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More Veggies Please!: Easy Kid-Approved Meals and Family-Friendly Comfort Foods with Surprising Veggie Twists
Looking for ways to get your kids to eat more veggies?
Packed with creative recipes, this modern approach to classic family comfort foods ups the nutritional ante—infusing TONS of healthful vegetables into every dish (even snacks and desserts!)—while always putting flavor first.
As a chef and cookbook author, Nikki Dinki loves veggies. But like most parents, getting her kids to love them is a work in progress. There will always be a side of veggies on their dinner plates, but when those veggies go untouched, Nikki doesn’t stress. That’s because her cooking incorporates vegetables at every turn: the kids may not have eaten their sides of peas, but they ate cauliflower and sweet potatoes in their Mac and Cheese, devoured Green Eggs (with spinach) and White Bean Pancakes for breakfast, and asked for seconds of the Zucchini Crust Pizzas at lunch!
Although the veggies are sometimes hidden—your kids will be eating mushrooms and eggplant without thinking twice!—the real goal is using the qualities of each vegetable to make each classic, family meals even better than the original version. In these recipes, mushrooms enhance the beefy taste of the Mushroom and Onion Burgers, while eggplant replaces egg for breading on Chicken Tenders and Chicken Parmesan, which keeps them irresistibly moist.
Inside, discover other delicious recipes that will become mealtime staples, including:
• Chicken Pot Pie with Sweet Potato Crust
• Cauliflower + Yogurt Bagels
• Eggplant Parm Meatballs
• Pumpkin Pasta Dough
• Taco Meat (with Pinto Beans)
• Mac and Cheese with Caulilfower + Sweet Potato
• Chicken Nuggets with Beans + Carrots
• Creamed Spinach Garlic Bread
• Loaded Queso (with Squash)
• Banana Carrot Oat Muffins
• Eggplant Marinara Sauce
• Brooklyn Blackout Cake (with Beets + Avocado)
• Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls
But fear not: there are no fancy ingredients or complicated cooking techniques. These easy, accessible recipes have been tested hundreds of times, by Nikki and other parents, for surefire family food wins! This collection of tried-and-true dishes will wow picky eaters and foodie parents alike with creative veggie twists on breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, sides, and dessert.
Packed with creative recipes, this modern approach to classic family comfort foods ups the nutritional ante—infusing TONS of healthful vegetables into every dish (even snacks and desserts!)—while always putting flavor first.
As a chef and cookbook author, Nikki Dinki loves veggies. But like most parents, getting her kids to love them is a work in progress. There will always be a side of veggies on their dinner plates, but when those veggies go untouched, Nikki doesn’t stress. That’s because her cooking incorporates vegetables at every turn: the kids may not have eaten their sides of peas, but they ate cauliflower and sweet potatoes in their Mac and Cheese, devoured Green Eggs (with spinach) and White Bean Pancakes for breakfast, and asked for seconds of the Zucchini Crust Pizzas at lunch!
Although the veggies are sometimes hidden—your kids will be eating mushrooms and eggplant without thinking twice!—the real goal is using the qualities of each vegetable to make each classic, family meals even better than the original version. In these recipes, mushrooms enhance the beefy taste of the Mushroom and Onion Burgers, while eggplant replaces egg for breading on Chicken Tenders and Chicken Parmesan, which keeps them irresistibly moist.
Inside, discover other delicious recipes that will become mealtime staples, including:
• Chicken Pot Pie with Sweet Potato Crust
• Cauliflower + Yogurt Bagels
• Eggplant Parm Meatballs
• Pumpkin Pasta Dough
• Taco Meat (with Pinto Beans)
• Mac and Cheese with Caulilfower + Sweet Potato
• Chicken Nuggets with Beans + Carrots
• Creamed Spinach Garlic Bread
• Loaded Queso (with Squash)
• Banana Carrot Oat Muffins
• Eggplant Marinara Sauce
• Brooklyn Blackout Cake (with Beets + Avocado)
• Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls
But fear not: there are no fancy ingredients or complicated cooking techniques. These easy, accessible recipes have been tested hundreds of times, by Nikki and other parents, for surefire family food wins! This collection of tried-and-true dishes will wow picky eaters and foodie parents alike with creative veggie twists on breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, sides, and dessert.
288 pages, Paperback
Published October 12, 2021
14 people are currently reading
3629 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 50 reviews
October 12, 2021
This book I would argue is for the more experienced but, looking deeper I feel there may be something for everyone. Also, maybe be a little adventurous, be adaptive. I'm sure you will find something.
The photography is amazing. However the things I tried looked nothing like the pictures. Practise makes perfect I guess.
If you want your kids to eat more veggies, or even yourself. There are some very creative ways like chocolate cake with zucchini. Weird I know. Not sure I'll try that one. But each to there own.
Enjoy!
The photography is amazing. However the things I tried looked nothing like the pictures. Practise makes perfect I guess.
If you want your kids to eat more veggies, or even yourself. There are some very creative ways like chocolate cake with zucchini. Weird I know. Not sure I'll try that one. But each to there own.
