Oodles of vegetable noodles
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EmailVegetable noodles are a fun way to include more vegetables in your diet.
A warm bowl of vegetable noodles is perfect for chilly fall days and a great way to add more vegetables into your diet. Vegetable noodles are fun for people of all ages and may encourage children to eat more vegetables by presenting them in an exciting way. According to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, children are not meeting the current recommendations for consumption of vegetables.
A wide variety of vegetables can be made into noodles – here are a few to try!
Zucchini Noodles - “Zoodles”
Use a spiralizer to turn a zucchini into noodles or a vegetable peeler to create long thin ribbons of zucchini. These noodles can be eaten raw in cold dishes or sautéed for a few minutes to be enjoyed warm. Try replacing half the amount of whole wheat pasta you would usually use with zucchini noodles to add a serving of vegetables to your pasta dish.
Spaghetti Squash - “Spoodles”
Spaghetti squash is a great low-calorie source of many nutrients including Vitamin A, folic acid, potassium, and beta carotene. This vegetable has a mild flavor and can be a great addition to pasta dishes and casseroles. To prepare just cut a squash in half, scoop out the seeds, place the halves cut side down in a roasting pan, pour in enough water to cover the bottom of the pan, and cook for 30-45 minutes until tender. Once the squash is cooked you can easily scrape out the insides with a fork to create “spoodles.”
Carrot Noodles - “Coodles”
Even carrots can be used to create colorful orange noodles or “coodles” that kids will love. To create these noodles just wash and peel a carrot and run it through a spiralizer. Carrot noodles can be added raw to cold salads or sautéed and added to warm dishes. These “coodles” will add a rich source of beta carotene and Vitamin A to your meal. Try using different colored carrots to make the dish even more colorful and enticing to children.
Vegetables provide vitamins, minerals and fiber to your child’s diet. You can get children excited about eating vegetables by including these colorful noodles in your recipes. Help your children maintain their health by incorporating more vegetables into their diet.
