Here I have a recipe for spaghetti bolognese with hidden vegetables to help you hide vegetables in spaghetti sauce to encourage fussy kids to eat them. This hidden veg spaghetti bolognese is perfect for families.
Why do you need hidden veg spaghetti bolognese?
I know how hard it can be to get some of those veggies into your children’s meals. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner, getting the right healthy and tasty foods into your kids can be very challenging.
Spaghetti bolognese is a very popular family dish and is eaten everywhere by many but using jars of bolognese sauce can make it quite unhealthy and half the time we don’t know what is in it.
This hidden veg bolognese recipe is simple but tastes amazing and contains secret foods that little eyes won’t ever see. You can do this with a lot of dishes, for example, pasta bake, jacket potato toppings and more. Have a play around to see what you could do.
Other hiding vegetable tips
If you have found this recipe and these tips helpful I am sure you will also find my tips for hiding onions article helpful. Many children refuse to eat onions but actually could enjoy them in meals with my tips.
What other vegetables do you struggle to get your children to eat? Do you need any more tips? Do let me know in the comments.
How to manage feeding kids who are fussy eaters
If you’re a parent struggling with a picky eater, you’re definitely not alone. It can be frustrating to feel like you’re constantly battling with your child to eat at meal times.
The good news is that there are ways to help your child become more adventurous with food without resorting to bribery or forcing them to eat.
One approach is to involve kids in meal preparation and grocery shopping. By participating in the process, they become more invested in the food they’re eating.
Another tip is to make meals fun, such as arranging food in creative shapes or creating a story around the foods they’re trying.
Remember to be patient and try not to stress too much – children often go through phases with their eating habits. With a little creativity and persistence, your child might surprise you with their newfound love of veggies.
The best vegetables for hiding in meals
Let’s face it, getting picky eaters to try new vegetables can be a struggle. Luckily, there are several veggies that can be easily hidden in meals without sacrificing taste.
Sneak in some grated zucchini into your pasta sauce for an added dose of nutrition. Pureed butternut squash is fantastic in mac and cheese, and you won’t even know it’s there!
Sweet potatoes are a versatile vegetable that can be blended into smoothies or added to brownies for added nutrients. Don’t be afraid to experiment and add a pinch of spinach or kale into your favourite smoothie recipe, either.
With these sneaky vegetable suggestions, your meals can remain nutritious and delicious without anyone even noticing.
Other healthy recipes you may enjoy
For more recipes that use mince check out my mince recipe guide.
For more pasta-based recipes for all the family check out my ultimate pasta recipe post.
Another great recipe for hiding vegetables in is this Chicken and bacon carbonara.
I have a lot of weight loss guides and support if you want to exercise including if you have a condition like fibromyalgia.
Have a good look around and see how I can help you achieve your weight loss goals. Request my free resources to get you started too!
Print
Hidden Vegetables Spaghetti Bolognese
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 Portions 1x
- Category: Main Meal
- Method: Hob
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Low Calorie
Description
A flavoursome spaghetti bolognese with lots of hidden vegetables. Children or fussy adults will not even realise are there!
Ingredients
One packet of dried spaghetti (or pasta, whichever you prefer)
500g of 5% beef mince or Quorn mince.
1 tin of chopped tomatoes,
1 tablespoon of tomato puree
500g of passata,
1 carrot,
1 stick of celery,
1 tsp of garlic powder,
a handful of mushrooms,
1 onion,
Grated cheese (optional),
a pinch of salt and pepper.
Instructions
Dice the onion and mushrooms as small as you can make them. This prevents little eyes from seeing them and refusing to eat them.
Grate the celery and carrot. Place on a paper towel and drain as much water from them as possible.
Put some oil, or some low cal cooking spray into a hot pan and add the onion, carrot, mushroom and celery. Cook for 1-2 minutes on a medium high heat.
Add the mince and keep mixing to make sure nothing sticks and it is all mixed together. Cook for 3-5 minutes stirring occasionally until all brown and cooked.
Add the garlic powder, salt, pepper and tomato puree and mix.
Add the tomatoes from the tin and passata, mix until covered and cover the pan and reduce the heat to simmer and reduce. Make sure you keep coming back to stir with a wooden spoon, you don’t want it to stick to the bottom.
Fill a pan with water and add a pinch of salt, bring to the boil and then add your spaghetti or pasta and wait until cooked.
Grate cheese if wanted.
Serve
Keywords: pasta, hidden vegetables, fussy eaters,
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About Author
Hi, I’m Jen Mellor; I live in Nottingham, UK. and use my knowledge and experience in weight loss and confidence to help you become your own cheerleader and best friend. I am usually seen wearing colourful leggings and love to wear bright colours. Wear what you love, and be proud of your style and choices!
Who doesn’t love spag bol? This hidden veggies version is fab for my kids who turn their noses up whenever standard vegetables are presented to them.
★★★★★
Thank you so much x