Tuesday Tip for Picky Eaters: Just Add Sauce

This week’s Tuesday Tip for Picky Eaters: Just Add Sauce.

Last Wednesday, Henry and I had dinner while Daddy went to get a haircut. Henry was really into the main dish, but he was not very interested in the accompanying zucchini cakes. When Daddy got home, it was not yet time for Henry's to go to bed so they sat down together for a second dinner while I cleaned up the kitchen. This time, Daddy topped the zucchini cakes with tzatziki sauce and Henry couldn't get enough of them.

Henry likes zucchini cakes if they include a bit of sauce.

Experts frequently suggest adding sauce to vegetables to get your kids to eat them. I've been resistant to this recommendation, envisioning frozen broccoli smothered in processed cheese sauce or carrots drowned in ranch dip. But now, I am coming to terms with the idea that sauce can be a good thing. It doesn't have to be a disguise for vegetables; it can actually add value to a dish.

There are lots of healthy, flavorful sauce choices for enhancing vegetables. Salsa, guacamole, hummus, and even garlic butter come to mind. I wouldn't think of eating a green salad without a drizzle of vinaigrette or a baked potato without butter. So why should I expect Henry to eat his foods plain?

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