Converting the NON-veggie lover in your family

We all have seem to have at least one person in the family that is just anti-veggie.  Try a few of these ideas to help you convert your non-veg lover but also maybe boost your own veggie intake as well!

Hide the Veggies

Smoothies—kale and spinach become invisible when mixed into a blueberry smoothie using fresh blueberries!

Sauce—Meat sauce can be full of nearly undetectable vegetables. Pesto is mostly basil, but try adding baby greens as well.

Stir Fry—match up each bite of chicken or beef with a small bit of veggie.  A small bit of broccoli with your chicken or a little squash with a bit of beef.

Mac and Cheese or pancake batter—puree up some butternut squash or sweet potatoes and add to your kiddos mac or pancake batter.

Burgers, meatloaf or ground beef—add  bits of finely chopped up veggies. Try diced carrots, celery and peppers for a start.  Use finely chopped up kale like parsley.

Using parsley or cilantro in something? Add some finely chopped kale in with it.

Pizza—a great place to slowly add extra veggies. You can start really simple by adding them in the sauce first then in small dice under the cheese.

Fritters– shred the veggies and “fry” with a small amount of oil to brown and then pop in oven to finish cooking.  Serve with a dip like Ranch or even a spoonful of peach preserves.

Cook it a different way. 

If you usually steam or microwave something, try sautéing it or add it on the grill when cooking meats.  Never underestimate roasting your veggies.  Many a veg hater has converted after eating their veggies roasted. Seriously.  Roasting brings out all the natural sugars of the vegetable and who can resist that? 

Add veggies to foods the non veggie lover already loves. 

Add some chopped spinach and carrots into a lasagna.  Toss whatever veggies you like (tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms, broccoli) into an omelet or quesadilla.

Top it off! 

Add a dip, cheese or sprinkle spices on them.

Mix it up!

Instead of the same old salad try creating a salad bar with added goodies like dried fruits, nuts, diced apples, pineapple bits or mandarin oranges.  

Stick with it!

Start with purees for the most rigid person, move to small dices and shredded versions. Finally moving on to full fledge servings!   

Slowly working the veggies into different foods will one day result in a new convert to the VEGGIE WAY!