The following content is sponsored by The Sneaky Chef and Running Press Book Publishers.
If your children's diet is like that of most Americans today, then they're woefully short on vegetables, fruits and whole grains for adequate nutrition - at a critical time in their development. Or perhaps you're dealing with a picky eater who won't touch a fresh fruit or vegetable. Whether we recognize it or not, the unhealthy diet we're letting them get away with may be the cause of significant health and behavioral issues now, and in the future. Study after study has shown that nutrition plays a vital role in children's physical, mental and emotional health.
Fortunately, there is an easy way to give your whole family the nutrition they need! By simply camouflaging some of the world's healthiest foods inside of your kids' favorites, you'll avoid the usual yelling, bribes or even threats that can accompany many mealtimes, and bring peace and good nutrition back to the table.
What's the secret? Disguise! One of my main methods uses Sneaky Chef purées, made of completely hidden super foods, like spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, sweet potatoes and many more. Once hidden inside kids' favorite meals, like mac n' cheese or even brownies, they boost nutrition substantially while remaining completely undetectable.
Take the following delicious recipe for a Sneaky Chef favorite: Sneakwiches. This recipe uses my signature Orange and Green Purées, with completely hidden carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli and peas. Not only are these sandwiches deliciously kid-approved, they're literally packed with nutrition, are low in calories and fat, and pass the most picky palate with ease.
"The Sneaky Chef method gives you a practical way to have your children eating their vegetables - tonight."
- Dr. Anastoassios Koumbourlis, MD
So, just how important is good nutrition? Consider this: studies have shown that as little as one carrot per day can cut the risk of lung cancer in half, strengthen the heart, and speed the recovery time from illnesses. Carrots boast the richest source of carotenes and antioxidants in the vegetable realm and are full of fiber.
Sweet potatoes are often called the anti-diabetic food because they stabilize blood sugar levels, preventing the crash and burn that many parents observe in their kids (and themselves) after certain meals and snacks. They are rich in vitamins C, E & B, folate (good for the heart and brain), carotenes, calcium, potassium, and iron. As an added bonus, they're also a natural comfort food loaded with serotonin to help boost moods, calming children and helping them to sleep better. From a sneaky chef's perspective, they add a subtle sweetness to recipes and cut acidity when combined with tomato sauce.
Broccoli and green peas are high in protein, fiber, vitamin C, antioxidants, potassium and calcium. Peas are also high in vitamin K to strengthen bones, and one cup has more protein and fiber than a large egg!
Millions of satisfied parents have already experienced how easy it is to use Sneaky Chef purées (and over a dozen more Sneaky Chef methods of disguise) to effortlessly get their children - even the pickiest of eaters - the nutrition they need at the very next meal, without a fight. And pediatricians everywhere are also recommending the Sneaky Chef method for the same reasons. (Of course, it's always prudent to check with your doctor prior to making any changes in your child's diet).
It's time to return to your kitchen with full confidence and a bag of new tools to give your family the nutrition they need, completely hidden in the delicious meals they already love. Enjoy in good health.
Missy Chase Lapine serves on the Children's Advisory Council of Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, where Sneaky Chef recipes are served to patients. She is a member of Parenting Magazine's Mom Squad, has been a cooking instructor at New York's finest culinary schools, and is the author of the best selling Sneaky Chef book series. For more information and recipes from the Sneaky Chef, visit her site at: www.sneakychef.com.
