aka “Earning Desserts as a Five-Year-Old”
I always ate my three daily servings of fruit as a kid. I drank my “crazy drink” (OJ + fizzy water) through a straw at breakfast, munched on apple slices at lunch, and popped grapes like candy as an after school snack. But vegetables?
Totally different story.
Sure, I’d crunch on a few carrots at dinner if Mom promised me a cookie for dessert. Or I’d stab at a few green beans if she gave me vanilla pudding. But I much preferred my main entrée of fish sticks or grilled cheese over those pesky veggies!
I’m a big girl now, and I’ve realized that vegetables are good for me. Still, it’s hard to consciously choose broccoli over brownies or cucumbers over chocolate when my stomach starts rumbling!
Instead of forgoing treats in favor of produce, I’ve devised a few clever ways to sneak more veggies into my diet. I’m starting the day off with this carrot cake oatmeal. It’s sweet, spiced, and—dare I say it—even nicer than a slice of the original cake!
Feel free to add raisins or walnuts or any other ingredients you like in your carrot cake! Just stir them in along with the spices after cooking the oatmeal.
- In a medium bowl, combine the carrots, oats, sugar and water. Microwave according to the package’s directions. Stir in the cinnamon and nutmeg, and let the oatmeal thicken for 1-2 min before eating.
Other Sweet and Sneaky Veggie Treats:
caramelized onion breakfast muffins
Yum! Spicy for breakfast is great. If you are looking at other ways to sneak veggies in, cauliflower “rice” is very popular in our house right now:
http://nomnompaleo.com/post/1626071845/another-simpler-version-of-cauliflower-rice
Sounds great! I’ve heard a lot of good things about cauliflower “rice,” but I haven’t actually gotten around to trying it… I’ve planned our dinners already for this week, but I’ll try to put cauliflower on my grocery list for next week! Can you use frozen-and-thawed, or does it need to be fresh?
Mmm! Love me some carrot cake! I’m trying this one out soon!
Hope you like it!! I couldn’t stop eating it… So I made a second bowl!
Hahahaha!! That’s awesome… can’t tell you how often I always wanted to do that when I used to eat cold cereal (because it just never filled me up!). But with this recipe, it’d be hard to talk yourself out if it! So healthy!
This recipe is right around 130 calories per serving, so I definitely don’t feel guilty eating an extra bowl — I mean serving of veggies! ;]
I love this idea! As a chef who prepares food for children on a daily basis I thing I could use this idea for other food items on our menu. Thats such a great idea!
Thank you! I’m excited to share my next few sweet and sneaky veggie posts. I’d love to hear about the other ways you sneak in veggies too!
Of course! I may come up with something tomorrow! But I cannot wait to see what other post you come up with 🙂
I have three more sweet treats planned, so stay tuned! (And I’m saving the best for last… :])
Sounds delicious! I love broccoli and still have trouble choosing it over brownies 🙂
Oh my, that’s quite a predicament! I wonder if you could somehow combine the two… Or just eat one right after the other! ;]
wow–great idea. I will for sure make that! (must buy carrots first:-)) Thanks for sharing.
Thank you! I always have a big bag of baby carrots to munch on in the fridge. I tell myself that I have to eat at least 6-8 before I can eat my dark chocolate! ;] I’m excited to hear what you think about the oatmeal!
Love this! Thank you for sharing!
My pleasure! Any way I can help motivate myself (and others) to eat a little healthier every now and then!
What a clever idea 🙂 I’m going to try this mext time I make oatmeal 🙂
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it. I was surprised at how well the carrots added to the soft texture of oatmeal. I want to eat a bowl of this every day now!
Oh yum! I remember carrot cake when I was a child- our favourite was a cheap woolworths brand rectangle cake with this amazing icing. I will have to try this one time!
All of our local grocery stores sold carrot cake with walnuts, which didn’t go over well with our family. My brother and I hated nuts, and my mom was allergic! I did like the frosting part though… Was yours cream cheese? I hope you enjoy the oatmeal!
We had crushed walnuts in it aswell! It was so good. Hmmm, not sure what it is. Probably some sort of artificial cream cheese concoction- but damn was it good haha.
Add sugar to anything, call it frosting, and I’ll eat it! ;] I don’t know who thought of pairing carrots and cream cheese and cake, but they were a brilliant person.
Totally going to try this!! And I love the pictures, by the way.
Thank you! I had you in mind because of how much you love carrot cake. Hope you enjoy it!
Oh wow, this looks absolutely delicious! I think I’m going to try your recipe with crumbled walnuts as an extra ‘carrot cakey’ topping. A delicious, healthy breakfast! P.S I just found your blog… it’s beautiful. I’ll definitely be checking back in with you! x
That sounds great! I also considered adding a little cream cheese on top as the “frosting,” but maybe next time. I’m excited to hear what you think of the oatmeal! And thank you for your kind words and sweet compliments. They made my day! :]