Summer Picnic Series
Most parents want to get more vegetables in their children’s diet. Trying to convince kids to eat vegetables can be difficult though. Overall, we are fortunate to have kids who are willing to eat their veggies without too much fuss, but there are times when it is a struggle and dinner time can become a little frustrating as we waaaaaiiiitttt for them to finally finish.
A friend of mine is reading a book in which the author encourages parents to include more vegetables in meals and snacks throughout the day, rather than only at dinner time. She (the author) suggests that this will take some of the pressure off of the dinner time vegetable and the need to eat it to get a vegetable serving for the day. I love this idea.
Not only does this mean extra vitamins and nutrients, but eating vegetables will seem much more normal and not just an add-on to an otherwise appealing meal. Fruits and vegetables give our food color and flavor and depth and I want to help my kids appreciate this area of God’s good design in creation.
One vegetable that we never have to struggle over is the pea. For whatever reason, kids seem to gravitate towards the simple green pea. My kids love to eat frozen peas straight out of the bag and when I need a quick side with absolutely no effort needed I heat up a couple cups.
Making such a commonly enjoyed vegetable into a kid-friendly snack is a great way to introduce vegetables into another time of day. Plus, this recipe is incredibly easy and so its perfect for inviting your kids into the kitchen to help you cook.
Green Pea Hummus
The only unusual ingredient that you may not have on hand is the tahini. Tahini is made from sesame seeds and helps to contribute to the hummus flavor. You can most likely find it with the peanut butter in the grocery store. If you don’t want to buy it but have a lot of sesame seeds on hand already, you can try to make your own by blending up the sesame seeds with a little oil or water. My vote is for convenience though, so I just buy it and keep it ready in the pantry. One can will last a while.
Mix together all of the ingredients together in a food processor (or blender) and blend until completely smooth. Add a little additional water if needed. Eat with vegetable sticks or chips. Simple!
- 3 C green peas
- 4 Tbsp tahini
- 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 C water
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- Combine all ingredients in a food processor (or blender) and blend until smooth and no chunks remain.
- Add additional water a tablespoon at a time as needed to reach desired consistency.
- Serve with vegetables like pepper slices, carrot sticks, or broccoli florets, or with tortilla or pita chips.
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