Lentils eating 101 – a genius hack

Lentils are one of our ‘5 a Day’ and a great source of protein and other nutrients. They are also budget-friendly.

Generally lentils are not a big win for fussy eaters (and many others too!). There are certain members of my family (husband, looking at you), who dislike them mixed into meat dishes.

I often use lentils in dishes to cut down on the amount of meat necessary and in stews and soups to thicken and add texture.

But that very texture is often the problem. Which is where my hack comes in!

I have started putting dry lentils in my spice grinder (coffee grinder) and creating a lentil powder.

It’s amazing on a few levels:
– All the goodness is still there
– They cook super quickly
– They thicken and/or replace but without the textural element.

For picky eaters who eat very plain foods and no sauces or integrated dishes, this won’t be a help. However, if you have a child (husband) who eats bolognaise, sauce or soup it could be a great way to add protein and nutrients but in a way that is easy to accept.

Judith, MA Cantab, is an AOTA accredited picky eating advisor and internationally certified nutritional therapist. She works with 100+ families every year resolving fussy eating and returning pleasure and joy to the meal table.
She is also mum to two boys and the author of Creating Confident Eaters and Winner Winner I Eat Dinner. Her dream is that every child is able to approach food from a place of safety and joy, not fear.
Learn more about Judith here: https://theconfidenteater.com/about/