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The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals
Parents will do almost anything to get their kids to eat healthier, but unfortunately, they’ve found that begging, pleading, threatening, and bribing don’t work. With their patience wearing thin, parents will “give in” for the sake of family peace, and reach for “kiddie” favorites-often nutritionally inferior choices such as fried fish sticks, mac n’ cheese, Pop-sicles, and cookies. Missy Chase Lapine, former publisher of Eating Well magazine, faced the same challenges with her two young daughters, and she sought a solution. Now in The Sneaky Chef, Lapine presents over 75 recipes that ingeniously disguise the most important superfoods inside kids’ favorite meals. With the addition of a few simple make-ahead purees or clever replacements, (some may surprise you!) parents can pack more fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants in their kids’ foods. Examples of “Sneaky” recipes include: No Harm Chicken Parm Power Pizza Incognito Burritos Guerilla Grilled Cheese Brainy Brownies Health-by-Chocolate Cookies Quick fixes for Jell-O(R)
272 pages, Paperback
First published March 27, 2007
60 people are currently reading
739 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
November 22, 2013
This book was not very helpful to me.
I have older children who know that we live a lifestyle that includes eating fruits and vegetables. We've never lied to them about food or tried to deceive them about what they are eating. My plan was to let them know that we were going to try some new recipes that were going to pump up our intake of fruits and veggies. Veggies are always included with our meals and snacks throughout the day so I really was just looking for a few ways to add a few more.
Issues with the book -
*The recipes are unappetizing and fall completely in the category of "kid food." Think mac and cheese and chicken nuggets.
*The book pushes that if we just get a few bites into the kids at each meal, the veggie consumption adds up over time. The idea is that you make up a batch of one of the sauces and add a bit to every recipe. It probably only comes out to equal a couple of Tablespoons of veg per serving.
*The recipes are uninspiring, every day, run of the mill recipes. If you don't cook, this book may be helpful to you. If you enjoy cooking, you'll look at the recipes and wonder how this book made it this far.
*I want my kids to know what FOOD looks like and what it tastes like. I also want them to know that eating a serving of fresh veggies can be delicious and I would love to have them coming back for more! Hiding veggies in food does not teach children about the importance of eating a balanced diet. It also doesn't expose them to connecting good food with veggies.
*I have older children who have grown up knowing that we eat vegetables. Getting them to eat what is being served for dinner has not been all that difficult. We set the expectation, they eat. We don't battle over food in our home.
*I was going to suggest this book for people who may have picky toddlers, but I really think that it may backfire in the long run. We have catered to children for way too long when it comes to food. I know many moms who make multiple meals for their family because, "my kid won't eat that."
My opinion - eat REAL food that looks like REAL food!
I have older children who know that we live a lifestyle that includes eating fruits and vegetables. We've never lied to them about food or tried to deceive them about what they are eating. My plan was to let them know that we were going to try some new recipes that were going to pump up our intake of fruits and veggies. Veggies are always included with our meals and snacks throughout the day so I really was just looking for a few ways to add a few more.
Issues with the book -
*The recipes are unappetizing and fall completely in the category of "kid food." Think mac and cheese and chicken nuggets.
*The book pushes that if we just get a few bites into the kids at each meal, the veggie consumption adds up over time. The idea is that you make up a batch of one of the sauces and add a bit to every recipe. It probably only comes out to equal a couple of Tablespoons of veg per serving.
*The recipes are uninspiring, every day, run of the mill recipes. If you don't cook, this book may be helpful to you. If you enjoy cooking, you'll look at the recipes and wonder how this book made it this far.
*I want my kids to know what FOOD looks like and what it tastes like. I also want them to know that eating a serving of fresh veggies can be delicious and I would love to have them coming back for more! Hiding veggies in food does not teach children about the importance of eating a balanced diet. It also doesn't expose them to connecting good food with veggies.