Enjoy!
April 13, 2022
Five stars!
Well written, easily understandable recipes that will make veggies more appealing to both the pickiest and most adventurous eaters. More Veggies Please! is not just about pureeing something to death and stirring it into pasta sauce or drenching steamed broccoli in cheese sauce. While I’m sure that works on some level, these recipes from Nikki Dinki are full of veggies AND seriously good!
I love the way the index is set up with sections for each “hidden” vegetable listing the recipes containing it, as well as the individual recipe names. The recipes themselves may be slightly more involved than the “regular” version of the food since the vegetables will need some preparation before the actual cooking of the dish begins. Despite that, nothing seems overly complex, and I think any competent cook will be able to handle these recipes. The photographs are lovely, and the hints and notes are very helpful.
This is definitely a cookbook I am happy to have in my collection, and one I see myself using often. I am grateful to NetGalley, BenBella Books, and Goodreads for the opportunity to read, review, and enjoy More Veggies Please!
Well written, easily understandable recipes that will make veggies more appealing to both the pickiest and most adventurous eaters. More Veggies Please! is not just about pureeing something to death and stirring it into pasta sauce or drenching steamed broccoli in cheese sauce. While I’m sure that works on some level, these recipes from Nikki Dinki are full of veggies AND seriously good!
I love the way the index is set up with sections for each “hidden” vegetable listing the recipes containing it, as well as the individual recipe names. The recipes themselves may be slightly more involved than the “regular” version of the food since the vegetables will need some preparation before the actual cooking of the dish begins. Despite that, nothing seems overly complex, and I think any competent cook will be able to handle these recipes. The photographs are lovely, and the hints and notes are very helpful.
This is definitely a cookbook I am happy to have in my collection, and one I see myself using often. I am grateful to NetGalley, BenBella Books, and Goodreads for the opportunity to read, review, and enjoy More Veggies Please!
February 2, 2022
This took me a little while to write a review because I actually wanted to try some of the recipes.
My favorites chocolate Avocado Truffles and cauliflower chive risotto.
Disliked chicken pot pies
recipes were easy and family friendly.
The book does offer beautiful pictures of her family as well as the food. I LOVE cookbooks with food pictures!
My favorites chocolate Avocado Truffles and cauliflower chive risotto.
Disliked chicken pot pies
recipes were easy and family friendly.
The book does offer beautiful pictures of her family as well as the food. I LOVE cookbooks with food pictures!
January 18, 2022
The photography is gorgeous but didn't find the recipes that accessible
November 9, 2021
What a beautiful book! Delightful recipes and attractive photos of food, the author and her children. It was a nice touch to hear about the author and inspiring too. Especially touching was the recipe dedicated to the author’s daughter, Willa.
I’ve more than a few recipes I’d like to try! Particularly the chocolate avocado truffles!
I’ve more than a few recipes I’d like to try! Particularly the chocolate avocado truffles!
December 14, 2022
This book was received as an ARC from BenBella Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
I remember Nikki Dinki from The Next Food Network Star, and her food concept being meat on the side. Nikki being a vegetarian, she wanted to comply with all people's dietary needs, especially kids. In years past, children and vegetable did not get along. Today, children not only eat their vegetables, they can't get enough, and Nikki brilliantly accomplished that through More Veggies Please. There are so many ways to incorporate vegetables in many of our favorite foods in a way that not only can we not taste them, they actually make the dish taste better. That was the case for the Chicken Pot Pie with Sweet Potato crust. I am not a fan of chicken pot pie nor am I a fan of sweet potatoes, but Nikki brilliantly constructed a recipe that made me love them both. If I can love these recipes, imagine how much love children will give. People always say, eat your colors, and cooking & eating through Nikki Dinki's book is another exemplary way to do that.
A creative, unique, and brilliant way for children to eat their colors. This book deserves 5 stars.
I remember Nikki Dinki from The Next Food Network Star, and her food concept being meat on the side. Nikki being a vegetarian, she wanted to comply with all people's dietary needs, especially kids. In years past, children and vegetable did not get along. Today, children not only eat their vegetables, they can't get enough, and Nikki brilliantly accomplished that through More Veggies Please. There are so many ways to incorporate vegetables in many of our favorite foods in a way that not only can we not taste them, they actually make the dish taste better. That was the case for the Chicken Pot Pie with Sweet Potato crust. I am not a fan of chicken pot pie nor am I a fan of sweet potatoes, but Nikki brilliantly constructed a recipe that made me love them both. If I can love these recipes, imagine how much love children will give. People always say, eat your colors, and cooking & eating through Nikki Dinki's book is another exemplary way to do that.
A creative, unique, and brilliant way for children to eat their colors. This book deserves 5 stars.
November 20, 2021
I liked this one. It’s nice to have ways to incorporate some more veggies into our family’s diet without cajoling kids to eat their veggies.
I made several of the recipes, and some were hits while others were kinda meh. Both of the muffin recipes we tried fell into the latter category - usually muffins disappear within a day or two around here, but these…didn’t. Everyone tried one, and they were fine, but nobody was fighting over them.
