart for peak growing seasons in the US. Buying in season lowers the costs of importing across the world and therefore lowers the costs in grocery stores. Buying local also supports your local farmers and allows you to try some different variations of fruits and vegetables. Not from the US not to worry. Google is your best friend for finding charts that are specific to where you live!
Ps. June 17th is Eat Your Vegetables Day!
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Team Make It Fun NYC