*I have older children who have grown up knowing that we eat vegetables. Getting them to eat what is being served for dinner has not been all that difficult. We set the expectation, they eat. We don't battle over food in our home.
*I was going to suggest this book for people who may have picky toddlers, but I really think that it may backfire in the long run. We have catered to children for way too long when it comes to food. I know many moms who make multiple meals for their family because, "my kid won't eat that."
My opinion - eat REAL food that looks like REAL food!
April 9, 2008
What I love...
1. Easy to read.
2. Well organized.
3. Lots of recipes that kids will want to eat.
4. Everything extra is "make ahead" so I can do it when the kids aren't around.
5. Quick fixes for some packaged foods. Ways to make them better.
What I didn't love...
1. Not as many photos as I would have liked. 15 recipes are pictured complete.
What I still need to check out...
Although I've finished the book, I haven't tried out anything yet. I'm fairly sure that the fruity add-ins will be okay with my kids, but I'm worried about the cauliflower add-ins. I could be pleasantly surprised though!
I'll have to add on to the review once I actually get to make some things.
On a side note: I had a friend say that the difference between this book and Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld, was that this book has kid-friendly recipes and Jessica's are more fancy than her kids will eat.
Has anyone read both?
1. Easy to read.
2. Well organized.
3. Lots of recipes that kids will want to eat.
4. Everything extra is "make ahead" so I can do it when the kids aren't around.
5. Quick fixes for some packaged foods. Ways to make them better.
What I didn't love...
1. Not as many photos as I would have liked. 15 recipes are pictured complete.
What I still need to check out...
Although I've finished the book, I haven't tried out anything yet. I'm fairly sure that the fruity add-ins will be okay with my kids, but I'm worried about the cauliflower add-ins. I could be pleasantly surprised though!
I'll have to add on to the review once I actually get to make some things.
On a side note: I had a friend say that the difference between this book and Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld, was that this book has kid-friendly recipes and Jessica's are more fancy than her kids will eat.
Has anyone read both?
April 11, 2008
Love it, love it, love it!! Borrowed it from the library because JT doesn't want to eat anything. Lots of great recipes even for adults to just alter some of their favorite comfort food type stand bys, as well as cookies and sweet treats, to make them better for you and get all those veggies they say we should eat!
December 22, 2008
I liked the Jessica Seinfeld book better than this one. It seemed, to me, to be a little too involved, as opposed to Seinfeld's easy, one-ingredient addition to our favorite dishes. For a busy, non-cook, such as myself, it was a little daunting. Also, I wasn't so keen on making something called 'green puree' and 'purple juice' to add to my foods.
June 1, 2012
This book is a perfect example of everything wrong with American Food Culture. Why bother teaching kids healthy food habits when you can just give them the same old crap with a few tablespoons of pureed vegetables to make it "healthy"?
My kids aren't super picky eaters so this book is irrelevant to my household. I can see how her recipes might be useful to families with different circumstances. However, I do have a Vegetable Avoider and I have been able to sneaky plenty of vegetables into his food without resorting to complicated and time consuming purees. It's not that hard.
I also found her list of "In" and "Out" foods offsensive. And again, a perfect demonstration of what's wrong with our society's approach to food. If I were to elaborate this would turn into a dissertation rather than a simple book review.
One final note, I vehemently disagree with her position on using whole grain flour in recipes. With the exception of special desserts I use whole wheat flour exclusively and my kids (as well as everyone else I know) have always eaten my baked goods with no complaints. It boggles me when people insist things like quick breads and pancakes need white flour.
My kids aren't super picky eaters so this book is irrelevant to my household. I can see how her recipes might be useful to families with different circumstances. However, I do have a Vegetable Avoider and I have been able to sneaky plenty of vegetables into his food without resorting to complicated and time consuming purees. It's not that hard.
I also found her list of "In" and "Out" foods offsensive. And again, a perfect demonstration of what's wrong with our society's approach to food. If I were to elaborate this would turn into a dissertation rather than a simple book review.
