How to Get Kids to Eat Lentils
Lentils are a type of legume or bean that grow in tiny oval or heart-shaped pods. Lentils are high in nutritional value, as they help to lower cholesterol and stabilize blood sugar, according to WHFoods.com. Yet getting your kids to eat lentils may be a challenge, especially if you have a picky eater. There are ways you can get around that. The key is in the preparation of the lentils.
Instructions
Dissolve red split lentils in your child's tomato soup. Split red lentils completely dissolve in soup, so your child will never know they are there. Be sure to stir in a tablespoon in while the soup is heating up. Stir until they have completely dissolved. The lentils will slightly thicken the soup.
Mix split green or yellow lentils in with your meatloaf or casserole dishes. Add a few to broccoli and cheese casserole, shepherd's pie or chicken pot pie. If your children already eat these meals, they will heartily dig in even if lentils are included.
Prepare a special themed dinner one night a week. A Mexican dinner night is an opportune moment to add lentils to some of your dishes. Add a tablespoon of split green lentils to green chili quesadillas or a sprinkle of yellow lentils to a skillet of chicken enchiladas.
Make garden burgers one night and add a teaspoon of lentils to the recipe. They will barely be noticeable in the burgers. You can even go a step further and blend the lentils to create a puree and add the puree to the garden burger mixture. Most garden burger recipes call for bulgur wheat, mushrooms, oats, diced onions, and a few spices and herbs.
Blend up a smoothie that contains a teaspoon of red split lentils. Since smoothies are supposed to be thick, the thickening properties of lentils will go unnoticed by your children. Try a strawberry banana smoothie or a peach mango smoothie. They can be enjoyed any time of the day