There’s no doubt it can be challenging to encourage youth to eat healthy vegetables, so the Pennsylvania Vegetable Marketing and Research Program tapped into the “kid brain” and came up with ideas to help get kids on the veggie bandwagon.

Check the brand-new PAVeggies.org for more detail and recipes.

1. Veggie chips

These tasty treats are popping up in grocery stores everywhere, but savvy parents can save time and money by making them at home — no fryer needed. Try kale, collard greens and thinly sliced root vegetables, simply dressed with seasonings and citrus or a creamy dressing, and baked in the oven until crispy.

2. Pureed veggies

Be a sneaky mama, and slip pureed, nutrient-rich vegetables such as zucchini, cauliflower or sweet potatoes into dishes and sauces like mac and cheese, tomato sauce, lasagna and mashed potatoes. It’s as simple as pureeing raw or cooked veggies with a little water or vegetable broth and adding them to the dish. They boost flavor, too.

3. Glazed veggies

Appeal to kids of all ages’ sweet tooth with a light glaze. Choose carrots, pearl onions, beets, turnips, parsnips or celery root to start; a glaze can be as easy as butter and sugar. Try pure maple syrup as a less processed sweetener.

4. Multicolored veggies

Sometimes it’s fine to play with food! Start with a rainbow of veggies such as purple carrots, multicolored tomatoes and bright yellow cauliflower. Challenge the kids to taste test, and help them have a contest to see which tastes best. Including differently colored vegetables in meals ensures that the family diet is rich in vitamins and other nutrients.