One final note, I vehemently disagree with her position on using whole grain flour in recipes. With the exception of special desserts I use whole wheat flour exclusively and my kids (as well as everyone else I know) have always eaten my baked goods with no complaints. It boggles me when people insist things like quick breads and pancakes need white flour.
March 23, 2011
Haven't tried the recipes yet (it's a library book. need to buy it). But I really liked the philosophy. Helped me understand why I've been so picky about food for so long. Yes, it's geared at tricking toddlers, but that's who I've been eating like most of my life. Don't know if I'll be able to "trick" myself ... but I do think I can add nutrition to foods I like by using these recipes/tips/techniques. So if I ever get discretionary income enough to buy some books, this is on the list. :)
February 12, 2013
Haven't tried any of the recipes, but want to. The idea seems good. Wish the author included the normal nutritional information that appears on food packages.
September 18, 2014
This book is a good start to healthier eating for picky kids. However, I'd like to see a healthier version of her recipes: less sugar, fewer carbs, and alternatives to wheat flour.
February 4, 2024
Disclaimer: I read this book out of curiosity, rather than out of a need to get my children to eat more vegetables. My children eat plenty of raw vegetables every day, are required to eat one teaspoon of any new food, and are not allowed to say, “Yuck!” to foods on sight alone. I do see how many of these ideas could be useful in the neurodivergent, who often have extreme cases of texture sensitivities.
My dietary education is specific to reversing diabetes and obesity, which is far different than the standard American diet.
This book, as the title suggests, is about using deception to get children to eat more vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains. I think it is perfectly all right to make vegetables more palatable by baking them into muffins,etc., but it feels wrong to me to plan to deceive people like this. The first part of the book is trying to justify the deceit: food companies do it; children need autonomy, power, and nutrition; kids don’t understand why eating healthy food matters; we lie to our children all the time (about the tooth fairy; saying something is “nothing for you to worry about,”). This deceit is especially a problem if you take food to potlucks. People can be allergic to anything!
Comments like, “try to keep a straight face” as your children eat these healthy foods, and using “sneaky tips” to describe helpful procedures in the kitchen emphasize deception rather than health.
Some of the recommendations are good, like adding puréed white beans to mashed potatoes or cookies, diluting juice with green tea or water, and adding fruit purée to ice cream, or vegetable purée to meat or cheese dishes.
The information about high glycemic index foods is helpful, though the “slow carbs” which are recommended as replacements will still cause problems if you already have blood sugar issues (reactive hypoglycemia, pre-diabetes, diabetes).
Reducing trans fats, high-fructose corn syrup, and monosodium glutamate is a good idea.
I take issue with some of the dietary ideas in this book.
The food pyramid has been disproven. Sugar is the main driver behind obesity, not saturated fats. Canola oil is not healthy.
Recommends low fat meat and dairy, as well as using very little cooking oil. I understand that children, especially those too young to understand why we should eat healthy food, really need dietary fats for proper brain development. Saturated animal fats like butter, cream and cheese are very good for this.
Recommends keeping calories low, even from (stated) healthy nuts and seeds, by offering them in-shell to reduce consumption. This is a bit confusing, as I thought this book was about getting kids to eat more of the healthy food.
Recommends using tofu in place of a portion of ricotta cheese in lasagna and ziti. Again, I consider cheese better for growing brains and bodies than tofu.
Recommends mixing ground chicken or turkey into beef meatballs in order to reduce red meat consumption. I have found that it’s easier to get kids to eat chicken than it is to get them to eat beef.
Recommends adding puréed vegetables to guacamole. Guacamole is puréed vegetables!
Recommends adding puréed carrots and sweet potatoes to canned baked beans to increase nutrition and add “a hint of sweetness.” Baked beans are beans canned with brown sugar. I don’t think the vegetables will increase sweetness!
My dietary education is specific to reversing diabetes and obesity, which is far different than the standard American diet.
