Picky Eater :: Green Bug Noodles with Nuturme Plump Peas

I am raising an incredibly picky eater.  Frustratingly picky.  So when Nurturme offered to send a few packets of their powdered, freeze dried food to try I thought "What the heck."  

My kids are a little old for their target market, but we'll have another one soon that will be able to try these the way they were intended.  Each packet contains a dried powder of fruits or vegetables that smell EXACTLY like the real thing - and taste like it too.  Baby food peas are probably the most notorious for being gross and these actually taste like peas.  It tastes as good as when I make them myself and much easier to have in the diaper bag.

For older kids, they recommend blending the powder into things you are already making to add vegetables to their favorite foods.  

I added the peas to my regular Macaroni and Cheese.  It didn't work.  I even used bug shape noodles...  no luck.  But they didn't even try them, so it wasn't the taste that was an issue.  It was just something new.  He ate two entire bowls "without green."  But I ate the green bowl of noodles and they were really good.  Throw in a few fresh spring peas and a little parmesan on top and I was in heaven.  Luckily Mr. Hedin was out of town when we tried this experiment so I could eat with a kid fork out of a firetruck bowl and no one commented.

Here's my recipe for Green Noodles for the kiddos.  If your kids are willing to try food (I've heard rumors that such kids exist) this is a great way to make a traditionally favorite dish a little healthier.

Green Bug Macaroni & Cheese

Serves 4

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons flour

¾ cup whole milk

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 packet Nuturme Plump Peas

6 ounces bug shape noodles

Bring 8 cups of water to a boil.  Add noodles and cook until al dente (not until completely soft). 

Melt butter in a 3 quart saucepan. Whisk in flour and cook 2-3 minutes until thickened.  In a small bowl whisk together milk and Nuturme Plump Peas until well combined. Quickly whisk in milk mixture and continue whisking until mixture is thickened.  Stir in cheddar cheese until melted and remove season with salt and pepper.  Remove from heat and stir in cooked pasta to coat completely.  

Serve warm.