9 ways to make veggies part of the lunchbox

Veggies. So good for you. So good for kids, such an important part of a balanced diet. But how can we get them to eat them if they really don't like them? Well, I've been thinking about this for a while, so I've compiled this list of 9 ways to make veggies part of the lunchbox. I hope it gives you some extra ideas.

Generally speaking I don't like to hide veggies, I like my kids to eat them straight up, but Master 3 is really refusing all veggies except carrots, corn and sweet potato. Which is crazy because just 12 months ago, he'd eat them all. And only veggies. KIDS!

 

1.  Savoury muffins:
   Anything can be put into a muffin, but I've found that veggies in a muffin are much more appealing. Broccoli and cheese mini muffins are awesome, freeze well and are perfect for a grab and go addition to the lunch box. But you don't need to stop there, I've got carrot and cheese muffins that will make you drool and haloumi, zucchini and mint muffins that will appeal to more sophisticated tastes.
2. Cut them into cut shapes:
   If you are trying to come up with cute ideas, get some mini cutters and cut some shapes in carrot, cucumber or both. Switch the bits back and forth and you've got carrots inside cucumbers and cucumbers inside carrots...and they get gobbled! If you need to see what I'm on about...they are here in my heart lunchbox.
3. Hide them in cakes:
   So many options! Healthy cake is awesome for hiding veggies in! Try chocolate zucchini cakes, apple and carrot cake or even a beetroot and cacao cake.
4. Fritters:
   Oh my, find me a child that doesn't love fritters! Our favourites are sweetcorn fritters, apple and sweet potato fritters or gluten free two veg fritters.  All perfect for freezing and perfect for packing veggies into the lunchbox!
5. Green cheese on a pizza:
   It's an old trick, but a good one. If you make pizzas and mix grated zucchini in with the cheese...you're onto a winner! I do it under the cheese as well. Zucchini when grated like this has very little taste and cooks down to virtually nothing. Can you see it on these?
6. Spiralise them:
   My spiraliser came with 4 different blades and does everything from curls like spaghetti through to wide slinky style curls. Apparently it makes carrot yummier. It also makes themeasier to put into rice paper rolls.
7. In meatballs:
   What? Not only do veggies add bulk to your meatballs- meaning that yo can make more from the same amount of meat, but they also add an extra element of goodness to them! Seriously, hide some mushrooms in these ones, or pop some carrot and zucchini in these, either way, you're onto a winner!
8. Veggie slice:
   Veggie slice is an awesome veggie hit and this one contains no green stuff, so it's awesome for green refusers.
9. Wrap them in pastry:
   There are so many things that taste better with pastry! Whether you're slipping veggies into meat pies, sausage rolls or into these veggie and quinoa chicken hand pies, one way to ensure the veggies go unnoticed is to crust them in flaky, yummy pastry!

Have you got any tried and true methods for getting veggies into the lunchbox? Help us out! Share your ideas below!