This book, as the title suggests, is about using deception to get children to eat more vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains. I think it is perfectly all right to make vegetables more palatable by baking them into muffins,etc., but it feels wrong to me to plan to deceive people like this. The first part of the book is trying to justify the deceit: food companies do it; children need autonomy, power, and nutrition; kids don’t understand why eating healthy food matters; we lie to our children all the time (about the tooth fairy; saying something is “nothing for you to worry about,”). This deceit is especially a problem if you take food to potlucks. People can be allergic to anything!
Comments like, “try to keep a straight face” as your children eat these healthy foods, and using “sneaky tips” to describe helpful procedures in the kitchen emphasize deception rather than health.
Some of the recommendations are good, like adding puréed white beans to mashed potatoes or cookies, diluting juice with green tea or water, and adding fruit purée to ice cream, or vegetable purée to meat or cheese dishes.
The information about high glycemic index foods is helpful, though the “slow carbs” which are recommended as replacements will still cause problems if you already have blood sugar issues (reactive hypoglycemia, pre-diabetes, diabetes).
Reducing trans fats, high-fructose corn syrup, and monosodium glutamate is a good idea.
I take issue with some of the dietary ideas in this book.
The food pyramid has been disproven. Sugar is the main driver behind obesity, not saturated fats. Canola oil is not healthy.
Recommends low fat meat and dairy, as well as using very little cooking oil. I understand that children, especially those too young to understand why we should eat healthy food, really need dietary fats for proper brain development. Saturated animal fats like butter, cream and cheese are very good for this.
Recommends keeping calories low, even from (stated) healthy nuts and seeds, by offering them in-shell to reduce consumption. This is a bit confusing, as I thought this book was about getting kids to eat more of the healthy food.
Recommends using tofu in place of a portion of ricotta cheese in lasagna and ziti. Again, I consider cheese better for growing brains and bodies than tofu.
Recommends mixing ground chicken or turkey into beef meatballs in order to reduce red meat consumption. I have found that it’s easier to get kids to eat chicken than it is to get them to eat beef.
Recommends adding puréed vegetables to guacamole. Guacamole is puréed vegetables!
Recommends adding puréed carrots and sweet potatoes to canned baked beans to increase nutrition and add “a hint of sweetness.” Baked beans are beans canned with brown sugar. I don’t think the vegetables will increase sweetness!
December 31, 2022
There are definitely some recipes in here I will try (such as cocoa chocolate chip pancakes with berry syrup, and healthier granola bars). I really look forward to trying them out!! That being said, like some others mentioned, I did not like the premise of this book. Much of the intro, aside from explaining how her approach worked, rationalized lying (ex saying we would lie to someone saying we liked their haircut even if we didn’t. No, lying is never okay!). Instead I think she could have explained that the book contains America’s top favorite kids meal foods, remade in a healthier way so they are BOTH healthy and (still) enjoyable, favorite foods. All that said, I look forward to testing some of those healthy, enjoyable recipes!
July 18, 2025
If I had to puree vegetables everyday to add to a meal just so my kids would eat it, I'd just leave them whole and let them complain again but the make ahead recipes are simple to make, easy to store, and then they're ready to go. I love how easy she made it to be sneaky. And bonus points because the kids made the menu for the week which includes cauliflower!
June 20, 2017
I had fun making a lot of these recipes for me and my picky husband. :)
December 14, 2018
I can’t wait to start this new way of life.
July 7, 2021
So many great recipes that pleasantly surprised me.
January 8, 2008
I deliberately asked for this book over the other one for my birthday!
My two old son refuses to eat meat (except for ham or bacon) and gets bored very easily with food. He was getting to the point where he'd only eat tortilla chips and apples. Getting him to sit down for a meal ... well, from the screaming you'd think we were dipping him in a vat of boiling oil!
