Play With Your Food!

Guest Blogger, Jenna Whitson, Child Nutrition Advocate at Hunger Free Vermont

“How can I get the kids in our childcare center to eat more vegetables?”

As I travel around the state speaking with child care providers, I hear this question often. Even those of us that do not have children know that kids can be pretty picky, especially when it comes to eating their veggies! But really, I often ask myself the same question – How can I get more veggies into my diet each day?

Whether we want to include more vegetables in our own diet, or the diet of our kids, I believe the answer is the same. Make it fun! Lately, I have been experimenting with preparing “old news” veggies in new ways. For example, have you ever tried a pizza crust made out of cauliflower!? It’s actually quite delicious and easy. Basically, toss the cauliflower into a food processor and grind until it into a nice cauliflower “snow.” Then microwave it and ring it out in cheesecloth or a dish towel to make a cauliflower “pulp.” Mix in some cheese, spices, and egg. Make a ball of cauliflower “dough,” and roll it out like a pizza crust onto a piece of parchment paper. Stick it in the oven for a few minutes until you end up with a beautiful golden crust. 

Top the crust with tomato sauce, cheese, and your favorite toppings. If you’re working with kids, let them pick the toppings! Try experimenting with new topping ideas. Have you ever tried butternut squash on your pizza? Corn and black beans? What about spinach and turkey bacon?  Yum!

Stick your pizza back in the oven for a little longer and voila! Pizza with a cauliflower crust! (tip – let the pizza cool before eating as it helps the crust to stay intact while devouring.)

What else can you do with cauliflower you ask? Well, try these other fun ideas:

-          Mash it (better yet, have the kids mash it!)

-          Grill it (What!? Cauliflower Steaks? Delicious.)

-          Make fried rice out of it (it looks and tastes just like rice!)

Many child care centers in Vermont are doing a fabulous job finding fun ways to include more veggies in the meals they serve. I have heard rumors that Kale Chips have become a popular choice among childcare centers throughout Vermont. Check out the Burlington Children’s Space “Lunch Lady” blog for all kinds of amazing, fun, and colorful kid-tested meal ideas. Including more fruits and veggies in our diets, and especially the diets of the children in our care can be a huge challenge, but if we are willing to take the time and a little creativity, eating more vegetables can be doable and tons of fun!