9 March 2013

Pasta

Children LOVE pasta and whilst emphasis on whole grains is preferable for daily, long lasting energy and to strengthen the nervous system, pasta can also be a great way to integrate vegetables. Try using wholemeal pasta for a healthier alternative.

You can add vegetables to pasta in the following ways...

  • STIR FRIED: Stir fried vegetables mixed with noodles or pasta work well. Try adding a few walnut chunks for older children -added nourishment! 
  • PASTA AND PESTO: Delicious pesto recipe coming soon!
  • PASTA BAKE: Saute some onions, grated carrot, mushrooms and herbs with some tuna/smoked tofu/lentils or chopped seitan. You can add some cauliflower bechamel sauce on top with some almond powder and bake until golden.
  • LASAGNE: Same recipe as above but using lasagne pasta sheets and you can always add a little beetroot sauce to the mix too - see Recipe section of blog for sauce recipe.
  • PASTA SALAD: Add chopped lightly boiled vegetables such as diced carrots, courgettes, sweetcorn, and cherry tomatoes. You can always add some chunks of smoked tofu, pitted olives, fresh herbs etc.
  • NOODLES AND BROTH: This is great for older children and teenagers - a simple nourishing broth can made adding a strip of Kombu sea vegetable to boiling water, sliced onions and carrots, soya sauce and apple juice concentrate to season, a slice of fresh ginger and even a few leaves of coriander or chopped spring onion before serving. Smoked tofu chunks or prawns work well with this.
  • BEETROOT PASTA SAUCE: (See Recipe section of blog) Contains plenty of vegetables and you can always add some chunks of courgettes and mushrooms to add more vegetables.
  • PASTA IN SOUP: Pasta shapes such as shells, letters, stars etc are great for adding to vegetable soups. They add interest, fun and help children to eat the veggies! See the Recipe section of this blog for details on ABC vegetable soup.

Enjoy!

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