Toddler Food

Meat and Hidden Vegetable Sauce

Make this meat and hidden vegetables sauce for your kids if they refuse veggies, meat or a combination of the two.

Meat and Hidden Vegetable Sauce 

Never did I think I would ever be dealing with a picky eater. Nope never. It just didn’t cross my mind. After all, Zoe welcomed all foods like a champ from the very beginning. She had her moments with rice, eggs and avocado but eventually fell in love with all of them. What’s funny is this sauce will appeal to people who have kids that don’t love veggies. Zoe is the opposite. She loves veggies but what she totally revolts against is meat. Like an all out stand off, she will not eat meat. She has gradually turned into a 99% vegetarian. There are random “mommy may I have some chicken” moments so that’s the 1%. 

Make this meat and hidden vegetable sauce for your kids if they refuse veggies, meat or a combination of the two.

At her most recent check-up, she got glowing reviews across the board except when it came to her iron levels. My big girl is anemic! ANEMIC! I was devastated. You know when you work so hard at preparing healthy meals and you share recipes with friends to encourage their kids to enjoy things like vegetables. So of course I was shocked. Like to tears shocked (yeah I still blame the post pregnancy hormones). I jumped into immediate action. I sent out alarms via text to the husband informing him of her status and that we are heading to the market. I grabbed all the things on the list of high iron foods. But how was I going to get this girl to eat meat. And just like that this meat and hidden vegetable sauce was born. I’ve actually shared several variations of this recipe with friends but now it was my turn to “hide” the meat portion of this dish. 

Make this meat and hidden vegetable sauce for your kids if they refuse veggies, meat or a combination of the two.

She loved it! I made enough for a few days worth of lunch and froze some. Now to make a version with chicken, turkey or lamb. We shall see how it goes. For now enjoy this mom & toddler approved meat and hidden vegetable sauce over pasta, rice or as the base for meatballs or easy skillet eggplant parmesan. 

Meat and Hidden Vegetable Sauce
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Ingredients
  1. 1 lb. ground sirloin (90/10)
  2. 1 6 oz. can tomato paste
  3. 8 oz. water
  4. 8 oz veggie stock
  5. 1/2 onion small dice,
  6. 1/2 green pepper small dice
  7. 1/2 baked sweet potato
  8. 2 cups spinach
  9. 1 24 oz. jar tomato puree
  10. 4 cloves garlic, minced
  11. 1-2 tbsp. raw sugar
  12. 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  13. Dried thyme
  14. 1/2 tsp onion powder
  15. 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  16. Handful of fresh basil, chopped or 2 tbsp dried basil
  17. Salt and pepper, optional & to taste
Instructions
  1. In a large stockpot, saute onions & green pepper until soft and fragrant in 2 tbsp. of olive oil. About 5 minutes.
  2. Add meat and garlic and brown until meat has been thoroughly cooked through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Pour in the tomato paste, tomato puree, stock, water, spinach, sweet potato and seasoning. Stir to mix well.
  4. Let mixture simmer, uncovered, for 2 or more hours, stirring occasionally.
Notes
  1. Serve as is with pasta or if your child is not found of meat (texture) then purée.
  2. Recipe yields about 6 cups puréed. Puree 1 1/2 cups of sauce with up to 1/2 water.
What MJ Loves™ https://www.whatmjloves.com/
Make this meat and hidden vegetable sauce to help your kids get the right amount of vegetables and iron in their diet.

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3 Comments

  • Reply
    The Future Mrs. Vines
    February 17, 2016 at 7:19 PM

    This looks fantastic and will definitely become a staple in our household! I never thought to hide spinach in my pasta sauce. It will now go in EVERY single time!

    • Reply
      M J
      February 18, 2016 at 3:34 PM

      Thank you. Yes spinach is so easy to hide. Funny mom actually suggested the spinach and since it is high in iron, I went with it. Turned out perfect.

  • Reply
    How To Fill The Void When Your Hunny Refuses To Eat Veggies
    February 21, 2016 at 10:05 PM

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