I actually think the savory recipes work a bit better. The hamburger helper recipe is nearly as good as my other (homemade) version that I usually make - but with a TON more veggie content that no one really noticed!
All in all, I’d say it’s one to check out of the library to see if it’s your jam. I do have a list of several more that I plan on trying (like the mac and cheese!)
I made several of the recipes, and some were hits while others were kinda meh. Both of the muffin recipes we tried fell into the latter category - usually muffins disappear within a day or two around here, but these…didn’t. Everyone tried one, and they were fine, but nobody was fighting over them.
I actually think the savory recipes work a bit better. The hamburger helper recipe is nearly as good as my other (homemade) version that I usually make - but with a TON more veggie content that no one really noticed!
All in all, I’d say it’s one to check out of the library to see if it’s your jam. I do have a list of several more that I plan on trying (like the mac and cheese!)
October 29, 2021
This is wonderful cookbook. The pictures are great and make the recipes look delicious. I love vegetables. The cookbook makes it easy to hide vegetables in the meals without the kids realizing they are enjoying vegetables. There are so many yummy recipes and of course the kids think it is yummy too! This is a great cookbook for picky eaters to enjoy their vegetables. There are numerous wholesome recipes to enjoy. This is one cookbook you will want to add to your collection. You will not be disappointed. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 17, 2023
For this supposed to be for mom or picky eaters who want to get into Veggies, the recipes are a bit too involved for me. Many people already don't eat veggies because they're intimidated by the prep, and these recipes take quite a while with a lot of ingredients, and sometimes steps that take up 2 or 3 pages. I did find two I wanted to try, but the rest did not interest me
January 2, 2022
Nice recipes throughout this book
October 14, 2021
Nikki Dinki is here to help you feed your family more vegetables. She’s not someone who wants to take away your butter, cream, sugar, or flour. She doesn’t want to take away your meat or your cake or queso. She just wants to show you how you can use veggies to make those not only more nutritious but also more flavorful. For her, it’s not about hiding vegetables into meals so your kids will eat them without realizing it. More Veggies Please! is about using veggies in clever ways, to add moisture, texture, and subtle flavors that will take your family meals to the next level.
Dinki was a picky eater as a kid, not interested in vegetables until she was in her 20s. But as a kid not wanting to eat vegetables, her mother made her cook her own meals, so that got her started on this path. As she got older, she found it harder and harder to avoid them. She started with an easy one—tomato, which she liked in her favorite jarred pasta sauce—and moved out from there. And now she’s here for us, helping us all expand our veggie horizons by adding them in new and interesting ways to the dishes we all know and love.
She understands that kids aren’t big veggie fans and may need some encouragement, so she uses baby steps. You can move from your regular scrambled eggs to her Cauliflower Scrambled Eggs, which just has a couple of tablespoons of cauliflower rice with the eggs before moving on up to the Cheesy Green Eggs, which includes spinach. For other breakfast ideas, you can try the White Bean Pancakes and Waffles, Pumpkin Pie Granola, or Zucchini Biscuits. Sounds weird, but these recipes are included because they are delicious and have more veggies, not the other way around.
Looking for lunch ideas? Try the Souped-Up Broccoli Cheddar, Cauliflower Egg Salad Sandwiches, Chicken Nuggets, or a sandwich with her Strawberry and Chia Jam and Peanut Butter and Hummus Spread. Time for dinner? Go with the Taco Meat with Pinto Beans, Mushroom and Beef Bolognese, Cauliflower and Potato Gnocchi, Eggplant Parm Meatballs, or Sweet Potato Pierogies. Or you could even try her Zucchini Crust Pizza, since she includes all the information you need to bake a pizza in the oven, on the grill, or in a skillet.
There are, of course, veggie side dish ideas, like her Creamed Spinach Garlic Bread or Twice-Baked Potatoes. And there are snacks, like her Buffalo Cauliflower Wings, Pea Guacamole, or Parmesan Spinach Crackers. And is it time for dessert? There’s a Brooklyn Blackout Cake, Black Bean Brownies, Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls, Peanut Butter Cookies, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Sandwiches, and Willa’s Lemon Bars.
She includes lots of extras throughout, like a list of recipes that are freezer friendly, and recipes that are flagged as her Top Ten (like the Mac and Cheese with Cauliflower and Sweet Potato), Classic (like her Chicken Cauliflower Alfredo), and Remix, which is a new spin on a classic (like her Roasted Garlic, Spinach, and Tomato Grilled Cheese). Plus she includes swaps that can make things easier or hacks that can save time. For example, for her Loaded Queso that includes butternut squash, she has a hack where she explains how you can add the squash to store-bought queso to get the silky texture and flavor bump without spending as much extra time putting it all together.
