Steamed Veggies Are 10x More Kid-Friendly With This Flavorful Addition

One of the most classic battles of parenthood is convincing your children to eat steamed vegetables at dinnertime. You might even cringe to find that, depending on their age, most kids should be consuming between one and three cups of vegetables per day. However, downing a serving of steamed broccoli or carrots isn't always appetizing to a 6- or 16-year-old. Fortunately, there's an easy yet versatile way you can boost the flavor and appeal of steamed vegetables for your kids. All you need to do is serve them with a flavorful sauce.

Just like corn on the cob is better with melted butter and tomatoes are more delicious when topped with fresh basil and balsamic vinegar, most steamed vegetables can benefit from a little something extra. What's more, pairing steamed veggies with different sauces gives your kids a wider variety of flavors to choose, and can help develop a positive relationship with vegetables. If you're not sure where to begin, start by serving steamed vegetables with a small cup of your child's favorite condiment, like ranch dressing or ketchup. More options from your refrigerator (or made from scratch) include basil pesto, honey mustard, hummus, and homemade avocado dip or guacamole.

For a warmer accompaniment, consider making a homemade cheese sauce over your stove with simple ingredients like butter, flour, milk, and shredded cheese. Warmer, tasty alternatives include tomato, Alfredo, garlic butter, and peanut sauce, the latter made with ingredients like natural peanut butter, warm water, soy sauce, and ginger.

When it comes to pairing steamed vegetables with sauces, explore different ways of serving these tasty combinations at mealtime. One night, drizzle some melted cheese sauce over steamed broccoli. Then, on another weeknight, mix a few scoops of pesto into steamed and cut green beans, sliced cherry tomatoes, and cooked pasta. You can also try adding sauce to vegetables that have been grilled, roasted, or air-fried, offering a different texture. As you experiment, make note of what your kids like and dislike and what they're willing to eat again.

You can also encourage kids to choose the sauces they want to try by setting up a vegetable wheel in the center of the table. Make sure you include a variety of dipping sauces, allowing for trial and error and even mixing of flavors.

Before adding any sauce, make sure the vegetables you're preparing taste firm and flavorful all on their own. If you enjoy the taste, there's a decent chance your kids might, too. Better yet, if your overarching goal is to get your kids to enjoy vegetables without (always) needing to douse them in sauce, try serving steamed veggies with a little melted butter and salt for better flavor.