Mash Hits: Kid-Friendly Puree Recipes

Tyler Florence shares kid-friendly recipes and tells Food Network Magazine how to turn any kid into a veggie lover.

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Photo By: Con Poulos

Photo By: John Lee ©Copyright 2011 John Lee Pictures

Photo By: Con Poulos

Photo By: Con Poulos

Carrot, Mango and Apple Puree

Tyler Florence likes to brag that his kids will eat any vegetable, as long as it's roasted. "It's my number one cooking tip for parents," he says. "Roasting fruits and vegetables brings out their natural sugars and deepens their flavors." The chef is a father of three — Miles, 16, Hayden, 5, and Dorothy, almost 4 — so he has plenty of tricks up his sleeve.

Get the Recipe: Carrot, Mango and Apple Puree

A Family Affair

Tyler's son Hayden and daughter, Dorothy, got to test recipes for his cookbook, Start Fresh.

Spinach and Banana Puree

Yes, he has resorted to white lies at times (he told his oldest son that tuna rolls were made with chicken to get him to eat sushi), but over the years he has found that the best way to prevent picky eating is to expose kids to fresh ingredients from the get-go.

Get the Recipe: Spinach and Banana Puree

Roasted Banana and Blueberry Puree

Tyler's book, Start Fresh, is all about keeping ingredients in plain sight. "Why hide them?" he asks. "The idea is to show children that vegetables can be delicious."

Get the Recipe: Roasted Banana and Blueberry Puree