Can you keep a secret? One of my favorite ways to get my kids to eat vegetables is to be SNEAKY. Creativity is key when it comes to serving up the nutritious stuff. I’ve mastered the art of sneaky with zucchini noodles (AKA zoodles)— especially since you can just tell them it’s green noodles! Plus you can have double the fun by including them in the cooking process by using my favorite spiralizer! What’s great about the green veggie is that it also allows for major flexibility with adult dinners like spaghetti or scampi plates, since it makes a great replacement for noodles loaded with carbs and gluten.
Switching to a gluten-free lifestyle — or simply cleaner eating — doesn’t have to mean traditional comfort foods are off-limits. You just have to get flexible! Here are two of my favorite ways to serve up zoodles — a raw adult version and a cooked kid-friendly version. Use these serving ideas to spark your own creative ideas!
WATCH: 2 Ways to Jazz Up Zoodles
Better For You Spaghetti Zoodles
Ingredients
- 1 cup parsley
- 1 cup mint leaves
- 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup pecans
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground pepper to taste
- 5 zucchinis
Instructions
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Make the pesto: In a blender, combine all ingredients and puree untilsmooth. Taste and adjust quantities to fit your preferences. Set aside.
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Wash and cut tops off of each zucchini.
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Using a spiralizer, shape zucchinis into noodles.
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Transfer to a mixing bowl and top with pesto. With your hands, massage pesto into zucchini noodles until evenly coated.
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Serve.
Oodles of Fun Zoodles
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- Parmesan cheese to taste
- salt and pepper to taste
- 5 zucchinis
Instructions
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Wash and cut tops off of each zucchini.
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Using spiralizer, cut zucchinis into noodles. Set aside.
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Over medium heat, melt butter in a frying pan.
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Add zucchini noodles until they soften, about 3-5 minutes.
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Sprinkle in a handful of parmesan cheese, a pinch of salt, and a pinch ofpepper. Mix.
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Serve.
If you are looking to get your kids to eat more veggies like zucchinis, here are my successful secrets to sneaking them into dishes! Trust me, it works for kids of all ages!
