It happens almost every meal time. The struggle to get my young boys to the table, and keep them there, causes such intense drama someone should be filming it for a reality TV series. We could make millions.
And then, once they’ve been cajoled into sitting down, and a plate of nutritious home-cooked goodness is placed before them, the sweet angels become tiny insane dictators intent on your destruction. It could go nuclear. There will most likely be executions.
Sure there are many amazing ways to get your kids eating well, no tricks involved. But sometimes – some of us – need a little help. Here are a few (almost) fool proof recipes for basically tricking your children into eating superfoods with no resistance. You’re welcome to laugh maniacally over the empty plates in the sink once they’re in bed later. I do.
Chocolli Pancakes
1 head of broccoli
1 banana
3 TBSP raw cacao
2 TBSP maple syrup
2C self-raising flour (I use gluten free)
3 eggs
Rice/almond milk to combine
Blend the broccoli to a fine pulp in the food processor, then add the other ingredients and blend to combine. Continue to add milk until the mix is smooth and pourable. Heat a couple of teaspoons of coconut oil in a pan and fry batches of pancakes until they’re crisp and golden on both sides. Serve with yoghurt, fruit, maple syrup or whatever you want, and watch your kids inhale a plate of broccoli. This will make a heap of pancakes, but leftover mixture lasts for at least a few days in the fridge.
Monster Shakes
Our whole family starts every day with this delicious green smoothie. It's literally the only meal we can all agree on without a fuss.
1 banana
1/2C frozen blueberries
1C spinach/kale
2C kombucha/almond milk/water
1 TBSP maple syrup
1 TBSP peanut butter or 1 TBSP raw cacao – or both!
Blend until smooth, add more liquid if your kids like it thinner. You can also try adding extra superfoods like a teaspoon of spirulina, chia seeds or goji berries for extra punch.
Dino Burgers
I use this one to sneak extra veggies into my husband’s diet too :)
500g quality beef or lamb mince
3C any vegetables you like - zucchini, broccoli, spinach, carrots, beetroot etc.
1/2 onion
1 egg
1/2C breadcrumbs (I use gluten free)
Salt to taste
Burger accessories – buns, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, sauce (whatever the spawn will eat)
Blend the vegetables to a fine pulp in the food processor with the onion. Add everything else (except the accessories) and pulse to combine, or if you want the patties chunkier, mix it all together by hand. Fry patties the width and height of your bun in a hot frying pan with coconut oil until they’re cooked through, then assemble the burgers to the bosses’ specifications. Laugh maniacally while they eat.
