Tips and Tutorials Tuesday - Hiding the Veggies

Hello Pigeon Peeps,

I am starting a new segment here at Blue Pigeon called Tips and Tutorials Tuesday.  Every Tuesday I will post either a tip or a tutorial to share with each of you.  When it comes to tips, it could be anything from cleaning to Autism! I want to share what I learn with each of you!  Project tutorials won't come as frequently, perhaps only once a month because they take time to plan and prepare.  I haven't learned yet to make things simple!

This is Tuesday and Today I have a very simple tip for when you are cooking for the family. 

My son has Autism and if you are familiar with it, they tend to be very picky eaters. This tip isn't just for children with Autism, but for any child.  He likes about five kinds of foods and that about it.  One of his all time favorites is Spaghetti.  If he had has way, he would make Spaghetti a separate food group.  

This summer we had a nutritionist visit our house to weigh and measure Brendan.  Before she arrived I had to record exactly what he eat and how much for three days.  He's a little chubby because his behavior tends to be an issue with food.  He was eating WAY to much and it was becoming a problem.  Can you say "meltdown?"   He wasn't getting everything that he needed nutritionally.  Doesn't really like any veggies except salad and LOVES tomatoes with Light Ranch Dressing.  But we needed more. 

Since Brendan loves Spaghetti, the nutritionist suggested taking doing this:

Take about 1/2 cup of fresh spinach leaves and place in the food processor.

Then prepare Spaghetti as you normally would.  You can cook ground beef or turkey (I use turkey) in a saucepan. Or use no meat at all.  Then without your kids in the kitchen peaking, quickly add the chopped spinach!

Next, add a jar of spaghetti sauce or if you have time, prepare your own.  Me? I don't have the time.  This jar will do fine. 

Sauce complete. My son cannot tell the difference and doesn't even notice that I have added anything.  It has been working fine.  He has even lost weight and the meltdowns happen less now during dinner time.  I hope this one tip has helped you today.

Enjoy! Until Next Tuesday!