Parmesan Green Bean Fries

Sometimes it seems like no matter how hard I try to make “green foods” appealing, my kids reject them. But fries? Who could resist fries, right? Green bean French fries are one of the few recipes that when I begged them with the usual “just try it, you might like these!” they did!

While Sofia loves green beans steamed, sautéed, baked…you name it; my boys are a bit tougher to crack. It takes a lot more effort and creativity on my part to make veggies appealing at all.

I decided to turn boring green beans into fun French fries, with the help of a little cheese. Because Parmesan cheese, my friends, is like magic fairy dust when it comes to making some foods appealing to my kids. Watch this quick video and see how easy this recipe is to make.

Well, most of the time. My middle son held his ground and did not eat them. “They look funny,” he said. So of course, I did what many parents  do, add a little encouragement.  I served about a tablespoon of Hidden Valley’s new Roasted Garlic Ranch on the side to

at least

the green fries.

Let’s talk real life parenting for a minute. Kids will be kids. They get hung up on the color of a particular food and often refuse to try something that might taste amazing, like these Parmesan French fries for example.

My goal is to get my son to eat more veggies and if adding a tablespoon of Hidden Valley^® Roasted Garlic Ranch helps him eat beans, then I celebrate it. I want him to learn how to eat more foods, and eventually, he will (and has already) open up to trying new foods.

If you have picky eaters, you know exactly how hard this can be. I’ve tried everything to get my kids, especially my sons, to at least try some veggies. I’ve gotten so frustrated, to the point where I didn’t know what else to do!

I’ve shed many tears of guilt and shame in private, because clearly, I must be doing something wrong, right? Wrong. I just want my kids to learn to eat the things that are good for them, that provide nutrition, and are wholesome and fresh.

This is easier said than done, of course, and sometimes, we need a little assistance at mealtime. That’s when I remind myself of the big picture and end-goal.

If you’ve followed this blog or MOMables for a while, you know that nearly all the foods we eat are made fresh at home. Sometimes we need an assist so I add one thing that helps my son try new veggies: Hidden Valley Ranch.

For me, it’s like having an ace up my sleeve. On occasion, when I introduce a new recipe or make something that isn’t his favorite, I will place a tablespoon or so of ranch on the side to assist with the whole process.

So why should you make these cheesy, crispy, and delicious green bean French fries? Because steamed green beans will soon get a little bland; especially in the summer, when they are so affordable and abundant.

Turning green beans into French fries is a win-win. Besides the fact that their cheesy crunch is hard to resist, they’ll be on your plate in 20 minutes or less!

You can shorten the prep time even more by having the green beans washed and cut in advance, or by using frozen (and thawed) green beans. Then, all you have to do is mix them with the seasoning, bake, and viola! You’ve got an easy side for dinner.

Remember that our job as parents is to offer our family nutritious foods, it’s their job to choose to eat them or not. And sometimes, when we need a little assistance, it’s ok to say yes, to the things that make the process easier.

For me, with my picky son, Hidden Valley Ranch dressings give me a little assistance in the kitchen when I am introducing something new or it’s not a favorite vegetable. For this recipe, the Roasted Garlic Ranch was the perfect flavor combination.

What’s your great assist at mealtime?

From now until 7/5/15 you can enter to win some fabulous prize packs by sharing your story of a product or person that helps with your Great Assist. Add #GreatAssist & #Sweeps for a chance to enter to win. For official rules, click here.

Parmesan Green Bean Fries

★★★★★

4.5 from 50 reviews

• Author: Laura Fuentes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x

Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1lb fresh green beans, washed, ends trimmed

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a small bowl, combine parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and salt.
3. Place green beans on lined pan, tightly grouped together but not laying on top of each other. Generously sprinkle seasoned parmesan on top of green beans.
4. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until the Parmesan has browned and the green beans are crispy.
5. Remove from oven and serve immediately.

Notes

You can use frozen green beans (about a 1lb bag). If so, thaw out green beans either on the counter or microwave and proceed with recipe.

From time to time, I work with awesome companies to develop recipes for this website.  Today’s post was brought to you by Hidden Valley Ranch. All opinions are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that encourage my creativity.