More Veggies Please! is a fresh take on how to incorporate more veggies into the foods we love to eat, and I love that. I love that she uses roasted eggplant to coat her chicken tenders instead of egg, that she thinks about what you can do with an ingredient after you make a recipe (you only used half a can of pumpkin puree—what do you do with the rest?), that she understands life is busy and chaotic and time is precious. I love that she still believes in cheese and chocolate and putting cream and parmesan into an alfredo sauce.
And the photos of the food and of her and her family are beautiful and fun and enticing. I do think that the recipes themselves tend toward Italian—not a surprise, she mentions her Italian heritage more than once—and while it certainly doesn’t bother me, a hearty pasta eater, I can see how others might be disappointed by the lack of diversity. But it’s also a family-friendly cookbook, and Italian recipes can be more accessible to kids, so maybe it’s not such a bad thing.
So if you are a cook wanting to add more vegetables to your dishes, or wanting to get your picky eater kids (or boyfriend) to be more open to veggies, then the ingenuity of DInki’s recipes will give you some good ideas for new ways to incorporate more veggies in your cooking. I know I’m going to have to try some of these recipes, and I look forward to seeing what clever ideas she comes up with next.
Egalleys for More Veggies Please! were provided by BenBella Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.
Dinki was a picky eater as a kid, not interested in vegetables until she was in her 20s. But as a kid not wanting to eat vegetables, her mother made her cook her own meals, so that got her started on this path. As she got older, she found it harder and harder to avoid them. She started with an easy one—tomato, which she liked in her favorite jarred pasta sauce—and moved out from there. And now she’s here for us, helping us all expand our veggie horizons by adding them in new and interesting ways to the dishes we all know and love.
She understands that kids aren’t big veggie fans and may need some encouragement, so she uses baby steps. You can move from your regular scrambled eggs to her Cauliflower Scrambled Eggs, which just has a couple of tablespoons of cauliflower rice with the eggs before moving on up to the Cheesy Green Eggs, which includes spinach. For other breakfast ideas, you can try the White Bean Pancakes and Waffles, Pumpkin Pie Granola, or Zucchini Biscuits. Sounds weird, but these recipes are included because they are delicious and have more veggies, not the other way around.
Looking for lunch ideas? Try the Souped-Up Broccoli Cheddar, Cauliflower Egg Salad Sandwiches, Chicken Nuggets, or a sandwich with her Strawberry and Chia Jam and Peanut Butter and Hummus Spread. Time for dinner? Go with the Taco Meat with Pinto Beans, Mushroom and Beef Bolognese, Cauliflower and Potato Gnocchi, Eggplant Parm Meatballs, or Sweet Potato Pierogies. Or you could even try her Zucchini Crust Pizza, since she includes all the information you need to bake a pizza in the oven, on the grill, or in a skillet.
There are, of course, veggie side dish ideas, like her Creamed Spinach Garlic Bread or Twice-Baked Potatoes. And there are snacks, like her Buffalo Cauliflower Wings, Pea Guacamole, or Parmesan Spinach Crackers. And is it time for dessert? There’s a Brooklyn Blackout Cake, Black Bean Brownies, Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls, Peanut Butter Cookies, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Sandwiches, and Willa’s Lemon Bars.
She includes lots of extras throughout, like a list of recipes that are freezer friendly, and recipes that are flagged as her Top Ten (like the Mac and Cheese with Cauliflower and Sweet Potato), Classic (like her Chicken Cauliflower Alfredo), and Remix, which is a new spin on a classic (like her Roasted Garlic, Spinach, and Tomato Grilled Cheese). Plus she includes swaps that can make things easier or hacks that can save time. For example, for her Loaded Queso that includes butternut squash, she has a hack where she explains how you can add the squash to store-bought queso to get the silky texture and flavor bump without spending as much extra time putting it all together.
More Veggies Please! is a fresh take on how to incorporate more veggies into the foods we love to eat, and I love that. I love that she uses roasted eggplant to coat her chicken tenders instead of egg, that she thinks about what you can do with an ingredient after you make a recipe (you only used half a can of pumpkin puree—what do you do with the rest?), that she understands life is busy and chaotic and time is precious. I love that she still believes in cheese and chocolate and putting cream and parmesan into an alfredo sauce.
And the photos of the food and of her and her family are beautiful and fun and enticing. I do think that the recipes themselves tend toward Italian—not a surprise, she mentions her Italian heritage more than once—and while it certainly doesn’t bother me, a hearty pasta eater, I can see how others might be disappointed by the lack of diversity. But it’s also a family-friendly cookbook, and Italian recipes can be more accessible to kids, so maybe it’s not such a bad thing.
So if you are a cook wanting to add more vegetables to your dishes, or wanting to get your picky eater kids (or boyfriend) to be more open to veggies, then the ingenuity of DInki’s recipes will give you some good ideas for new ways to incorporate more veggies in your cooking. I know I’m going to have to try some of these recipes, and I look forward to seeing what clever ideas she comes up with next.
Egalleys for More Veggies Please! were provided by BenBella Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.
Want to read
October 28, 2021The answer is always puree, puree, puree.
