Get Your Kids to Eat Their Veggies

Trying to get kids to eat vegetables can be like a game of tug-of-war, one that the parent rarely wins. Marketing plays a huge role in persuading healthy or unhealthy food choices. With almost all advertising associated with less healthy choices, it’s no wonder that kids tend to prefer a colorful bowl of Trix cereal over a colorful plate of salad vegetables.

Thankfully, there are several tactics parents can use to get kids interested in trying new foods and excited to eat their vegetables. If you can relate to this common parenting struggle, consider these tips and strategies:

-Have kids take part in a coloring contest to design the next “Super-Veggie.”
-Allow kids to participate in the prepping and cooking process at mealtime.
-Offer kids two choices for the vegetable they would like to see in their lunch box or at the dinner table.
-Be a good role model and eat your vegetables too!
-Provide fruits and vegetables as snacks and during celebrations to create positive associations.
-Sneak veggies into dishes; consider trying fruit and vegetable blended smoothies, popsicles, muffins or quesadillas.
-Make a garden or set up small planters where kids can grow their own produce and herbs.
-When a child doesn’t like a vegetable, try cooking or incorporating it in a new way; you can even try presenting it with their favorite food (such as macaroni and cheese with broccoli).

Bottom Line: Encouraging kids to eat their vegetables can be difficult, but it’s not impossible. The key is to stick to your efforts, keep a positive attitude and continue to try different strategies. Above all, remember that eating should be a pleasant experience; aim to make trying new vegetables fun and positive.

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