By now, most people have heard of Jessica Seinfeld’s cookbook, entitled Deceptively Delicious. In it, she provides recipes and techniques for sneaking vegetables into foods that don’t normally contain vegetables. The popularity of this cookbook shows that many parents are struggling with their child’s vegetable intake, or lack thereof. Unfortunately, hiding vegetables, as described in this cookbook, will not fix the problem. Sure, your child might get in some extra vitamin C from the pureed spinach hidden in the blueberry crumb bar. But will that create a child with healthy eating habits? Absolutely not. Instead, kids learn that vegetables are bad and need to be disguised or hidden in another food in order to taste good.
Hiding vegetables is a temporary band-aid. A long term solution requires more patience, time, and consistency around food. Offer, offer, and continue to offer vegetables to show that they are an important part of meals and snacks every day. Be a role model and enjoy vegetables yourself without complaining. Avoid the “one more bite” battle and remain neutral about the amount your child does or does not eat. It is okay to have a family rule that every food must be tasted but allow them to regulate their intake.
If it makes you feel better to hide vegetables in other foods, do it but do it in addition to everything else. If nothing else, it will at least relieve the guilt and worry that comes all too easily with parenthood.