How to Feed Kids Fruits and Vegetables

Attempting to feed kids fruits and vegetables can often be a tug-of-war struggle, making mealtime a less-than-pleasant hour of gathering. What a kid is willing to eat one day may not hold true for the next, and parents may very well find themselves designated to the role of short-order cook. However, there are little tricks to help feed kids fruits and vegetables.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Know what your kid will eat. Keep a list of your kid's favorite fruits and vegetables tacked onto the refrigerator so you can be prepared to offer him at least one of his "will-eat" foods along with his "won't-eat" foods.
2. Jazz it up. Nothing elicits more moans and groans than a plateful of what a kid perceives as bland and boring healthy food. Try serving sliced fruits with a dollop of peanut butter or yogurt for dipping. Likewise, vegetables instantly become more appetizing when covered with a bit of melted cheese or salad dressing.
3. Disguise it. Pureed fruits and vegetable can be added to many foods without detection. Add zucchini and carrots to pasta sauce. Put apples and pears in muffins and pancakes.
4. Make it fun. If kids think they are getting a treat, they may be more inclined to eat fruits and vegetables. Give him something sweet, such as a banana milkshake or sweet potato fries.
5. Get kids involved. If your kid has helped to prepare his fruits and vegetables, he is more likely to eat them.
6. Make fruits and vegetables easily accessible. Instead of having a pantry full of chips and cookies, keep a container of cut up fruits and vegetables that your hungry kid can raid when he needs a snack.