Veggie Variations

Today’s seemingly random food holiday is Eat All Your Veggies Day. I would dare say that like many people, I’ve grown to love vegetables. As a kid I wasn’t a huge fan, though I did like things like carrot sticks, or celery with peanut butter (which I got sick from eating too many and haven’t been able to have since!).

It’s hit or miss with my own kids. My youngest loves all vegetables — she sits by the veggie tray at birthday parties eating the raw cauliflower, cucumbers, broccoli and tomatoes. Her twin, however, will only what she absolutely has to in order to be excused from the dinner table. My oldest can take it or leave it – she’ll eat it if it’s there and won’t complain but she won’t request it either.

Over the years I’ve tried to incorporate more veggies into our diet. I admit that while I don’t like the idea of “hiding” vegetables in other foods (I think kids should learn to eat them as they are), I have been known to puree some carrots to add to pasta sauce, or add zucchini to chocolate cake (ok, that one’s probably a stretch).

Cooks.com has a great page full of vegetable ideas. Listed by vegetable name and broken down into individual recipes, the page includes everything from main dishes to side dishes, and even has soups and gourmet options.

What’s your favorite vegetable to eat and/or cook with?

[image: sxc]