Spinach – like all green leafy vegetables – is every child's greatest fear. Until a few years ago, convincing the little ones to eat it was easy enough; all you had to say was that spinach helped Popeye grow big and strong. But the children of today don’t even know who Popeye is! So, how do we get them to eat it now? Taking spinach out of every dish – and even disguising it – is impossible. It's not even right to do that, anyway. Children shouldn't be fooled! So it's better to play on a nice, colorful, original and fun presentation, and to focus on recipes that even kids will want to try. And don't forget: choose baby spinach – the tender, smaller spinach leaves with a sweeter taste.
Have some fun with spinach at the dinner table
"No playing at the table!" But why not? Playing with food doesn't necessarily mean wasting it or ruining it. You can also play with imagination: A green soup can become the star of a fantastic magical story about potions, witches, and goblins. A hamburger could be a canvas for the kids – to make into a funny face with vegetables and some sauce. And a salad could be an enchanted forest.
Cooking together
It’s also very important to involve the children in making dinner. Ask them to be your helpers. Take them with you to do the grocery shopping and choose the most beautiful vegetables. Cook with them and discover together that even the greenest vegetables can become the most delicious dishes. And always choose seasonal ingredients to teach the kids that every fruit and vegetable has its own cultivation and ripening times. Knowing the history of the ingredients, their texture, scents, and flavors will make them more curious.
Need some inspiration? Browse the Photo Gallery, we’ve come up with a few ideas for “child-proof” recipes with spinach.