Deceptively Delicious

I know many people have heard about Jessica Seinfeld’s book Deceptively Delicious, or have already bought this book. While I like the concept of adding “sneaky” nutrition into your child’s diet (especially if they are picky), I would also like to emphasize the importance of your child actually eating the whole food (ie. fruits and veggies), knowing what fruit and veggies look like, and enjoying a variety of unaltered foods. With that being said, I would like to give a basic overview of  Deceptively Delicious, so you can decide if Seinfeld’s book is something you’d like to try with your child. 

The Program

1. Equip your kitchen with tools that make cooking easier.
2. Stock your kitchen with staple ingredients that you will use again and again.
3. Make purees, a few at a time, and then portion and freeze them for use in the recipes.
4. The recipes. The deception begins!

Step 1 Examples

• Rice steamer–Seinfeld uses this for steaming her vegetables
• Food processor, blender, or Magic Bullter–used for pureeing and chopping
• Strainer, measuring cups/spoons, food storage bags, permanent marker–for the purees
• Electric mixer, baking cups, mixing bowls, baking pans–for baking
• Waxed papers/aluminum foil/parchment paper, potato masher, storage bins–other helpful cooking tools

Step 2 Examples

• Perishables: eggs, trans-fat-free margarine, lowfat plain or greek yogurt, reduced fat cream cheese, flaxseed meal
• Spices: cinnamon, salt, fresh ground pepper, dried basil, pumpkin pie spice, garlic powder
• Grains and Such: brown rice, couscous, whole-wheat bread, no-boil lasagna noodles
• For Baking: whole-wheat flour, oatmeal, unsweetened cocoa powder, vanilla extract, dried fruit, natural applesauce
• In the Cupboard: olive oil, natural peanut butter, canned tomatoes/navy beans/chickpeas, honey

Step 3 Examples

Vegetable Puree Example: Spinach

• Prep: No prep at all for baby spinach. For mature spinach, fold leaves in half lengthwise with the stem outside, then strip the stem off the leaf.
• Cook: Steam for 30-40 seconds, or cook in a skillet with 1 tablespoon water for about 90 seconds, or just until wilted.
• Puree: In a food processor or blender for about 2 minutes, until smooth and creamy.

Fruit Puree Example: Banana

• Prep: Use ripe bananas for the smoothest, sweetest, puree. Peel.
• Puree: Mash with a fork on a cutting board (bananas jump around in a bowl) then puree in a food processor or blender for about 2 minutes.

Step 4 Example

Peanut Butter and Banana Muffins

You Will Need

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1 cup firmly packed light or dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
• 1/2 cup carrot or cauliflower puree
• 1/2 cup banana puree
• 1 large egg white
• 1 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 12-cup mudding tin with cooking spray or line with paper baking cups.
2. In a large mixing bowl, mix 1/2 cup of the brown sugar with the peanut butter, the vegetable and banana purees, and the egg white, using a wooden spoon.
3. Put the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl or a zipper-lock bag and stir or shake to mix. Add to the bowl with the peanut butter mixtures and stir just to combine (the batter will be a little lumpy–do not overmix). Add the remaining 1/2 cup of brown sugar and stir once or twice.
4. Divide the batter among the muffin cups and bake until the muffins are lightly browned and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center, 15-20 minutes. Turn the muffins out onto a rack to cool.
5. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or wrap individually and freeze for up to 1 month.

More of My Thoughts

There you have it… a quick look at Deceptively Delicious. The more I look through the book, the more I actually like it. However, I just wish the title wasn’t Deceptively Delicious. I feel like it gives off a bad connotation, implying that we need to be sneaky in order for our kids to eat healthy. The book does have a lot of wonderfully healthy recipes, so that is a big plus. Additionally, I am very happy that the book has a section devoted to nutrition for children. This section was provided by Joy Bauer, who IS a Registered Dietitian, and a nutrition authority among high profile clients. 

Have you read this book? Have you made any of the recipes? Respond now with your thoughts and comments!