But when I made the quesadilla recipe in this book, he ate two whole quesadillas (usually he eats half of one). So far all the meals I've served out of this book have been HUGE hits. My husband even liked the mac and cheese.
It's really not that hard to make the purees recommended in the book. I timed myself: the oragne puree took 20 minutes (I did it while my son napped) and the green puree took 15 minutes. They last three days in the refrigerator so on day two, I measured out tablespoon-sized servings into an ice tray that I'd sprayed with Pam. I wrapped them in foil and then stuck them in a plastic zip-lock bag.
Yes, I work from home and have child care every other day. (I squeeze 40 hours worth of work into half of that time!) But I was getting very concerned over my son's declining nutrition and decided I needed to make the time to cook healthy meals. It has been well worth the effort. He actually goes to the dinner table now and thinks he's getting away with eating chicken fingers and faux ranch dressing. I know he's getting a great meal.
My two old son refuses to eat meat (except for ham or bacon) and gets bored very easily with food. He was getting to the point where he'd only eat tortilla chips and apples. Getting him to sit down for a meal ... well, from the screaming you'd think we were dipping him in a vat of boiling oil!
But when I made the quesadilla recipe in this book, he ate two whole quesadillas (usually he eats half of one). So far all the meals I've served out of this book have been HUGE hits. My husband even liked the mac and cheese.
It's really not that hard to make the purees recommended in the book. I timed myself: the oragne puree took 20 minutes (I did it while my son napped) and the green puree took 15 minutes. They last three days in the refrigerator so on day two, I measured out tablespoon-sized servings into an ice tray that I'd sprayed with Pam. I wrapped them in foil and then stuck them in a plastic zip-lock bag.
Yes, I work from home and have child care every other day. (I squeeze 40 hours worth of work into half of that time!) But I was getting very concerned over my son's declining nutrition and decided I needed to make the time to cook healthy meals. It has been well worth the effort. He actually goes to the dinner table now and thinks he's getting away with eating chicken fingers and faux ranch dressing. I know he's getting a great meal.
January 15, 2008
I love this book so far. It's had a lot of press and I was curious to see what the buzz was all about.
I have read some arguments regarding this book saying that we should teach our children to eat fruits and veggies, period, and not try to hide them in things like brownies and ice cream. My viewpoint is, yes, teach them to eat fruits and veggies (by example) but why not give them extra nutrition when they do get sweets? I'm excited to try some of the recipes in this book to see how they taste. I have a hard enough time getting hubby to use Splenda and soymilk, so maybe if he doesn't know there's chickpea puree in his burgers, all will be well!
This books includes a lot of good general nutritional info as well, such as the most important foods to buy organically due to levels of pesticides used.
I've made my list of recipes to try. One will be lasagna to serve at Faith's birthday party. I liked the recipes in this book less than the ones in Jessica Seinfeld's book, but enjoyed reading this book more.
I have read some arguments regarding this book saying that we should teach our children to eat fruits and veggies, period, and not try to hide them in things like brownies and ice cream. My viewpoint is, yes, teach them to eat fruits and veggies (by example) but why not give them extra nutrition when they do get sweets? I'm excited to try some of the recipes in this book to see how they taste. I have a hard enough time getting hubby to use Splenda and soymilk, so maybe if he doesn't know there's chickpea puree in his burgers, all will be well!
This books includes a lot of good general nutritional info as well, such as the most important foods to buy organically due to levels of pesticides used.
I've made my list of recipes to try. One will be lasagna to serve at Faith's birthday party. I liked the recipes in this book less than the ones in Jessica Seinfeld's book, but enjoyed reading this book more.
July 7, 2010
Things I liked best about this cookbook:
*Lapine's food philosophy (eat fresh, eat whole grains, avoid pesticides, eat junk occassionally but try to make it healthier when you do)
*Ability to make ahead and freeze the purees. This is key if you are trying to sneak things into foods without kids noticing. Mine are always in the kitchen and would definitely notice if I were pureeing spinach before every meal!
