Ingredient replacements

In the last couple of months, a lot of my mom friends have provided for me tips in getting my toddler to eat healthier since his favorite choices appear to be dry Cheerios and raisins (it could be worse!).

Here are some great ideas to sneak a few better-for-you ingredients into dishes for the whole family:

* Making rice crispy squares? Replace the main ingredient with brown rice.

* Add applesauce in place of vegetable oil when preparing brownies from the box. Want to throw in some unsuspecting antioxidants? Replace the water with a splash of iced fruit tea.

* Making homemade spaghetti sauce? Toss in a bit of pureed carrots, peas, green beans, whatever you have on hand (just not enough for anyone to be able to taste, or the secret might get out!).

What are some of the ingredient replacements you’ve found to sneak in more of the healthy stuff?