Any devious ideas for hiding veggies?

zippychick

ive merged this with our hiding veggies thread

Zip

duchy

I love veggies but DS (20) is a nightmare isn't keen on sauces or gravy and will not eat veg (but likes fruit fortunately) so I'm looking for ideas to up his veg whilst concealing it

He will eat onion so long as it's not in his face (eg spag bol is fine but wouldn't eat onion rings) loves Chilli, sushi, curry -cheese sauces don't work even though he loves cheese so cauliflower cheese doesn't work.

Looking to increase his veg and also save money by bulking meat dishes with veg so any suggestions please ?

abitofhelp

Hi my youngest wont eat veg also. Sometimes will eat it raw but same as your son he loves fruit. I make a standard tomato sauce which i use for lasagna, pasta sauce, chilli, currys & pizza base. I whizz up carrots, celery, onion, peppers, garlic and a chilli. I tip it in the slow cooker and add tinned toms or passata a couple of stock cubes, pepper & herbs. It is also nice as a soup base. The chilli, curry & lasagna also have added red lentils.
When making a cottage/shepards pie i do the same mix but leave out the tomato & chilli but add mushrooms to the mix.

lally666young

What about grating it into meals? Or making a puree freezing it in ice cube containers and adding it that way, you can also get liquid supplements if you think he isnt getting enough nutrients. Also buy a mandolin as you can slice veg very thinly and can get away with it that way. Good luck

Pink.

Hi duchy,

Will he eat soups with all veg blended? What about pies where veg can be blended into the minimal gravy? It's easy to hide (blended) veg in pasta sauces, stews, casseroles etc, but as you say he isn't keen on sauces or gravy it won't be easy.

To be honest, with a 20 year old I would cater for him and if he didn't like it then I'd let him cook and pay for his own food. He might then decide that he actually likes the food you cook.

All a mother can do is teach our children about nutrition, however there comes a point where we have to let go and leave them to make their own choices about food. I think by 20 he is adult enough to make his own choices and you shouldn't feel guilty if he isn't eating a balanced diet. I definitely wouldn't be bending over backwards to accomodate a fussy 20 year old.

This thread has more ideas that may help:

Any devious ideas for hiding veggies?

I'll add your thread to that one later to keep the suggestions together.

Pink

MandM90

I used to blend peppers and courgettes then simmer in tomato sauces for pasta.

To be honest, after a while I got sick of having to 'hide' things for DD so I adopted an "eat it or go hungry" policy (this applies to DW too!) There were a lot of tears at first but she soon learned. I don't know if this will work as well for a 20 year old as a 3 year old but DD, now 4, will devour handfuls of green beans, peas, aubergine...pretty much whatever I put in front of her.

duchy

He has Aspergers so I think the veg phobia goes back to earlier sensory issues connected with this. He is very good about trying new stuff , eats like a horse but is as thin as a rake.

Pink.

duchy wrote: »

He has Aspergers so I think the veg phobia goes back to earlier sensory issues connected with this. He is very good about trying new stuff , eats like a horse but is as thin as a rake.

Oh dear. That wasn't clear in your op and I missed it in your signature.

I was thinking of my own 21 and 18 year old that I no longer pander to because I consider them to be adults and well able to fend for themselves if they don't like what I'm making. I'm really sorry duchy and hope the link I posted will be of some help.

Pink

pigpen

my 13 y/o has aspergers and T1 diabetes and a bit of a food phobia with some stuff and my 16 y/o has tactile issues due to his dyspraxia and issues with chewing and swallowing.. there is no pandering to it in here! They eat or starve.

I would put it on his plate anyway.. a small piece and say you have cooked it differently.. My former MIL used to boil the death out of veggies so they were like mush on the plate.. I barely cook them.. her son refused to eat her veg and wolfed mine like it was the best thing ever. My oldest son only ever eats raw veg and my OH prefers it raw too but will eat it steamed lightly or shallow fried... stir fry for example. So actually preparing it differently may encourage him to try it.

Also, if he is eating his 5 a day in fruit eating more veg won't make him any fatter.. he needs protein for that.. eggs, cheese, fish. Or to go to the gym and work out.. There is nothing wrong with being thin if that is how you are meant to be.

Skint_yet_Again

My 16yo will push veg round his plate if served on its own. But he will eat carrot, onion, peppers, corgettes, mushrooms broccolli and baby corn when chopped small in pasta sauces like spag bol, in lasagne, canelloni and enchilladas where he cant see it, and also in wraps with chicken and chilli sauce.