I love cookbooks and sadly this one was not for me and that's probably because I wasn't the target audience for this cookbook. Yes I saw that this cookbook was aimed toward those with children and my childless self still decided to give it a try. I heard "More Veggies Please!" and thought it was a genius idea but most of these recipes fell flat for me. For one the answer to get more veggies into your meal was just to puree them to the point you couldn't tell they were there. I was eager for the vegetable to play more of a role in the meal instead of being mushed into oblivion. I also felt that some of the recipes already utilized a lot of vegetables without the addition of more. For example, one of the first recipes I came upon was chicken noodle soup. That's a soup that is pretty dense in vegetable and I wouldn't say the recipe was much of an improvement because it just involved pureeing the vegetables so that your kids couldn't see them. I wanted something more inventive out of it. Another example is chicken pot pie with sweet potato added to the crust. While it might not be a bad idea it just didn't feel like a dish that really needed more vegetable added to it. Also, while many of these recipes are quite tasty I do wonder about the quickness and cost effectiveness of them especially when appealing to a potentially busy parent. The main culprit for this would be the Eggplant Chicken Tenders. In this recipe you puree eggplant and then bread the chicken tenders in it. I'll agree this is a pretty smart and sneaky way to get your veggies to your kids I just wonder about the quickness of this recipe and the mess. Also, I would think that breadcrumbs would be cheaper than an eggplant, especially if just using a stale loaf of bread.
Not to say that none of these recipes appealed to me. I thought the idea of the Cauliflower Egg Salad Sandwich was pretty smart. She gave several different methods of how to add the cauliflower to it with the cauliflower rice option being my favorite. My second favorite was the Homemade Spinach Tortilla recipe. I feel like this one will come in handy because who hasn't accidentally left a bag of spinach to rot. This recipe would allow you to prevent this by making these tortillas ahead of time. I also appreciated how she did recommend the use of a microwave at times to cook potatoes. It was a refreshingly realistic instruction in a cookbook that many chef's leave out. Almost everyone has a microwave and those who have them utilize them a lot. This book would be great for the conscientious parent or grandparent, but I don't see the audience expanded much past that.
I got this book for free in exchange for a honest review through NetGalley.
I love cookbooks and sadly this one was not for me and that's probably because I wasn't the target audience for this cookbook. Yes I saw that this cookbook was aimed toward those with children and my childless self still decided to give it a try. I heard "More Veggies Please!" and thought it was a genius idea but most of these recipes fell flat for me. For one the answer to get more veggies into your meal was just to puree them to the point you couldn't tell they were there. I was eager for the vegetable to play more of a role in the meal instead of being mushed into oblivion. I also felt that some of the recipes already utilized a lot of vegetables without the addition of more. For example, one of the first recipes I came upon was chicken noodle soup. That's a soup that is pretty dense in vegetable and I wouldn't say the recipe was much of an improvement because it just involved pureeing the vegetables so that your kids couldn't see them. I wanted something more inventive out of it. Another example is chicken pot pie with sweet potato added to the crust. While it might not be a bad idea it just didn't feel like a dish that really needed more vegetable added to it. Also, while many of these recipes are quite tasty I do wonder about the quickness and cost effectiveness of them especially when appealing to a potentially busy parent. The main culprit for this would be the Eggplant Chicken Tenders. In this recipe you puree eggplant and then bread the chicken tenders in it. I'll agree this is a pretty smart and sneaky way to get your veggies to your kids I just wonder about the quickness of this recipe and the mess. Also, I would think that breadcrumbs would be cheaper than an eggplant, especially if just using a stale loaf of bread.
Not to say that none of these recipes appealed to me. I thought the idea of the Cauliflower Egg Salad Sandwich was pretty smart. She gave several different methods of how to add the cauliflower to it with the cauliflower rice option being my favorite. My second favorite was the Homemade Spinach Tortilla recipe. I feel like this one will come in handy because who hasn't accidentally left a bag of spinach to rot. This recipe would allow you to prevent this by making these tortillas ahead of time. I also appreciated how she did recommend the use of a microwave at times to cook potatoes. It was a refreshingly realistic instruction in a cookbook that many chef's leave out. Almost everyone has a microwave and those who have them utilize them a lot. This book would be great for the conscientious parent or grandparent, but I don't see the audience expanded much past that.
I got this book for free in exchange for a honest review through NetGalley.
October 13, 2021
All I can say about this book is WOW!
I don’t know if I have I ever found a cookbook where I wanted to make nearly everything in it until today.
Not only is this cookbook absolutely adorable, from fun pictures, backdrops, and little details that make it an absolute treat to explore, but the recipes all sound amazing! There are a host of really awesome recipes that anyone could love that each have a healthier twist (something I can really get behind). I’m not trying to sneak vegetables into food, but am really just looking for ways to make comfort foods healthier and this book ACES that.
Another standout about this book is that you can tell it was made by a real person who has a busy schedule and is doing the best she can to add extra health without adding extra time. Wherever possible she uses canned foods (and the whole can no less), she uses whole vegetables, she uses accessible ingredients, and even gives instructions for how to freeze things for later. Plus, the book is filled with enough details that even the most nervous cook can have success through substitutions and cooking tips that don’t require a bunch of extra work. Again I say, not only are the recipes healthy and delicious, but they are actually made to be made in your regular life.
