We all know about the struggles of getting kids to eat vegetables. Kids aren’t born with a built-in food aversion to vegetables.
There are many ways to get children to eat vegetables. But if it’s possible to start with one of the biggest obstacles—fear of new tastes and textures—you’re much more likely to keep them on a healthy eating track long term.
If I could give a parent just one piece of advice, it would be this: if you want your kids to eat their vegetables, don’t just tell them to do it. Instead, show them. It’s amazing how much difference it makes when you actually make them watch what you’re doing. “If you want to increase the quantity of vegetables in your toddler’s diet, make sure that you’re feeding him with foods that he sees you eat every day.” So how exactly do you go about doing this?
In this chapter, we’ll show you how to deal with the challenges of getting toddlers to eat vegetables. This is an especially important topic for new parents who have to find creative ways to get their kids to eat what they don’t want to eat.
Best vegetables for toddlers and young kids
So what is it about certain vegetables that are good for little ones? Well, for starters, it’s the variety. Young children can’t always decide between broccoli and peas, and they’re often at odds with spinach. A combination of different types of vegetables gives your child the opportunity to choose which vegetables he or she likes best. The same is true with other foods—a toddler will likely eat some things a little differently than his or her older brother or sister. With vegetables, however, there’s no wrong choice—just keep it simple.
Healthy vegetable recipes for toddlers and kids
1. Kids love steamed veggies and dip (with some cheese on the side).
2. Green beans are perfect for freezing or making into “chicken nuggets” (salsa, bread crumbs, & seasoning).
3. Veggies can be fun in the form of fries, pizza slices, or even macaroni.
4. Peas are easy to like when they’re in this recipe.
5. Broccoli rabe is delicious when roasted with olive oil and garlic.
Why Don’t Toddlers Like Vegetables?
When toddlers refuse to eat their vegetables, parents and caregivers are often quick to assume the worst: They’re picky, or they’ve turned their nose up at vegetables in the past. In fact, children’s aversion to veggies is usually a result of a lack of exposure to them, rather than a rejection of them as food. This doesn’t mean parents should just give up, though. In fact, a new study from the University of California, Davis, reveals some surprising insights on how to encourage kids to eat more vegetables.
The best way to help your child is to serve him or her plenty of nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. If your child doesn’t like vegetables, then you can make sure that she eats some by cutting them up and serving them in their favorite dishes. If this doesn’t work, then you can try mixing in a bit of mashed avocado. It has a creamy texture and tastes great with many vegetables. You can also get your child to eat vegetables if you cook them in a way that he or she likes. You can make them into pizzas, for example. Make sure you have your child’s favorite toppings on his or her pizza. If you use real cheese, then you should make sure that you also add some vegetables and whole-grain foods like pasta or rice to it. You can also make the pizza into a salad. Your child will love this new way of eating.
Why eating vegetables is important for children
Studies show that the more colorful a child’s diet, the better. And while many parents worry about making sure their kids are getting enough vegetables, they also worry about whether their kids’ diets are too rich in fats and sugars. But studies show that increasing the consumption of fruits and veggies actually decreases the likelihood that kids will develop obesity and diabetes later in life.
One of the reasons why fruit and veggies are so important is because they contain essential nutrients that our body needs. They are very important because they help our bodies to stay strong and healthy. A balanced diet with lots of fruits and veggies is essential for children’s growth. If your child eats a lot of junk food and sweets, he may have trouble sleeping and may grow into a big kid who is overweight.
Final Word
In conclusion, I believe that parents can play an important role in getting kids to eat healthier food by preparing it for them. That said, you don’t need to follow some crazy and complicated diet to do so. You can make simple changes like using smaller plates, smaller portion sizes, and keeping snacks out of the house. You can also use these same tactics when you are cooking for yourself too! For example, instead of putting all your veggies on one plate at dinner time, take two or three separate plates and put all of your veggies on one. By doing this, your child will have to choose which one he/she wants. The same principle works for lunchboxes. If you have a hard time getting your kids to eat veggies, why not try switching up lunchbox meals? Put fruit in their peanut butter sandwich, add a vegetable to their grilled cheese or veggie into their PB&J.