Tips to Get Kids Eating Vegetables

Ever have those moments when you're convinced that your child will never eat a vegetable for you again? I know a couple of my friends are having difficulties with their toddlers, so I wanted to check out some options for them, and you too! It’s hard to remember back that far, but I can almost guarantee that we all went through the, “but it’s yucky” phase. Here are a couple of great tips that I've found or that my friends and family members have given me!

-First is the old standby – Just hide them! Parents have been using this trick for generations to get their children to eat vegetables. I even have clear memories of my neighbor promising bodily harm if I told her kids how many veggies she snuck into their meatloaf! When all else fails, a veggie puree can be added to just about any recipe. Chopped up veggies can make their way into ground meats, and some of their favorite meals can handle some awesome healthy substitutions!

-Another great idea that a friend told me is to make sure to get them at their hungriest! Set out a tray of “appetizers” for them when they’re starving for dinner or just get in from school. Veggies and dip or hummus seem to disappear a lot more quickly that way!

-How about the “one bite” rule? Once implemented, this is an agreement in your house that everything must be tried (just one bite) before it can be turned down. This will work especially well with new foods. Once the one bite rule is a habit, they may even forget that they had the ability to veto the food at all!

-Turn everything into a yummy smoothie! If you have a house full of smoothie fans, don’t hesitate to try different combos for their breakfast or snack time smoothies! Spinach, kale, carrots, and even broccoli blend in really well with fruits and yogurt to make a delicious and nutritious smoothie!

-Let your little ones help you pick out the fruit and vegetables for the week. Sometimes it’s as simple as them having and making the choices when it comes to food to inspire them to try something new. Maybe it’s the bright colors or sweet scents: whatever it takes to create interest.