Re: Creative ideas for more veggies
 

We don't like riced cauliflower as "rice" but I will add up to 1/2 a cup of it (from frozen) when I'm cooking ground beef or turkey.

I really need to make more of the THM okra recipes. I love the shakes I've tried, but haven't ventured into soups or baked goods.

Re: Creative ideas for more veggies
 

I always really liked the Bean Boss soup.

Re: Creative ideas for more veggies
 

I add vegetables to everything. My kids know, and I don't hide it, I just DO it.

Tex-Mex meals make for the easiest add ins. I spiralize carrots and roast them with olive oil, salt and cumin, toss with lime juice just before serving. These make a good side, or taco fill addition. We love these. Diced radishes add a great touch of crunch to wraps/tacos.

I add shredded zucchini, carrots, diced mushrooms, and shredded kale to spaghetti sauce.

I make black bean soup with bagged broccoli coleslaw mix, or the big bags of pre-cut broccoli, cauliflower, and baby carrots that my grocery carries (Especially good when they go on clearance). A good puree of the soup before serving helps. if you want more info on this, let me know.

I shred zucchini into frittatas, or meatloaf, or anywhere when I'm making something with ground beef.

I serve sliced raw vegetables all the time, which goes over better than salads.

Um, I know I do more, but I'm stuck with recall right now.

Re: Creative ideas for more veggies
 

I wouldn't have thought about shredding zucchini into dishes. That's a great idea.

Yes, please tell me more about the black bean soup. I'm sure I can't get my whole family to eat it, but it might be a nice lunch for those who will.

---------- Post added at 10:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:21 PM ----------

What is bean boss soup?

Re: Creative ideas for more veggies
 

crumbs! typed it out, but it vanishes.

Black Bean soup, easy edition. :)

Saute some onion and garlic in olive oil.
Add vegetables - I use a 2lb mix of broccoli, cauliflower and carrots, or a big bag of broccoli coleslaw mix, or just toss in whatever in on hand.
Add a large can of diced tomatoes.
Add can of drained black beans.
Add about 2 diced potatoes.
maybe 2-3 tsp of cumin
Bring to boil and simmer until veggies are soft.
Puree soup, return to pot, and add drained can of black beans, and salt and pepper to taste.
Top with shredded cheese, or sour cream, if desired.

Simple, but tasty.

Re: Creative ideas for more veggies
 

Kristin, I need to try this. Are you using chicken broth for your liquid? About how much?

Re: Creative ideas for more veggies
 

chicken or veggie broth :yes

I pour enough to cover all the veggies. I make a large pot - maybe 6 cups of broth? It's a "loose" recipe.

Re: Creative ideas for more veggies
 

Tonight I made chili with extra veggies. To the ground beef as it was cooking, I added a grated zucchini, two grated carrots, and a few handfuls of chopped kale. It was better than ever!

Re: Creative ideas for more veggies
 

I made these baked zucchini sticks tonight with our dinner and they were a huge hit, even with DS12! I gave him ranch to dip them in and he said he didn't even want it because they tasted so good! WIN!

Re: Creative ideas for more veggies
 

Tomorrow for lunch, I am going to try to make veggie tacos using just sauteed zucchini, mushrooms, and bell peppers for the "meat" filling. And then I'll make my own homemade salsa. That should give us a good punch of veggies for lunch! :D If avocados weren't so expensive, I would have added guacamole, too. It's crazy, but my kids are excited to try these. :rockon

Re: Creative ideas for more veggies
 

We all loved these! When the chopped mushrooms cook down, they have the same texture and look as taco meat.

Tonight I followed y'all's advice and cleaned out the produce drawer by adding green onions, green pepper, mini red, orange and yellow peppers, mushrooms, garlic, zucchini, and fresh basil to my homemade spaghetti sauce and everyone loved it!

This is fun trying to figure out how to add more veggies to our diet. :) I'm so glad my family is on board. Thanks for all of your suggestions. :hug

Re: Creative ideas for more veggies
 

I keep saying I need to increase our veggie consumption :rockon

This thread is inspirational.

Re: Creative ideas for more veggies
 

Can you all summarize what you add to ground beef? Besides mushrooms :shifty

Re: Creative ideas for more veggies
 

Grated zucchini disappears into ground beef as they cook. Depending on what else I have, a grated carrot (more than one adds too much sweetness IMO), finely chopped bell peppers, grated onion (disguises it better than chopping and it's fast)...someone said cauliflower rice but I haven't tried that yet.

Re: Creative ideas for more veggies
 

You can make your own cauliflower rice in the food processor - just pulse it into small pieces - and then add it to ground meat. I would imagine that you can make those cauli rice blends by just adding some other veggies to the processor. I've been adding cauliflower to loads of dishes this way, usually subbing for rice, though, not meat. Pureed cauliflower and radishes also make a nice thickener for "cream" soups.