Traffic light bolognese

The name might seem a bit odd. But one thing I've learnt from being a mum is that sometimes children need incentive to eat. Be it making a plane or train spoon for a baby or making faces on the plate for a toddler, children will eat food they engage with..if that makes any sense! 

I've named this bolognese Traffic Light Bolognese because of the vegetables in it..they're red, orange and green! Luckily Henry is too small to turn his nose up at veg but I imagine that stage will come soon enough! 

So here's the recipe for my child friendly bolognese. It's low in salt and sugar and also contains the traffic light vegetables..I didn't realise how much veg I would have in the pot until I chopped it up!

You will need..
Mince (or Quorn mince)
400g tin of chopped tomatoes
1 garlic clove (I don't like a strong garlic taste but you can add as many as you like)
Mixed herbs
Vegetable/beef stock cube
1tsp Marmite
1tbsp tomato puree
1 onion, diced
1 red pepper
1 carrot
1 leek
Pepper to taste
Cold water

Fry the mince until it starts to brown. Add the onion and garlic but stir occasionally to stop the garlic burning.
Add the chopped tomatoes, herbs and stock and stir. Once combined, add the Marmite and tomato puree. Stir into the bolognese.
Chop the veg into bite sized chunks (the smaller the better, they'll cook better). Add it to the pot along with about 200ml water.
Leave to simmer on a low heat until the veg is cooked. Serve with spaghetti/pasta and garlic bread!

I've been trying to get Henry to eat from a preloaded bowl since his first birthday and I though bolognese would be a good test of how well he can do it. He ate half of this with his hands and I spoon fed him the rest of the mince..he only left 4 bits of pasta! I'm very proud of him, he's growing up into a perfect little boy!

Until next time..

Shannon x