Sneaking In Veggies

Let’s face it, we’ve all experienced the fear of vegetables at some point in our lives. Whether it began in early childhood while sitting around the kitchen table refusing to eat our broccoli, or if the distaste for vegetables lasted well into our 20’s and 30’s- the vegetable fear is real. Especially for young children who haven’t developed their taste buds fully, consuming healthy greens is a constant struggle. Being a parent to children who despise vegetables can be a constant uphill battle!

Whether you’re pushing veggies on yourself, your children, or your partner, knowing how to work healthy, wholesome foods into delicious meals is super important! Learning some of the healthy recipe hacks as a parent will make your life considerably easier. Especially for those of you who’ve recently made the switch to veganism, knowing a few go-to green meals can make all the difference in switching to this new transformative vegan diet. After all, most veggies that are packed with protein and fiber don’t actually have much of a taste at all, making them perfect to sneak in for especially picky eaters. Also great to use in desserts as a healthy replacement for flour, gluten, or in-lieu of animal by-products, these veggies and fruits will change your dessert game forever!

Some great recipes that you can pull from in your day today will help you cut down on meal prep, recipe hunting, and uncertainty in your day-to-day. It’s great to have a few options, for all meals and family sizes! Starting the day off with nutrient-rich, high protein veggies and fruits, you’ll give yourself and your family the gift of an energized, positive body and mind.

Here are some of the best veggies and fruits to incorporate into the vegan diet:

• Broccoli
• Kale
• Spinach
• Apples
• Cauliflower
• Grapes
• Dates
• Mango
• Figs
• Blueberries
• Bananas
• Avocados

Super Powered Green Machine Smoothies

Smoothies are one of your best assets as both a parent and a vegan! Smoothies are clean, raw, and gluten-free by nature. With so many easy milk substitutes it’s a no-brainer why smoothies have become such a hit in our modern-day health craze! A green shake or a protein-packed nutty smoothie provides an instant source of protein, fiber, and all the natural sugars we need in order to start the day off right. As a perfect meal for breakfast or as a small-sized lunch option, you can whip up a smoothie in less than five minutes. The best part? Kids can’t tell what’s in it! The natural sugars and the creamy texture from the fruits and veggies hide the flavors (and textures) of the very vegetables that they had a problem consuming on the dinner table. Once everything is ground up into a liquid, the flavors from the berries and whatever protein powders or spices you put into it come out, not the vegetables!

For a delicious daytime smoothie:

1. start with a berry base (blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries)
2. add a milk substitute (oat, almond, soy, or coconut
3. drop in a couple of apples, kale spinach, and avocados to achieve a delicious creamy texture
4. top it off with some protein powder, a pinch of cinnamon, honey, bee pollen, or turmeric

E voila! You have a healthy replacement for what could’ve been a carb-heavy, overly-processed, refined-sugar breakfast.

Another surprising category you can sneak veggies into? Dessert!

Seriously, plant-based desserts are the ultimate health-food hack! Take Bago Health’s cashew-based vegan cheesecakes- they’re all made without dairy, gluten, or refined sugar, yet you can’t tell the difference! After just one bite, kids are instantly hooked, and parents are already looking online to order a weekly supply. Julie makes her mouth-watering vegan desserts with all sorts of healthy ingredients, from avocados to cashews, turmeric to matcha, and more! It’s the guilt-free dessert you can feel good about and know that your little ones are getting the protein they need, even while enjoying a tasty treat!

To order some for you and the family, head over to EliveFood.com for more vegan staples made locally in Southern California. Recently relocated from Los Angeles to Joshua Tree, Bago Health delivers and ships all around Southern California- straight to your doorstep! Don’t hesitate- check us out online for more recipes, products, and inspiration for your vegan food needs!