A Little White Lie

Everyone knows that getting kids to eat their veggies is one of parenthood’s toughest challenges.

Just calling food healthy makes it unappealing to kids, which is why we have a trick to get your kiddos to eat the right foods: Sneak them in.

Your New Best Friend

Cauliflower is a vegetable that pretty much every kid hates—or so they say. As long as this white veggie isn’t seen and doesn’t affect the flavor, it can go unnoticed by simply blending it in with meals your children already love. A white purée is just one way of making sure your children get the nutrition they need.

This white purée, courtesy of The Sneaky Chef, is made from cauliflower and zucchini, and when blended correctly, it can be added to tomato sauce for pizza and pasta, whipped into mashed potatoes and even mixed into mac and cheese. To make this purée, begin by steaming 2 cups of cauliflower in a vegetable steamer over 2 inches of water for about 10-12 minutes until the cauliflower is tender. While the cauliflower steams, pulse two small peeled and chopped raw zucchinis with 1 teaspoon lemon juice.

We all know kids who are picky eaters—you might have been one yourself. This is just one way to make healthy food that kids will still enjoy—even if it requires a little “white” lie.

Drain the cooked cauliflower. Add the cauliflower into the food mixer with the zucchini and purée until smooth, adding 1-2 tablespoons of water as necessary to get the desired texture.

You can also sneak cauliflower into meals by chopping it up into small pieces and adding it to chicken noodle soup, scrambled eggs, casseroles and sandwiches.

Why Cauliflower?

The majority of Americans aren’t getting the nutrition their bodies need to function properly, and cauliflower is a good source of many of those nutrients. One serving of cauliflower contains 77 percent of the recommended daily value of vitamin C, and it’s also a great source of vitamin K, protein, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin B6, folate, pantothenic acid, potassium and manganese.

Cauliflower is also a good source of fiber, which makes it great for your digestive system, and it contains a B vitamin known for its role in brain development. This vitamin may even diminish your brain’s vulnerability to toxins during childhood, as well as offer protection later in life.