*Recipes kids (and adults like)...no "fancy pants" stuff.
*Getting the tips/tricks I needed to start adding fruits and veggies to almost any meal undetected. Lapine taught me the best way to puree and conceal (the key is texture and color).
I wasn't crazy about the meatball recipe (just "okay"), but I was pleasantly surprised by the guacamole (I was sure that I'd be able to taste the puree, but I couldn't!) and the white bean puree hidden in mac-and-cheese. There are several other recipes I can't wait to try. Overall, a great cookbook for moms or people trying to eat healthier.
*Lapine's food philosophy (eat fresh, eat whole grains, avoid pesticides, eat junk occassionally but try to make it healthier when you do)
*Ability to make ahead and freeze the purees. This is key if you are trying to sneak things into foods without kids noticing. Mine are always in the kitchen and would definitely notice if I were pureeing spinach before every meal!
*Recipes kids (and adults like)...no "fancy pants" stuff.
*Getting the tips/tricks I needed to start adding fruits and veggies to almost any meal undetected. Lapine taught me the best way to puree and conceal (the key is texture and color).
I wasn't crazy about the meatball recipe (just "okay"), but I was pleasantly surprised by the guacamole (I was sure that I'd be able to taste the puree, but I couldn't!) and the white bean puree hidden in mac-and-cheese. There are several other recipes I can't wait to try. Overall, a great cookbook for moms or people trying to eat healthier.
January 28, 2011
While I don't like the premise of the book (sneaking), she has some simple ways to increase vegetables in your meals and boost antioxidants and foods that help with iron-absorption. Since the recipes have more fiber (due to the hidden ingredients, it should also curb one's appetite.) More than half of the book is filled with recipes.
The key to her system is the set of 13 make-ahead recipes, everything from ground walnuts, frozen bananas and homemade bacon bits to the all-important purees (white puree, green puree, purple puree, and orange puree). Each puree recipe makes 1-2 cups puree (in a small food processor) and can be frozen in 1/4 cup baggies.
She field-tested each recipe on firemen across America, with the requirement that no sneaky recipe could be noticeably different in texture, appearance or taste from its original recipe.
Many free recipes can be found on her website. I'm not sure I would have paid for the book, but the library copy gave me the info I needed.
The key to her system is the set of 13 make-ahead recipes, everything from ground walnuts, frozen bananas and homemade bacon bits to the all-important purees (white puree, green puree, purple puree, and orange puree). Each puree recipe makes 1-2 cups puree (in a small food processor) and can be frozen in 1/4 cup baggies.
She field-tested each recipe on firemen across America, with the requirement that no sneaky recipe could be noticeably different in texture, appearance or taste from its original recipe.
Many free recipes can be found on her website. I'm not sure I would have paid for the book, but the library copy gave me the info I needed.
July 16, 2011
The recipes for purees at the beginning of this book are pure genius in that they literally have no funky taste - you could hide them in pretty much anything. The information that Lapine provides on the nutritional benefits of the hidden fruits and veggies is also inspiring to any parent anxious to get those precious vitamins and minerals into their kid any which way. The recipes themselves, however, are over-the-top, i.e. "chocolate chip pancakes," "breakfast cookies," "breakfast ice cream," etc. The "breakfast cookie" they're eating could be fortified with 112 vitamins and minerals, and still the idea conveyed to children is that they're eating "junk food," and doing so on a regular basis is OK. I get what she's doing - trying to make these foods as appealing as possible - but the approach is lacking for me. I'll use the recipes, but in our home, "breakfast cookies" will not be served for breakfast - I don't care how healthy they are!
