All you need is love – apparently – but when it comes to parenting, it helps to have an extreme amount of patience. Earlier this morning I found myself stuck in traffic with Chloe, listening to 'Cheddar Moon' on repeat. My lovely mother-in-law Lynne bought us an innocent-looking Rupert Bear CD and, thoroughly bored of 'Baa Baa Black Sheep', I embraced it wholeheartedly. However, by the time I had made it from Warwick to East Broadway at one-mile-an-hour, I was ready to drive into the harbour. In case you are interested, you can get through 'Cheddar Moon' 11 times in that timeframe.

In other domestic news, the same form of patient-parenting has been applied to potty training. The good news being that our little toddler is now in big girl knickers and very proud of herself. The bad news being that we did have a few 'incidents'. It never fails to amaze me how overwhelming and all-consuming the love for your child is. Last week I was peed on twice and caught a poop mid-flight between Chloe and the carpet. Do I love her less for it? Absolutely not. Every single day that goes by I love her more. However I am aware that if she sees this column when she's older she will disown me, so can we all agree to burn after reading?

Fortunately, patient-parenting is a frequent topic of conversation amongst my friends. How reassuring to know that everyone is in the same boat and that we all face the same challenges. It's unbelievably hard not to lose your cool with your kids, but one of the best tips I ever received was that it's our job to show our kids that it's possible to control your emotion. After all, if we lose it regularly, so will they. However, despite the frustrations involved with 'Cheddar Moon' on repeat or near-miss potty experiences, there's no doubt that the most common challenges we face revolve around food. Most of us have the innate urge to feed our children healthy, nourishing food, but it's never as simple as popping it on a plate is it?

Whilst Chloe has been a God-send when it comes to healthy eating, rejecting cookies for broccoli on a regular basis, there have been times when she simply has not wanted to eat much. There's nothing more frustrating than trying to choo choo in another mouthful of homemade cottage pie, only to be met with firmly clamped lips. Other parents face the challenge of trying to get their children to eat vegetables – and I understand this one too… although funnily enough, more in respect to the man in my life.

Whilst the lovely husband does eat veggies, there are some that he says he hates. Fortunately, as I am almost as obsessed with his nutrition as Chloe's, I have managed to apply the "deceptively delicious" principle without fail.

'Deceptively Delicious' is a book by Jessica Seinfeld, that highlights the art of hiding vegetables. Whilst the underhand approach can be criticised for perpetuating the problem, it's a really useful back-up strategy as you decide how best to deal with the problem. Most importantly, it prevents parents self-combusting through the frustration of trying to feed their child peas.

So far, my biggest successes have been hiding pureed spinach in bolognaise and cauliflower in mashed potatoes. Get the book if you need guidance, but the principle is really very easy. Make some batches of vegetable/bean purees, freeze them in ice cube or baby-food trays, and then use them within normal dishes. I wouldn't exactly promote Mac 'n' Cheese, but if it's a staple in your house, it's very easy to hide pureed butternut squash or pumpkin in the cheese sauce.

If you'd like to start really simply, then try hiding veggies in mashed potatoes. Everyone loves mash, so if your kids are reluctant vegetable eaters, try out the tips below. Note that you can either incorporate pre-made purees into mash, or simply cook the veggies at the same time as the potatoes. Always steam your veggies rather than boil them though as this protects the nutrient content.

Cauliflower: Like broccoli, cauliflower is a member of the cruciferous family – vegetables that are known to help prevent certain types of cancer. It's also a good source of vitamin C, important for helping to ward off colds and flu at this time of year. Either stir puree into mash, or simply mash well-steamed cauliflower into the potatoes. If the consistency is lumpy, use a handheld blender to transform the mash into whipped potatoes. As you get more confident you will be able to raise the ratio of cauliflower in the dish – I use half and half.

Zucchini or summer squash: These are rich in vitamin C and an antioxidant called lutein that is important for eye-health. Once pureed, the pigment of the skin is diluted and is easy to hide within the potatoes. Note that you will need to puree these before adding as the skins won't mash well.

Pumpkin, carrot or butternut squash: Ok, you won't be able to hide the colour of these, but just describe these to your kids as 'orange potatoes', rather than mentioning a suspicious vegetable. All these are rich in beta-carotene which is good for the eyes, and potassium, which is good for the heart. Simply stir in puree, or mash freshly cooked veggies together. If you are cooking the vegetables freshly, then use a separate pan to cook the potatoes. They cook at different speeds and it's easier to blend the two together if each is perfectly cooked. Remember the handheld blender trick if you get a lumpy result.

Spinach: Another dead give-away but kids like gimmicky things so green mashed potatoes may go down well. If you have little kids, you can try calling this 'monster mash' and see if it becomes appealing that way. Spinach is rich in folic acid and iron – providing energy for blood cells and muscle growth. You could describe this as 'muscle mash' to boys who are interested in pumping up!

The advice given in this article is not intended to replace medical advice, but to complement it. Always consult your GP if you have any health concerns. Catherine Burns BA Hons, Dip ION is a fully qualified Nutritional Therapist trained by the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in the UK. Please note that she is not a Registered Dietitian. Contact her at nourishbda@gmail.com.