How to Get Kids to Love Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are a powerful food, so why are so many kids opposed to eating them? Here's how to get your kids to love their fruits and veggies, and get more of them into your own diet as well!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• vegetables (all kinds)
• fruits (all kinds)

1. 
    
   You're never too young to learn about the benefits of fruits and veggies!

   Before you can lecture your kids about the importance of vegetables, take a look in the mirror. When you dish up your own plate, how much of it is vegetables? It's easy to point fingers, but kids learn from their examples (YOU) so you have to practice what you preach.

2. If you whine about eating foods you don't like, so will your children. On the same note, don't let vegetables be an option. Offer 2-3 different kinds at your meals so that your kids can choose which one (or both) they want, but choosing neither should never be allowed. Having a variety onhand ensures you are getting all kinds of nutrients you need.

3. 
    
   Fruit face

   Make it pretty. After school snacks, especially, are more appealing when you take a few extra seconds to arrange them on a small plate. Have fun and be creative- your kids will appreciate your effort, even if they don't verbalize it!

4. Have a vegetarian night. You don't have to announce it, just have it on the menu. If your kids are faced with vegetables or nothing, they'll choose full over hungry.

5. 
    
   Jessica Seinfeld's book Deceptively Delicious

   Be sneaky. Use vegetables in your cooking. Jessica Seinfeld (yes, Jerry's wife) wrote an EXCELLENT book about cooking with vegetable purees, titled Deceptively Delicious. Think: brownies with spinach and carrots? You can't even taste the vegetables!

Tips & Warnings

• Let your kids help prepare meals. Have them toss the salad, set the table, and pour milk if they're old enough.
• The family that eats together, eats better. When you take the time to prepare healthy meals with your family, you will crave junk less. See my "How to Plan Meals" article.

Resources

• Jessica Seinfeld gives good advice
• Drink more water to prevent overeating
• Food journals keep you honest

[marias23]

on 11/22/2009 Take a look at "The ABC's of Fruits & Vegetables and Beyond" for a book that will help get kids to have a friendly attitute towords these important foods. Teacher approved and used.

[marias23]

on 11/22/2009 Take a look at "The ABC's of Fruits & Vegetables and Beyond" for a book that will help get kids to have a friendly attitute towords these important foods. Teacher approved and used.

[Scarlett9284]

on 2/19/2009 Great advice, thanks for the great article! 5*

[BellaCasa]

on 2/19/2009 Great advice, I had not heard of Jessica's book before, either. 5*

[Smireles]

on 2/19/2009 Excellent advice. Lead by example! Really works. 5*