| Most mothers of school-age children know that a | | | | chopped spinach or blanched chopped carrots in |
| healthy serving of fruits and vegetables each day will | | | | between wrappers, seal and then boil. Make sure that |
| do wonders for their children's health. However, getting | | | | you have an extra-special sauce with all the yummy |
| them to eat the vegetables is an entirely different | | | | beef and cheese. You can even place cheese and |
| story. | | | | meat inside the ravioli to further mask the vegetables. |
| Since it will be almost impossible to serve a hefty plate | | | | Bake Them into Dessert |
| of steamed vegetables to a seven-year-old, moms | | | | Vegetables such as carrots and squash can be baked |
| need to find creative and delicious ways to encourage | | | | into a cake or made into a pie. Even when taken at |
| children into having their vegetables. Here are a few | | | | face value, most kids still love pumpkin pie for |
| ideas that might help. | | | | thanksgiving, especially when served with a generous |
| Hide Those Veggies in a Little Italian Dish | | | | topping of whipped cream, chocolate syrup and nuts. |
| Thank goodness for pizza and pasta. No child will pass | | | | Since they are kids, they can still have all these |
| up having them for lunch or dinner any day. They will | | | | add-ons guilt-free. |
| even agree to have them all day, every day -- no | | | | Another good way to serve vegetables would be as |
| questions asked. So this is a good opportunity for you | | | | cakes, bars, cookies and cupcakes. Carrots are a |
| to sneak in a vegetable or two. | | | | favorite vegetable ingredient for cupcakes and |
| Having eggplant in lasagna is a good trick. Eggplant | | | | cookies though you can still find delicious cupcake |
| when cooked right actually tastes like meat, especially | | | | recipes available for desserts that have ingredients |
| when drowned in marinara sauce and a generous | | | | such as zucchini, broccoli and bell peppers. Carrot cake |
| helping of cheese. You can also throw basil and | | | | is normally baked with cinnamon and frosted with |
| spinach in there and they wouldn't really know the | | | | cream cheese frosting. Despite its delicious taste, it |
| difference. | | | | actually has more carrots than it does flour, making it |
| Vegetables are also great pizza toppings, especially if | | | | really healthy. |
| cooked and chopped just right. If you do not want your | | | | Cupcakes are great for 'hiding' vegetables, since they |
| kids to see the vegetables, buy frozen dough that has | | | | can be easily given to kids. With the right frosting, |
| been shaped and half-baked as pizza rounds. You can | | | | vegetable cupcakes are certainly a tasty treat, great |
| roll out the dough onto a floured surface, pile your | | | | as dessert or as an after-school snack. The carrot |
| sauce, toppings and cheese in the middle and seal it to | | | | cake recipe can also be used for cupcakes, and |
| make a calzone. | | | | topped with the same cream cheese frosting. |
| Ravioli is also a good way to put in vegetables. You | | | | Now, your kids will always have their vegetables and it |
| can use frozen wanton wrappers from any Asian | | | | will be as easy as handing them a yummy cupcake. |
| grocery store to make quick homemade ravioli. Place | | | | |