Vegetables are a staple in my household and my kids enjoy them. However I am aware that not all children are eating their veggies so I have listed some tips for you to try.
Veggies are a great natural source of vitamins. Our bodies need natural foods to help us build our immune system and stay healthy.
1. Start young. Give your baby pureed vegetables when they are old enough to eat solid foods. Most pediatricians usually recommend feeding him or her only one type of pureed vegetables at a time ( Stage 1) so that your child will be able to digest his/her food and you will be able to notice or document if he or she has an allergic reaction to one of the foods.
2. Eat vegetables around your child. Most children are natural copy-cats so they will do what they see you doing. Also, while eating your veggies emphasize how much you are enjoying them and offer some to your child to try with you.
3. Serve a variety, even ones you may not like. Let your child choose. Arrange the fruits and vegetables to show off their natural colors and textures. Children love creativity. Beets are not my favorite, but I made a tasty beet salad that my children enjoyed. That thought it was cool to have a purple vegetable and fresh beets taste better that processed ones. I chose a small beet to use, because I didn’t want to be over zealous and waste it if my family wasn’t interested, we probably won’t serve it often but it is refreshing once in a while.
4. Make it pretty. Decorate your child’s plate with the veggies you serve. The easiest is to make a simple happy face and let your child know that eating these foods make you happy.
5. Serve vegetables and fruits that are tasty and kid friendly. Cooked carrots, sweet potatoes, peas, and broccoli are my kids’ favorites. Don’t serve raw carrots and grades too early because they could be a choking hazard for babies.
6. Give them colorful options. Serve vegetables that are a variety of colors and use it as a teaching opportunity as well as a delicious lesson. Children like color and eating different colored vegetables will provide various vitamins to your child’s diet that they need to grow healthy and strong.
Here are several cute carving options that you can try:
7. Read a book that shows the characters eating vegetables. Most people will admit to trying something just because they saw someone else do it. Young children are know different, reading about vegetable because cool when you see others enjoying them too.
Try setting up a monthly challenge where you try a new natural food each day. Explore raw options and different juices. I like to tell my kids we are going on a food adventure. When read and try different foods from around the world.
Reader Response: Tell me some of your favorite natural foods.