The book is beautiful (probably one of my favourites ever), the recipes are phenomenal, the ingredient list isn’t crazy or hard to find, the food is healthy and actually tested and re-tested to perfection, and the instructions are so easy, fun, and helpful. I truly don’t know what else anyone could want in a cookbook.
I don’t say this very often, but in my mind, this cookbook is a must buy for just about anyone, but especially for those looking for healthy meals and reasonable recipes!
Thanks to the publishers and netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t know if I have I ever found a cookbook where I wanted to make nearly everything in it until today.
Not only is this cookbook absolutely adorable, from fun pictures, backdrops, and little details that make it an absolute treat to explore, but the recipes all sound amazing! There are a host of really awesome recipes that anyone could love that each have a healthier twist (something I can really get behind). I’m not trying to sneak vegetables into food, but am really just looking for ways to make comfort foods healthier and this book ACES that.
Another standout about this book is that you can tell it was made by a real person who has a busy schedule and is doing the best she can to add extra health without adding extra time. Wherever possible she uses canned foods (and the whole can no less), she uses whole vegetables, she uses accessible ingredients, and even gives instructions for how to freeze things for later. Plus, the book is filled with enough details that even the most nervous cook can have success through substitutions and cooking tips that don’t require a bunch of extra work. Again I say, not only are the recipes healthy and delicious, but they are actually made to be made in your regular life.
The book is beautiful (probably one of my favourites ever), the recipes are phenomenal, the ingredient list isn’t crazy or hard to find, the food is healthy and actually tested and re-tested to perfection, and the instructions are so easy, fun, and helpful. I truly don’t know what else anyone could want in a cookbook.
I don’t say this very often, but in my mind, this cookbook is a must buy for just about anyone, but especially for those looking for healthy meals and reasonable recipes!
Thanks to the publishers and netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 17, 2021
Although Nikki Dinki’s book, More Veggies Please!: Easy Kid-Approved Meals and Family-Friendly Comfort Foods with Surprising Veggie Twists is geared toward kid-friendly meals, it is also a perfect cookbook for those who have picky husbands who need to eat more vegetables and healthy meals. Husbands often get pickier as they age (mine’s 81) and it gets harder and harder to feed them and hopefully keep them alive and well. Dinki’s cookbook has dozens of recipes that will appeal even to my stubborn (but adorable) husband, and she has used her imagination to create great meals that everyone will love.
Spinach isn’t a much-loved vegetable and Dinki has included it in several recipes that will appeal to everyone. Eggplant is another vegetable that isn’t loved, especially by children, but as an ingredient in meatballs and other dishes, it adds nutrition and flavor. Butternut squash and sweet potatoes are also used often in this cookbook.
The recipes in this book are worth trying; it’s impressive how the author has taken vegetables and beans and inserted them secretly into dishes without giving it away that they are healthy. Children (and husbands) won’t know they’re eating healthy, but they will know that they like what they are eating.
This cookbook would make a good gift for cooks with small children. It has enough tempting dishes that everyone will love, and those dishes have been made much healthier than their traditional counterparts. My queue of meals to try keeps getting longer and longer as I try recipes from this cookbook and sample the dishes. Highly recommended for everyone who wants to eat healthy.
Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.
Spinach isn’t a much-loved vegetable and Dinki has included it in several recipes that will appeal to everyone. Eggplant is another vegetable that isn’t loved, especially by children, but as an ingredient in meatballs and other dishes, it adds nutrition and flavor. Butternut squash and sweet potatoes are also used often in this cookbook.
The recipes in this book are worth trying; it’s impressive how the author has taken vegetables and beans and inserted them secretly into dishes without giving it away that they are healthy. Children (and husbands) won’t know they’re eating healthy, but they will know that they like what they are eating.
This cookbook would make a good gift for cooks with small children. It has enough tempting dishes that everyone will love, and those dishes have been made much healthier than their traditional counterparts. My queue of meals to try keeps getting longer and longer as I try recipes from this cookbook and sample the dishes. Highly recommended for everyone who wants to eat healthy.
Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.
October 29, 2021
More Veggies Please! provides a ton of great recipes for clandestine vegetable consumption. Assuming anyone out there might have a guilty conscious about not being willing to go into a battle of wills with a Picky eater EVERY NIGHT just to eat a silly piece of broccoli, this book is for you. If you're trying to convince a loved one who should have grown out of his or her picky phase to eat that asparagus, this book is for you. If you just want to eat more vegetables but just can't imagine another night of broiled brussel sprouts stinking up your kitchen then this book is definitely for you too.
Nikki Dinki's adorable recipe introductions are short enough with just the right amount of self deprecating humor to make this book a winner for the entertainment factor alone. However, the recipes actually taste just wonderful! As Nikki says, these recipes do use butter and sugar so they may not be the most low calorie options out there for you but if you are making it a goal to eat more vegetables, which will help to make your body stronger and healthier in the long run, it's a winner.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book through Netgalley but all opinions are my own.
