Veggie and Meat Spaghetti, How I get my bf to eat vegetables

Ever have an issue with your boyfriend, husband or kiddos not wanting to eat vegetables? I finally found a way to get them to eat them!

First step? I picked an entree that everyone loves, SPAGHETTI! Who doesn't love spaghetti right?

Second step, add veggies like zucchini, yellow squash, even spaghetti squash, bell peppers and mushrooms. The trick to this? Chop up the veggies really small! or if you like to make your own spaghetti sauce you can even blend the veggies into the sauce! I learned that if i chopped up these veggies super small, who has the time to notice them or even want to pick out tiny bits of veggies? HA NO ONE! 

If they ask what's in the spaghetti you say, it's just spaghetti. They don't need to know its jam packed with the healthy stuff!

Below is my favorite recipe for a healthy spaghetti. Serves 2 with left overs or 4 with no left overs.

Ingredients:

1 garlic clove

1/2 small red onion, chopped

1 lb of ground beef

1/2 zucchini, chopped finely

1/2 yellow squash, chopped finely

3-4 mushrooms, chopped finely

1/4 yellow bell pepper, finely chopped

1/4 orange bell pepper, finely chopped

Whole grain spaghetti (I used 1/2 box)

Salt and Pepper to taste

1 jar of your favorite pasta sauce, or 20 fl oz of homemade spaghetti sauce

A couple splashes of Cabernet red wine!

Directions:

1) In a pan on medium heat, add a little olive oil and red onion. Cook until onion is becoming translucent, then add ground beef and garlic and a few splashes of red wine! (Since I'm pregnant and can't drink red wine doesn't mean I don't crave it. I have been adding it to all red meats and sauteed mushrooms lately for the flavor and not the alcohol!)

2) While cooking ground beef use wooden spoon to chop up in small pieces. In the middle of this process grab a pot, add water, and 1/2 box of whole grain pasta. Set to medium-high heat and bring to a boil.

3) Once ground beef is cooked thoroughly add finely chopped mushroom, yellow squash, zucchini, and peppers. Mix into ground beef and cover for 5-8 minutes to allow veggies to soften.

4) Finally add pasta sauce of choice. Mixing everything together and allow to heat up.

5) Once pasta is soft, drain and add meat and veggie sauce to pot. mix everything together. Reduce heat to low/simmer. Serve when ready to eat! I like to add spinach and parmesan to my plate!

I learned this because I use to always add chunks of veggies to my spaghetti or use zucchini and yellow squash in replacement of pasta. Well the boyfriend says, will you make spaghetti the normal way and not add a bunch of nasty veggies? I said ok. My solution? I'm going to add the same amount of veggies but chop them up super-duper small!

The result was...

Boyfriend: " dang babe, this is good, see how much better this is without all those veggies?

me: "Oh yeah, much better. You were right."

hahahaha