Trying to get kids to eat their vegetables has been a challenge for as long as I can remember. I remember as a child not wanting to eat my vegetables and just getting to the dessert. Shocking I know! Thankfully, people have found ways to sneak these healthy things into their children’s meals. One item I am going to share with you today is a family favorite around here — zoodles.
Zucchini has never been a popular vegetable around our house with our kids. We find ways to “hide it” and they absolutely love it. We are huge fans of zucchini bread, muffins, but those are simple ways to hide it. I wanted my kids to actually eat the zucchini, but not know what they were doing. Everywhere you go you see people talking about zucchini noodles, but if we mention the word zucchini no one wants to eat it.
This is where zoodles came about (zucchini + noodles = zoodles). Isn’t that a genius idea? I love when my kids have no idea what I am talking about. Really, they’re at the age no matter what I talk about they are clueless. This is just for me to have some kind of weird entertainment I guess. Do you do that? I hope they aren’t storing these things in their minds to use on me later.
Once you have your zoodles you can top them any way that you want: pesto, alfredo or a tomato based sauce. Below is one of the favorite recipes we use. Not that noodles are all that bad for your kids, but as a parent if my kids eat it I eat it too. If together we can eat healthier meals it will be beneficial to both parents and children.
Getting Kids to Eat Zucchini – Zoodles
Ingredients
- 1 pack zucchini noodles
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons pesto
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts
- sea salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees
- Clean and halve one pint of cherry tomatoes and toss in a splash of extra virgin olive oil until evenly coated.
- Sprinkle with a generous dash of sea salt and spread on a cookie sheet, seed side up.
- Roast tomatoes for 90 minutes
- In a large mixing bowl combine noodles with two tablespoons of pesto (more to your preference) and mix well.
- To serve: divide noodles into two bowls, top with cherry tomatoes, sprinkle with pine nuts and serve.
Recipe derived from A House in the Hills
