Taking every child’s least favorite vegetable and wrapping it in everyone’s favorite meat!
I know I’m not the only person who hated vegetables when I was a kid. I have struggled to find ways to apologize to my mother for my steadfast refusal to eat anything with a lick of color in it and an aroma that wasn’t distinctly saccharine-sweet. It’s probably not uncommon that the preferred diet of most children could be best described as meat and candy, but children truly need all the nutrition they can get and vegetables (as unpleasant as they can be for a kid) are the best way to get essential vitamins and minerals in low-calorie ingredients.
As such, sometimes it’s on us as adults to trick our kids into eating their greens!
That’s where today’s recipe comes in! Bacon-wrapped asparagus takes one of the most notorious offenders for a picky eater’s disgust and cloaks it in a veil of crispy, juicy meat! The best part is that doing so doesn’t negate the nutritional benefits of the asparagus – you still get the vitamin C, the vitamin K, and the folate – and you get to add bacon’s high-protein perks to the list! If you’re struggling to get the kids you know to eat their vegetables, you can’t go wrong with bacon-wrapped asparagus!
“Why Won’t You Eat Your Greens?”
I’m sure it’s come out of many a mother’s mouth in frustration as they only try to give their children the vitamins and minerals they need to grow happy and healthy, and then see it plainly on the plate of an otherwise finished dinner. It often fails to make any sense as to why, if little ones need these nutrients, kids are quick to reject the foods most rich in them; however, there are a number of reasons why kids aren’t keen on their greens.
One reason why children don’t like vegetables is a simple one: they’re bitter! Vegetables, in comparison to almost any other food you can think of, have more bitter notes in their flavor palates than any other. While an adult, refined palate may seek the distinct fragrances and aromas of their favorite vegetables, children taste bitter and smell pungent food and say “no thank you!”. Theories explaining this reason range from a sort of hypersensitivity experienced by children (the same reason that many colors and sensory experiences seem so much more vibrant when you’re young) and an evolutionary aversion to likewise bitter-tasting poisonous foods.
Another reason postulated to explain childlike avoidance of vegetables is something called neophobia, the fear of new things! When you’re young, new experiences aren’t just novel, they’re totally unknown! That kind of anxiety can build easily in young minds and can result in whole categories of food being written off without ever trying them! The earlier theory of hypersensitivity comes into play here, where both the anxiety and fear of the new experience are magnified as well as the dread of a hypersensitive response to a bad experience. Another evolutionary theory regards self-preservation (and, usually, we’d applaud our children for being cautious!)
The reason that many nutritionists stick with is that, despite needing a wide variety of vitamins and minerals, a child’s growing body craves sodium and sugars most, finding them in the safe foods of meat and treats. Since the body converts sugars into energy and sodium aids in muscular activity, it’s likely that a child who only wants to eat salty foods and candy is just trying to fuel a body that needs to go! go! go! and wants to do it fast!
All of these reasons get fixed by hiding your kids’ vegetables in foods they already love! Whether it’s covering celery stalks in peanut butter to get them to eat their fiber or wrapping their asparagus in bacon to make sure they’re eating their veg, there’s nothing wrong with a little deceit if it means your little one finally finishes their plate (greens included!)
How do I store leftovers?
Bacon-wrapped asparagus is best kept in a resealable container or bag that can have the air pushed out. Then, store it in the fridge for up to 5 days! You can reheat in your air fryer to achieve an extra crisped exterior for delicious crunchy fun!
Serving Suggestions
Bacon-wrapped asparagus is the perfect pairing to other children’s favorites (with hidden vegetables in them!). Try serving it as a side for Chicken Teriyaki (or Teriyaki Chicken Thighs) with broccoli and cauliflower florets mixed into the rice! Or serve bacon-wrapped asparagus with a Secret Vegetable Taco Soup (with corn hidden in the sauce!) or your kids’ Favorite Stovetop Macaroni (especially if yours has shredded carrots cleverly hidden inside). Slip vegetables into your kids’ breakfast with Delicious Spinach Frittatas (that hardly taste like there are any greens in them at all!) or slip bacon-wrapped asparagus into their lunch box along with a bunch of other Lunch Box Ideas that go beyond boring sandwiches!
Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh asparagus ends trimmed
- 12 slices bacon preferably thin-cut
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
- Rinse the asparagus and trim off the tough ends.
- Season the asparagus lightly with black pepper and garlic powder.
- Cut the bacon strips in half crosswise.
- Wrap a half slice of bacon around each asparagus spear, leaving the tips exposed.
- Place the wrapped spears on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the asparagus is tender.
- Serve immediately and enjoy your delicious side dish!
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