Who liked vegetables as a kid? Okay, some of us did. Some of us were perfect children who ate everything our parents put in front of us, with a smile. Others of us did not do that. Some of us need to be coaxed, cajoled, and/or tricked into eating something healthy.

I don’t actually condone “tricking” your kids into eating vegetables. Isn’t it better to educate, encourage and introduce slowly in a stress-free eating environment? Honestly, I don’t know. Does that even work? Full disclosure: I don’t have kids, so take everything I’m saying here with a spoonful of sugar. But I do remember what it was like to hate some veggies, and under what conditions I would eat them. So some of this could be helpful.

Find out what they like

As a kid, I liked raw vegetables. I think it was the crunchy texture that appealed to me, as opposed to the soggy mush of steamed or boiled carrots, beans and peas. But put those items on my plate in a fresh, raw form, and I was all over them. I don’t know why, but the cooked versions turned my stomach. Maybe your kids like vegetables softened by steaming, or simply pan-fried with garlic. One approach might be to try a vegetable, say broccoli, and eat it three nights in a row in a different way.

Add to favorites

Another way to approach veggies is to introduce small pieces of new vegetables, or ones your kids don’t like, into familiar recipes. Perhaps they like spaghetti. It’s the perfect vehicle for introducing other veggies such as zucchini or mushrooms (something I didn’t eat until I was 25—now I’m all in). Another example is to add peas to macaroni and cheese. A classic.

Blend it up

If none of the above options are working, you could try infusing familiar foods with veggies. One example is zucchini pasta, where the noodles are made of—you guessed it, zucchini. Or, if they are into soups, try making your favorite vegetable version, then blending it to disguise what’s inside. There are literally an infinite number of ways you could do this, so choose the flavors you think will fly, then have at it.

Want a really cool way to have your child try veggies? Check out these veggie popsicles recipes from Luvo’s food stylist Gabriel Cabrera. Perfect for a healthy and delicious after-school snack.

Creamiest Avocado lime popsicles

• 2 avocados, very ripe
• 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
• Zest of 1 lime
• 1 cup milk (or coconut milk for a dairy free option)
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Agave syrup (to taste)

Method 

1. Remove flesh and pit from avocado
2. Place avocado and all other ingredients in a blender. Blend on high for 3 minutes, add a splash of water if mix is too thick (just enough to get it going). Stop; add 1 or 2 tablespoons of agave syrup and blend again for a minute. Stop and taste, adjust sweetness if needed.
3. Place mix in popsicle moulds and freeze, makes (8) 2.5 oz pops!

Freshest Orange, Carrot, Ginger popsicles

• 1 ½ cups fresh carrot juice
• ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• Zest of ½ orange
• 1 teaspoon ginger, chopped
• Juice of ½ lemon
• 2 tablespoons honey

Method

1. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend for 3-4 minutes until smooth (and no ginger bits are left)
2. Strain mix into a jug
3. Pour mix into popsicle moulds and freeze, makes (8) 2.5 oz pops!

Richest Chocolate, Zucchini, Banana Popsicles

• 1 banana, sliced
• 2 zucchini, peeled, diced
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ cup cocoa powder
• 1 ½ cups coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons real maple syrup

Method

1. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend on high speed for 3-5 minutes until smooth.
2. Taste mix and adjust sweetness if needed
3. Pour mix into popsicle moulds and freeze, makes (8) 2.5 oz pops! 

How do you introduce vegetables into your child’s life? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter at @luvoinc.