Can't Get the Kids to Eat Their Greens? Caramelize Them

For those parents trying desperately to get their kids to eat their greens don't give up! Kids will be more likely to eat healthy greens as adults if they start young. The key is to experiment with all sorts of veggies and methods until you get some compliance. A great way to add sweetness to veggies that aren't naturally sweet (and even those that are) is too caramelize them. The more of a vegetable-based diet that you and your family eat, the better for your waistline and the planet.

The recipe below is for brussels sprouts but the technique could work for onions, sweet potatoes, rutabagas, beets, eggplant, and zucchini to name a few. The key is a good organic balsamic vinegar that sweetens as it roasts. I also like to add pecans because it adds some good protein and nutrients to the meal. Toasting them first off releases the oil from the pecans adding tons of flavor to the dish.

You don't need the extensive ingredients list because adding too many ingredients to a recipe like this means that one of your additions could overpower the entire dish. Everything is local except for the vinegar and the olive oil so I love to let the ingredients do the work.