If her alias is "Sneaky Chef," is she really getting away with anything?

Maybe not. But when you're a kid stuck in the hospital, you can ponder semantics -- or you can munch on yummy comfort food. And it's not hard to figure out the better option.

So the news that Missy Chase Lapine, aka Sneaky Chef and author of "The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals," has infiltrated kitchen operations at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian is a happy development for pediatric patients of all tastes and persuasions.

And since Sneaky Chef's comfort food recipes are designed to be surreptitiously veggie-enhanced and nutritious, the news is equally happy for parents and other grown-up types.

The Children's Hospital is the first in the United States to offer the Sneaky Chef's meals to its young patients, providing the healthy ingredients kids need in the foods they already love.

Lapine worked with the hospital's food service department and operations managers for six months to adapt her recipes, conducting extensive taste tests with patients and staff along the way. Current recipes include a versatile marinara sauce for pasta and an irresistible mac 'n' cheese -- both containing a "hidden" mix of sweet potatoes and carrots. Others will be added in the coming months.

"Our young patients appreciate access to the comforts of home, whether it's access to video games, e-mail or a delicious meal, while they receive top-quality medical care. The Sneaky Chef's ingenious and tasty recipes are sure to be enjoyed by our patients, while ensuring they get the nutrition they need," said Cynthia Sparer, executive director of the children's hospital.

"I'm absolutely delighted to bring my sneaky strategies to this prestigious hospital," said Lapine. "I commend Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital for being ahead of the curve in offering these innovative recipes, which give kids more nutrients in the form of their favorite foods, at a time when they most need and appreciate the comfort of the familiar."

Lapine also announced that she will donate a percentage of the profits from sales of her book to the Center for Best Practices in Childhood Obesity Prevention at the hospital. The center is one of three chosen by the New York State Department of Health to identify and implement effective ways to reduce the number of obese and overweight school-age children in the northern Manhattan community and statewide.

Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital is an affiliate of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.