December 31, 2007
I have a girlfriend who makes what she calls "Christmas Lasagne" every year. I love the idea of it. How simple! Just pop it in the oven and go back to relaxing with the family. I tried it this year on my husband's family - only I used the sneaky chef recipe. Success... everyone enjoyed it, the kids ate it, and even I got a few extra veggies into my diet! Still giddy from my success, I added the "white puree" (cauliflower & zucchini) to my children's Mac and Cheese last week. Again, success! My son (the anti-eater who believes in only eating what he needs to sustain) had seconds. I still think it is very important to put vegetables on their plates in their whole form... but this way I know those vitamins and nutrients are actually getting into their bodies as well. Peace of mind for the mom of the anti-eater.
July 27, 2008
I have a very picky eater. I really want him to eat better. I'm investigating methods to help him overcome his pickiness but in the meantime I'd still like to get some nutrients into him. And that's why I picked up The Sneaky Chef by Missy Chase Lapine.
I'm not adverse to lying to my kids to help them get through something. I've told them about the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. I've stretched the truth about something they wouldn't understand. I've done what I can to help them, or to make their childhood magical. Sneaking vegetables into their diet is nothing.
One of the things that I liked about this book is that it not only sneaks in vegetables, it also sneaks in whole grains and sneaks out sugar and fats. It's about much more than the vegetable purees. Some of the recipes look really good too.
I haven't tried to make anything yet, but I'm looking forward to it.
I'm not adverse to lying to my kids to help them get through something. I've told them about the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. I've stretched the truth about something they wouldn't understand. I've done what I can to help them, or to make their childhood magical. Sneaking vegetables into their diet is nothing.
One of the things that I liked about this book is that it not only sneaks in vegetables, it also sneaks in whole grains and sneaks out sugar and fats. It's about much more than the vegetable purees. Some of the recipes look really good too.
I haven't tried to make anything yet, but I'm looking forward to it.
May 29, 2009
I decided that if breakfast was the only meal my son was going to eat on a consistent basis, it better be good! So this book gave me a few pancake, muffin recipes in which to sneak healthier ingredients in. Most of the recipes were pretty good--esp the muffins. The cocoa pancakes really did taste like you were having brownies for breakfast (which was a little much for me) and the breakfast cookies were just okay. I would say, skip or skim most of the first part of the book and look at the recipes. I didn't try many of the lunch/dinner recipes. But they looked good, too. I liked the recipes where I could open a jar of sweet potatoes and a jar of carrot baby food and throw it in quick. I've also been looking at her second book that has more recipes (the peanut butter waffles were NOT a winner). Anyways, it was a good find and maybe it could work for you with picky eaters!
February 8, 2008
I made a couple of the purees and the flour blend of wheat flour, white flour, and wheat germ. I tried the "unbelievable chocolate chip cookie" recipe. It was disgusting. My daughter only ate the chocolate chips. The flour blend tastes gross and changes the texture of the cookie too much - very bread like. Plus, the cookies had bean paste in them. Gross! I swear I could smell the beans after the cookies were cooked.
I tried the peanut butter cookie recipe too. It was a little better, but the flour blend gave it the same nasty texture.
I'm going to try the granola bar recipe and then I'm done. I'll give my frozen purees to my baby niece.
I think I'll check out Deceptively Delicious next.
I tried the peanut butter cookie recipe too. It was a little better, but the flour blend gave it the same nasty texture.
I'm going to try the granola bar recipe and then I'm done. I'll give my frozen purees to my baby niece.
I think I'll check out Deceptively Delicious next.
March 8, 2008
Though geared towards kids, this book is great for picky eaters of all ages, or for anyone looking to add a little more nutrition to their diet without sacrificing taste.
My favorite tips include:
Adding “purees” of veggies such as cauliflower and zucchini (which don’t have a lot of taste but tend to have an odd texture) to things like burritos and mac & cheese.
Buying the following ingredients organic because they absorb the highest level of pesticides: strawberries, peaches, apples, spinach, nectarines, celery, pears, cherries, potatoes, sweet bell peppers, raspberries and imported grapes.
