How Versatile is Spaghetti Bolognaise? by Body Beyond Baby trainer Amy Adamson

What child does not like Spaghetti Bolognaise?  Spag Bol has to be one of the best meals for hiding veggies, packing it full of the healthy stuff and your children don't even know they are there!

If you don't use this trick already try finely chopping (mincing) raw broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, yellow squash, capsicum or spinach in your food processor and adding it to your spag bol.  Or, if your children don’t mind lumps, finely grate some carrot or sweet potato and you will be surprised at how these veggies ‘sweeten’ your spaghetti bolognaise.  If there are too many lumps in the end product you can just use a hand held blender to puree the sauce down to your liking.

Now if hiding veggies isn't genius enough this next bit is going to save you time and effort!  I make a big batch of my spag bol sauce…usually with 2kg lean mince and generally the same amount of veg so it is approximately 50/50.   I then use half to make a lasagne which I cut into kids portion sizes and freeze (making about 10 portions) already I have five dinners for two children ready to go on those days I just don’t feel like cooking. 

What do I do with the other half of the veggie packed sauce?  I freeze it in kids portion sizes and make the following with the same spag bol sauce that I know is highly nutritious:

Spag Bol (of course) - all is required is to boil some wholemeal pasta and top with my delicious sauce that I have defrosted earlier.  Add a bit of  cheese and you've got a winner.

Tacos – defrost veggie packed sauce, heat tacos in oven and have the kids top their tacos with some chopped lettuce, tomato, cucumber, avocado, grated carrot & cheese…messy but delicious.

 Nachos – Add some tinned kidney beans to the sauce.  Top some plain corn chips with sauce and cheese and melt under the grill.  Add avocado or guacamole and sour cream -yum!

Baked potatoes – Bake regular potatoes or sweet potatoes in the oven until skin is crispy and potato is cooked.  Cut the top off the potato, this is the hat…spoon some spag bol sauce and cheese.  Melt cheese in the oven and top potato with the hat!

I am sure the sauce would work with Burritos too or other healthy wholemeal wraps….
 

So if you have a fussy eater or are just running out of ideas then try these meals to mix up the traditional spaghetti bolognaise!

If you have any other ways you use your Spaghetti Bolognaise please do share….