Benefits of veggies!

Here are a few nutritional facts of the veggies you will use in your sneaky recipes.
Sweet Potatoes - High in Potassium, Vitamins C and Vitamin A. it also had carotenoids which help regulate the blood sugar which helps in metabolism and also keeps you from "crashing" after a meal.
Carrots- High in Vitamin A, Potassium and Eating carrots will encourage healthy skin, hair, bones, eyesight and will also cleanse the body
These two are the most valuable for their beta-carotene. Beta-carotene helps in fighting chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease, as well as disease related to inflammation, such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.
Broccoli- vitamin C, vitamin A (mostly as beta-carotene), folic acid, calcium, and fiber. Broccoli is an important calcium source for those who don't consume dairy products.
Spinach- HUGE antioxidant, Vitamin C, spinach possesses several important phytochemicals, including lutein, which helps prevent age-related macular degeneration
Cauliflower-contains allicin, which can improve heart health and reduce the risk of strokes, also help to maintain a healthy cholesterol level also it is an excellent source of fiber.

The next post will be how to prepare these veggies for pureeing and storage. Like i said before baby food is the easy way!
Here is a great idea from a Friend DeeDee

Ok, I'll be the first to post my own attempt at being sneaky. I usually make your basic chicken and rice recipe with brown rice, chicken, cream of mushroom soup and an onion soup packet with water added. Tonight however, I used an Italian dressing packet and added a container of carrots and sweet potatoes! It was obviously yellow/orange so I just put some cheddar cheese on top so it looked like the cheese was the reason for the color! Both McKenna and AnnaB ate it and they are my picky ones! Steve said he thought it was good too and of course Sara Kate and I enjoyed our serving! Yay for baby food! =0)

Basics

So the premise of "sneaking" in veggies is doing it so that you can't tell that they are in your food. The best way to do that is to puree them in a blender or food processor. Also buying baby food is a great and easy way! Here is today's tip:

When buying your baby food puree, buy the Organic version. Other types have preservatives in them. The organic has only the veggie and water. Also (thanks DeeDee for looking) Gerber has all natural no preservatives!
Here are the kinds I buy:
Sweet Potato
Carrots
Squash

Tonight's Recipe:
Meatloaf

1.5 Lbs ground beef or turkey
1 package onion soup mix
Garlic, oregano and thyme to taste
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 egg
1/2 cup pureed spinach/broccoli
1/4 squash

The kids never suspected a thing!
Side note: I found that the ketchup bottle wasn't full so i opened it and put in pureed (baby food) carrots and sweet potatoes! That way it is already done and from now on there will be veggies in it!

My next post i will put in information on the veggies and why these certain ones are so good to eat!

Enjoy being Sneaky!!!!!

Start of something new

I wanted to start this blog to help each other find "sneaky" ways to add nutrition to our meals without eliminating taste.
I was inspired by the "Sneaky Chef" and the "Deceptively Delicious" books.
I have no idea how to make this work but I am going to try to work something out!
The plan is to feed our husbands, children and friends better by "sneaking" in veggies where they least expect it.
Also how to do subtle food changes and making it work.

I will post again soon and talk about the basics of these two books. If you have a chance to thumb through them do so!

Stay tuned!!!!!!

Here is a recipe that I just made:
Guacamole
3 ripe avocados
Quac seasoning packet
3 Tlbs/cloves garlic
3/4 cup of spinach/broccoli puree