Look, in an ideal world we wouldn’t be “sneaking” veggies onto our kids’ plates. But anyone who has ever dined with a fussy eater knows that sometimes needs must. Half term is long, snack requests are relentless, and the daily pesto pasta rotation can only go so far.
So, we’ve asked the parents in the GH office for the clever, low-effort food hacks they genuinely swear by – from hidden-veg freezer staples to build-your-own ‘breakfast sprinkles’ that make kids feel in control.
Bring on tea time!
M&S Banana & Blueberry Kefir Smoothie Frozen
M&S Banana & Blueberry Kefir Smoothie Frozen
“My child really struggles with certain textures, so smoothies do a lot of heavy lifting in our house – especially after a long day at nursery when not much has been eaten. This frozen smoothie mix is our go-to. It contains blueberries for antioxidants, banana to make it creamy and kefir for gut health.
We’ll often bulk it out with extra yoghurt, spinach, oats, flaxseed or peanut butter too, while pretending we’re making a potion in a witch’s cauldron. Somehow that makes it infinitely more appealing. Hey, it works for us.”
Pip Organic Rainbow Fruity Lollies with Cheeky Veg
“Our kids would happily eat 100 ice lollies a day in this heat, so these make me feel slightly less guilty about saying yes. Not only are they organic, but they’re also made with a mix of fruit and veg (yes, really) and there’s no added sugar either.
The rainbow colours obviously go down a treat with them too. Win, win.”
“When I discovered my daughter would hoover down a plateful of gnocchi, I was delighted. Anything to break up the daily pesto pasta request. I love this female-founded brand, which is made with spinach and cauliflower and counts as one of their five a day. Yes, even if she still coats it in pesto.”
Linwoods Milled Flax, Sunflower Pumpkin Chia Seeds & Goji Berries
Linwoods Milled Flax, Sunflower Pumpkin Chia Seeds & Goji Berries
“We call them ‘breakfast sprinkles’ in our house, but my two and four year old genuinely love adding these to their oats each morning (in fact, sometimes we have to curb their enthusiasm). Packed with flaxseed, sunflower, pumpkin and chia seeds, plus goji berries, it’s an easy way to add fibre and a bit more substance to breakfast. Not bad before 8am.”
“My child won’t eat Greek yoghurt if I spoon it from a standard tub. But when I make ‘dots’, using a pouch like Yeo Valley Little Yeos No Added Sugar Blueberry & Banana Pouch and freeze them, suddenly, they’re all over them. Make it make sense.”
“One thing I swear by for an easy nutrition boost is adding an egg yolk to whatever beige food they’ve demanded that day. Stir it through warm rice, pasta or even porridge and they’re honestly none the wiser. It makes everything creamier too, while adding protein, healthy fats and extra nutrients.”
M&S Only 6 Ingredients 6 Heritage Gold Pork Sausages
M&S Only 6 Ingredients 6 Heritage Gold Pork Sausages
“As much as I’m aware we should limit processed meats, things like ham and sausages are some of my child’s ‘safe’ foods and an easy source of protein. So I look for nitrate-free versions like this from M&S. It contains just six ingredients and is made with 92% British pork, which I can live with.”
“Most bone broths are far too salty for little kids, so this new launch feels genuinely useful rather than gimmicky. It’s packed with nutrients but designed with younger children in mind, and adds so much more flavour – not to mention protein and collagen – than a low-sodium stock cube. I stir it into ragus, soups and pasta sauces for an easy boost.”
Clearspring Organic Japanese Silken & Smooth Tofu Single Serve
Clearspring Organic Japanese Silken & Smooth Tofu Single Serve
“My kid is probably the only one I know who isn’t into berries (I understand most families are spending the equivalent of a second mortgage on raspberries alone). But mine will happily eat them if I blend them with drained silken tofu and a drizzle of honey, similar to this Ocado Raspberry Mousse. I decant it into little serving pots and leave it to set in the fridge – suddenly it becomes a ‘special dessert’ and she’s asking for seconds.
The single-serve packs are genius too. Tofu can start to taste a bit funny after a few days, so any more would usually result in food waste.”
“I'm yet to try this one myself, but if I run out of activities this half term, I’m genuinely tempted. Created by Chelsea Anderson – the self-proclaimed ‘Michael Jordan of babysitting’ – it’s essentially Russian roulette for toddlers, with one ‘poisoned’ vegetable.
Will it work? Who knows. But at this point, anything that gets my kids voluntarily eating broccoli is worth a shot.”
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