Pairing the following ingredients together when boiling to add nutrition: potatoes or rice with veggie broth, pasta or soups with green tea and oatmeal with blueberry juice
My favorite tips include:
Adding “purees” of veggies such as cauliflower and zucchini (which don’t have a lot of taste but tend to have an odd texture) to things like burritos and mac & cheese.
Buying the following ingredients organic because they absorb the highest level of pesticides: strawberries, peaches, apples, spinach, nectarines, celery, pears, cherries, potatoes, sweet bell peppers, raspberries and imported grapes.
Pairing the following ingredients together when boiling to add nutrition: potatoes or rice with veggie broth, pasta or soups with green tea and oatmeal with blueberry juice
October 7, 2011
Overall enjoyed the book. I am not too fond of being sneaky with food as I think kids should be exposed to all kinds of food. However, this was easily resolved by adding veggies on the plate without hiding them. The recipes I have tried were tasty and simple to make. My husband and my son asked me to make the recipes again. The writing style was clear and informative. The purees are versatile an can be made in advance. I froze mine in ice cube trays to avoid having to take the blender out every time. Moreover, making the purée only for one recipe usually means there is leftover purée to throw out as it's never enough to complete any other recipe.
Overall a great book. I will not hesitate to recommend it!
Overall a great book. I will not hesitate to recommend it!
June 5, 2014
I applaud this woman for taking action and finding a way to get her girls to eat food. I can relate with her when her brother comes over and tells her to just make them eat. She has a healthy obsession with whole foods. Lol. Other than her personal stories I didn't enjoy much else. Bean purée in cookies? Green juice, purple juice? While I wasn't inspired enough to use any of her recipes she did inspire me to start adding veggies that my kids do like to the meals they already know. For example adding shredded carrot to hamburger, tomatoes to eggs, Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. Veggie purée inside chocolate cake. My daughter is having a field day I made cupcakes. Lol.
In the end I KNOW this book will help a mom out there and that's what really matters.
In the end I KNOW this book will help a mom out there and that's what really matters.
July 7, 2008
I was skeptical about this book at first--why should you sneak veggies into your kids' foods, shouldn't they learn to eat veggies on their own? But the beginning chapters address that, and I began to see these recipes as a way to boost the nutritive value of some common dishes, dishes that I would still pair with other veggies, etc.
That said, I think I'm not ready for this book yet. My daughter still doesn't eat many foods with multiple ingredients yet, so no macaroni and cheese--healthy or not--is making it into her mouth. While many of these child-friendly recipes are not things we normally cook, they didn't sound bad, and I am interested in trying some of them out...later.
That said, I think I'm not ready for this book yet. My daughter still doesn't eat many foods with multiple ingredients yet, so no macaroni and cheese--healthy or not--is making it into her mouth. While many of these child-friendly recipes are not things we normally cook, they didn't sound bad, and I am interested in trying some of them out...later.
June 2, 2008
This cookbook is lacking in good pictures, but the system is simpler than Deceptively Delicious. I tried sneaking sweet potatoes into the mac and cheese, and my son said it tasted like hair. (Go figure!) The Brainy Brownies were a big hit, however, and really easy to make. Hard to tell if the amount of spinach and blueberries really makes enough difference to off-set the 6Tbs of butter and 3/4 cup of chocolate chips, but if you're going to eat brownies, at least you can have some more antioxidents in them! If I were to buy either the Sneaky Chef or Deceptively Delicious, I would pick the Sneaky Chef.
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August 29, 2008I read a preview of this in the family fun magazine and I am ordering it! This is really nothing new, but for me really hit home. I am constantly nagging my kids to eat more veggies. I love the idea of pureeing them and putting them in unsuspecting foods. Yes, I also encourage them to get veggies in their "real" form, but this is a nice extra little boost. I expierimented today and but green bean puree and some v-8 juice in our meatloaf-and voila! no one could tell the difference! I was so thrilled! I am really going to give this a try! So to those who are in my dinner group-I am going to become the sneaky chef!
LOL-Amber!
LOL-Amber!
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