Nikki Dinki's adorable recipe introductions are short enough with just the right amount of self deprecating humor to make this book a winner for the entertainment factor alone. However, the recipes actually taste just wonderful! As Nikki says, these recipes do use butter and sugar so they may not be the most low calorie options out there for you but if you are making it a goal to eat more vegetables, which will help to make your body stronger and healthier in the long run, it's a winner.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book through Netgalley but all opinions are my own.
September 15, 2021
This is a very well-done cookbook! I really appreciated the philosophy of adding vegetables to recipes for what they can contribute to the dish (nutrition, texture, body, umami) instead of for what they can replace (fat, calories, etc.). The point is to enhance the food, not to make it "healthier" and just on the edge of tolerable.
I really liked:
Raw weights were given for produce (1 medium zucchini can mean lots of things to lots of different people!)
Recipes were beautifully photographed, including final results and technique steps
The list of suggested recipes based around what you have on hand at the moment
Convenient ingredients and quick techniques were encouraged where possible
This will be a great resource to have in the kitchen and I already have a list of several I can't wait to try!
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!
I really liked:
Raw weights were given for produce (1 medium zucchini can mean lots of things to lots of different people!)
Recipes were beautifully photographed, including final results and technique steps
The list of suggested recipes based around what you have on hand at the moment
Convenient ingredients and quick techniques were encouraged where possible
This will be a great resource to have in the kitchen and I already have a list of several I can't wait to try!
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!
December 31, 2021
What a wonderful companion to have with little mouths to feed. Nikki Dinki provides recipes that are not only healthy, but accessible as well. This cookbook doesn't have ingredients you can't pronounce or can't find in any grocery store. And this biggest obstacles in feeding little ones, and in every aspect of raising kids, is time. These recipes do not take hours and hours to prepare. An added benefit, as your kids grow, they can help make these recipes and be a part of making their dinner.
Even if I did not have little mouths to feed, and wanted to add veggies to my diet in an accessible way, I would pick up this book. Though the recipes are lent toward eating with children, it has wonderful recipes for all ages. I am definitely ordering a physical copy to have handy. I will be using this daily!
Thank you @netgalley and @benbella n for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
4/5 ⭐️
Even if I did not have little mouths to feed, and wanted to add veggies to my diet in an accessible way, I would pick up this book. Though the recipes are lent toward eating with children, it has wonderful recipes for all ages. I am definitely ordering a physical copy to have handy. I will be using this daily!
Thank you @netgalley and @benbella n for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
4/5 ⭐️
October 15, 2021
As a mom I’m always looking for ways to add more veggies to my family’s diet. I love that this book isn’t trying to hide the veggies as well as the flavor of a recipe. Who wants boring, sad, flavorless meals? Not all fat is the enemy and Nikki Dinki gets that. So yes there’s cream and parm in the cauliflower Alfredo (spoiler that’s what makes Alfredo taste good. Just cauliflower and salt does not an Alfredo make) there’s also a ton of veggies in all the recipes. While if I’m being honest I’m not quite brave enough to try the veggies in my desserts (yet), the recipes are there for you to try. (They aren’t low fat desserts. They are veggie enhanced desserts).
The pictures are beautiful. The recipes are well written and easy to follow. Bonus Nikki provides info on storing and substitutions at the end of each recipe.
The pictures are beautiful. The recipes are well written and easy to follow. Bonus Nikki provides info on storing and substitutions at the end of each recipe.
October 4, 2021
Thank you for this book! I’m absolutely amazed at the details that went into putting a book like this together for those picky eaters. I’ve never heard of this author but just the idea that you can use veggies to make great homemade dishes pulled me toward this book.
What did I like? Great pictures! The book is very family friendly. The chocolate cake with zucchini is going to be my first try. I’ve heard of this but have never had a recipe for it. For a ton of these recipes your processing the vegetables to make the recipe. So if you have a picky eater or you just need to incorporate more hidden vegetables then I’d recommend this. I will definitely order my own copy and check out the blog.
I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left a review!
What did I like? Great pictures! The book is very family friendly. The chocolate cake with zucchini is going to be my first try. I’ve heard of this but have never had a recipe for it. For a ton of these recipes your processing the vegetables to make the recipe. So if you have a picky eater or you just need to incorporate more hidden vegetables then I’d recommend this. I will definitely order my own copy and check out the blog.
I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left a review!
December 18, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read N advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
I’m always looking for new cookbooks- healthy, not so healthy, baking, new cuisines. Always on the look. The pictures in this one was gorgeous- and who would have thought I’d WANT to try cauliflower eggs or white bean waffles?! I didnt- until now. Reading the authors explanation on how little vegetables are included in breakfast really did open my eyes. The recipe for strawberry chia seed pudding- phenomenal. Going into 2022 I do want to really focus on my families overall health when it comes to meals. This book is definitely going to be on my repeat menu making rounds! Practical recipes for a modern family.
