My first child, Emily, ate whatever was put in front of her. My second, Samantha, followed suit  -- until she turned 2. Then she'd eat only food that was smooth or a certain color; soon Emily wouldn't touch anything that was the wrong color or texture, either. I tried to make food cute or mini, using the "10 to 15 times" exposure rule. Nothing worked for long.

Then I had an "aha!" moment. Emily was sick, so I mixed her antibiotic into chocolate pudding to get it down her throat. If I could do this with medicine, I thought, why not with healthy ingredients?

I drew up list A: Foods Kids Eat Happily. Then I compiled list B: Most Healthful Ingredients. I set out to find the cleverest ways to hide items on list B in foods on list A and came up with these nutritious purees to blend into kid favorites. The result: peaceful, relaxed family meals where my kids eat everything!

Want to get vitamins and nutrients into your kids without a fight? Start with the secret weapon: the purees. Then, try one of the following favorite kid recipes:


Crunchy Mac and Cheese
This classic gets another boost from its whole-grain topping.
View this recipe



Power Pizza Bagels
You can prep and refrigerate, then bake anytime for a snack.
View this recipe




Super Burgers
The familiar taste of ketchup makes the puree undetectable.
View this recipe



Better-for-You Brownies
Use any brownie mix you like; these come out moist and delicious!
View this recipe






Adapted from The Sneaky Chef