Making veggies fun

Do you know someone who doesn't like to eat veggies? 

Maybe it's your husband who is strictly a meat and seafood guy, or a child who can't stand the taste of anything healthy, or a traditional eater that gets bored with the basics. Well if you have any of these people in your life then this is the post for you. I'd like to share with you some classic vegetables that are commonly found in most food stores, yet underused for lack of ingenuity. I'm going to explain how you can transform these everyday veggies into some fabulous food finds that any picky eater will enjoy!

Peppers

Most people use peppers to flavor a dish but did you know that peppers are a great vessel for fillings. Basically you eat what is in the pepper and then the pepper is covered in goodness so you end up eating that too. They look like little bowls with tops; how fun is it to eat your serving dish?

Squash

The name alone turns people down, squash, like get rid of? That's probably why people don't explore the many different vegetables in the squash family. One of my favorite squash members is the spaghetti squash. It is so easy to make and it will wow your diners. Simply slice the squash in half and roast, boil, or even microwave it. When the squash is fully cooked (cooking times vary by method) you can take a fork and run it down lengthwise of the squash. You will see perfect long strands of squash flake off. You can do this for the entire squash and you will end up with a super healthy, low calorie, mimic of spaghetti. It tastes great and the texture is super fun to eat.

Spinach

I love spinach, it adds so much dimension to a dish without a lot of work. Spinach is full of iron, fiber and vitamins A, B, C and E. Spinach can easily be consumed by throwing it into a quiche or dip. By doing so it gets disguised by the flavors of the snack yet you are getting all those healthy greens into you. Hey, if Popeye can eat it so can we!

Potatoes

I know this seems weird but I know many people who don't enjoy eating potatoes because they are boring. When I grew up my mom always cooked potatoes with dinner because they were quick and easy and went with just about everything. With that said, they ended up being a bland boring side dish that was used to fill up our bellies but didn't really satisfy our taste buds. When I began exploring new vegetables I was crazed to see there were different colored potatoes. Did you know there are red and blue potatoes? Yes blue! These potatoes cook just like regular potatoes but are so much more fun to use. They also have a more exotic and earthy flavor than regular white potatoes. You can find these colored potatoes in the chip form as well.

Brussels sprouts

I have to admit, I didn't start liking these until late in the game. Much like many of us, I fell into the stereotype that Brussels sprouts are gross, smelly, nasty tasting little heads of cabbage. All along I was eating them wrong. When properly prepared, Brussels sprouts are a scrumptious side dish. My favorite way to eat Brussels sprouts is by roasting them in the oven. I layer the sprouts on a baking sheets, peeling off some of the outer layers to crisp on their own. I drizzle on some olive oil and a touch of balsamic vinegar and then sprinkle with salt and pepper. When they cook in the oven they become slightly tender but still hold their round shape. The balsamic caramelizes the sprouts and there is a sweet and salty flavor. The best part is the crispy layers. I swear they are just as good as potato chips! If you're feeling spontaneous you can throw in some chopped bacon for an even saltier, meaty bite!

So what do you think?

Would you make these veggies in a new way to get your picky eaters to give them a try? I know these variations have really helped my family consume a lot more veggies than before because these are really fun, healthy, and easy options!