I’m always looking for new cookbooks- healthy, not so healthy, baking, new cuisines. Always on the look. The pictures in this one was gorgeous- and who would have thought I’d WANT to try cauliflower eggs or white bean waffles?! I didnt- until now. Reading the authors explanation on how little vegetables are included in breakfast really did open my eyes. The recipe for strawberry chia seed pudding- phenomenal. Going into 2022 I do want to really focus on my families overall health when it comes to meals. This book is definitely going to be on my repeat menu making rounds! Practical recipes for a modern family.
January 15, 2022
This is the rare cookbook where I want to try all the recipes and not just a few! I have read a couple of cookbooks before that had “ hidden” veggies in recipes ( mostly puréed, or jars of baby food) but this one is different. Besides yummy veggies in most recipes, she has managed to have recipes with added protein. I do not have picky kids, but I have a very picky husband and I will be trying a lot of these recipes! I also especially liked the checklists at the back to check off if you made a recipe and how you would rate it. I wish I had the book in paperback and not as a Kindle copy! I may have to seek one out.
I won this book on Goodreads Firstreads.
P.S. I had not heard of this author before winning this book, but I will be looking for any other books/blogs she has!
I won this book on Goodreads Firstreads.
P.S. I had not heard of this author before winning this book, but I will be looking for any other books/blogs she has!
October 18, 2021
I love veggies but not everyone does, especially kids. This book is great because it gives parents a way to include veggies into their kids diet, sometimes without them even knowing.
These recipes look amazing and I am sure they are delicious. I can't wait to try some. Buffalo cauliflower wings could be a hit on game day. A loaded queso that includes butternut squash. But with all the cheese you would never know. There's recipes for homemade crackers using either spinach or oatmeal with carrot juice. Black bean brownies I'm sure the chocolate chips will help cover those up. The sweet potato cinnamon rolls look wonderful and perfect for a cool fall morning.
These recipes look amazing and I am sure they are delicious. I can't wait to try some. Buffalo cauliflower wings could be a hit on game day. A loaded queso that includes butternut squash. But with all the cheese you would never know. There's recipes for homemade crackers using either spinach or oatmeal with carrot juice. Black bean brownies I'm sure the chocolate chips will help cover those up. The sweet potato cinnamon rolls look wonderful and perfect for a cool fall morning.
December 27, 2021
This is a really good recipe book. There are so many recipes here that I'd like to try, in the hope that my son will like and eat some of these dishes with extra vegetables added. Many of them have cauliflower rice or pureed beans added, and the photos certainly make the food look delicious. What I particularly like is the tick list at the end, where I can tick off the recipes I have tried. The author challenges us to try them all. There are certainly at least 75% of them that I'd be keen to try for my family.
Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
April 14, 2022
An amazing and well thoughout book full of easy recipes which include more vegetables than traditional versions. The vegetables do not seem to be added for the sake of it, in each case they seem to contribute something to the finished dishes. My children have now grown up so I no longer need to hide veg in my meals but here the vegetables often take the place of other more unhealthy ingredients which in my mind is always a winner. I have bookmarked almost the entire book and can't wait to get started later today with the Strawberry and Chia seed Jam.
The tips on storing, freezing and using alternitive ingredients is also very helpful.
The tips on storing, freezing and using alternitive ingredients is also very helpful.
February 26, 2023
This is a great cookbook. I grabbed it to get some ideas for adding veggies into the grandkids meals. I have flagged so many that sound like they'd actually be good! This is a healthy-ish cookbook. It focuses on being yummy and adding veggies. So, you're not cutting sugar, carbs and other things all at the same time. I love that! I also love the section at the end called What To Make With What You Have. What a great way to give ideas to use up those fresh veggies before they go bad. I checked this out from the library but there are enough recipes I want to try that I'll definitely purchase this one.
November 30, 2021
The author freely admits that it wasn't until she was an adult that she began to appreciate vegetables in her meals. Knowing how picky children can be, Nikki introduces yummy looking familiar meals that incorporate a wide variety of veggies. Nikki stresses that these recipes are not a replacement for whole vegetables. She finds that involving her kids in the cooking process helps them to think more positively about veggies. Nikki uses easy to find ingredients and also gives tips on storing, freezing and using substitutions in the recipes. I'm looking forward to trying these recipes!
February 1, 2022
Originally I thought this would be a vegetarian or vegan cookbook. I guess that's what I get for just reading the title and not reading the description. I really enjoyed the creative ways the author finds to incorporate more veggies in to kid friendly foods. The layout and pictures were well done and the recipes look great. I will definitely incorporate some of these tips into my own cooking.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
February 7, 2022
There are so many yummy, family-friendly and veggie forward recipes in this book! Many of the recipes included are pretty standard in our house, but this book offers easy tweaks to add extra plant-based goodness to them. I’d never thought to add white beans to waffles or zucchini to French toast, but that’s genius! So excited to have this book to turn to to make sure we’re all getting our daily serving of veggies by finding clever ways to add them into what we’re already eating, in addition to our side dishes.
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