10 Tasty Ways to Tempt Your Family to Eat More Vegetables

If your kid is anything like mine, they gleefully reject anything that resembles a vegetable. So I've come up with some pretty tricky—and tasty—ways to convince my family to eat those veggies.

Here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks to get those kids to eat their vegetables!

Roast

Roasting vegetables brings out their natural sweetness and, as with the vegetable fritters above, makes them a comfort food. Try Roasted Cauliflower, above, or combinations of cruciferous veggies (cauliflower, brussels sprouts, etc.), root vegetables, and squashes. And for more ideas, explore our wide array of Roasted Vegetable Recipes. 

Oven-Fry

Potato Oven Fries need only a minimal amount of oil, a quick trip in the oven, some ketchup, and you’re good to go. Also be sure to try these Sweet Potato Oven Fries.

Pan-Fry

Green Bean Fries become golden and crispy on the outside. They're great just as they are; served with ranch dressing, they're even harder to resist.

Batter Up

Vegetable Fritters transform common veggies into soothing comfort foods with a mild batter. Try this with 2 to 3 different vegetables each time you make it, as suggested in the post. These corn fritters and lentil fritters are a surefire hit, too!

Bake Into Chips

Kale is the ideal candidate for this kind of healthy-fast-food treatment. Basic Baked Kale Chips are an addiction you won’t mind giving into. Kids usually go for these in a big way. Also try these Pizza Kale Chips for a fun variation!

Dip

Sometimes, the dip itself can be vegetable-based, like in the Green Pea, Parsley, and Pistachio Dip, above. Hummus is a fantastic dip for raw vegetables, and it’s so easy to make at home; there’s just something about this high-protein Middle Eastern classic that appeals to kids of all ages. Or for something a little fancier, try this Green Bean and Cashew Paté.

Stuff

Vegetables become a whole lot more fun when you scoop out their centers and stuff them with savory fillings. Taco Stuffed Zucchini from Oh My Veggies is a delicious example. Also try these Rice-Stuffed Delicata Squashes and this tasty Couscous-Stuffed Eggplant.

Add Cheese

Mustard-Spiked Vegan Cheez-y Sauce gives broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, Brussels sprouts, and other vegetables a luscious finish. And this Pumpkin Mac and Cheese is packed with hidden veggies.

Blend Into Soups

When cold weather sets in, there’s nothing more soothing than puréed soups like this Creamy Golden Potato Squash Soup. You can sneak all kinds of good vegetables into these purées! Also try this Vegan Cream of Broccoli Soup and Sweet Potato Soup.

Bake Into Sweet Treats

Carrots, butternut squash, pumpkin, and zucchini are four vegetables that blend well into cakes, pies, and muffins. When you stop to consider it, pumpkin pie is actually a vegetable dish! Vegan Carrot-Walnut Muffins, above, are good for breakfast or for the lunch box. Also try these Zucchini-Raisin Muffins, Easy Vegan Pumpkin or Squash Pie.

Use As Noodles

Zucchini “Noodles” are something that even the pickiest eater can’t resist. Though zucchini isn’t exactly a powerhouse of nutrition, you can augment these kinds of dishes with more nutrient-dense toppings. You’ll need a spiral slicer to make the really fun noodle shapes, but you can also use a vegetable peeler to make flat “linguini.” Also try this Zucchini Pasta with Mango, Avocado, and Black Bean Salsa.