Getting your kid to eat vegetables is a classic dinnertime challenge for many parents. You work for an hour in the kitchen, preparing a beautiful feast for your family, and at the end of it, you’re scraping a perfectly good pile of veggies off your child’s plate into the trash can. But with a few tips and tricks, you can turn your veggie hater into a veggie eater in no time. All it takes is a little bit of creativity and a good example!
Tip #1: It’s all about the options. Even if vegetables are an inevitability at your dinner table, at least give your child a choice between one veggie over another. Picky eating comes from unfamiliarity with new foods, so if your child is more familiar with broccoli than with green beans, show them both and let them choose. Their choices might surprise you.
Tip #2: Colors, shapes, and patterns are key players in the veggie eating game. Make a design on your child’s plate or give them all veggies in their favorite color. You can also give veggies funny names and introduce them to those with interesting shapes. Anything that distracts your child from the fact that it’s a veggie and makes the experience more friendly and enjoyable will help bring your child that much closer to being a veggie-lover.
Tip #3: Get your kid involved. Whether it means having your child help you steam some peas or simply allowing them the fun of dipping their veggies, let your kid do something more than just eating the veggies. Your child will grow more used to the idea of vegetables and become more willing to eat them, if they are physically interacting with them.
Tip #4: Be a role model and have a positive attitude toward food. Remember, your child shouldn’t be scared of eating veggies, just as they shouldn’t be scared of getting punished if they don’t. Adjust your attitude toward veggies to make your child realize they are missing out on all of the delicious flavors that veggies have to offer. Remember, the goal is to teach your child the value of a healthy balanced diet, and a child will often learn that from watching their parents.
