How to Get Your Child to Eat Fruits and Veggies

"I will shove this down your throat if you don't give it a try, Grace Abigail", was a non-convincing threat from my sister to her extra picky four year old. I have come to the realization that incorporating fruits and vegetables to your child's diet can be annoyingly challenging. Developing healthy eating habits in your child's life by getting them to eat more fruits and vegetables takes creativity and a change in eating habits from the entire family.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Start by making a change in eating habits in your life. Set the example for your child. The fruits and veggies will be more appealing to your child if he/she sees you eat them too. Make sure the fruits and veggies are easily accessible to your child.

2. When preparing snacks and meals for your child, include them in the meal preparation. A child is more likely to taste what he helped prepare. Make sure you make meal preparation a fun activity for both of you.

3. Kids enjoy dipping their food in sauces. Try making healthy dips like guacamole dip, yogurt dip or melted cheese along with veggies he can dip like apples or carrots.

4. Make fruit smoothies for your child instead of giving him juice or milk every snack time. You can add yogurt to the fruit smoothie to make it a yummy shake.

5. Soups are excellent way to throw in vegetables in the mix and allow your child to enjoy them.

6. If all else fails, hide it in their food. Like Jessica Seinfeld in her clever book, Deceptively Delicious, gives great suggestions on doing this, you can creatively hide the veggies in their favorite foods.

Resources

• Deceptively Delicious

[writinghigh]

on 8/31/2009 I used to hide veggies in my kids' meals. I'd make hamburger meat by grating in an Italian squash, onions, and carrots. They were never the wiser.

[jrofosho1]

on 7/26/2009 none yet but will definitely use the advise 5 *

[karileighk]

on 7/16/2009 Yum, I want a fruit smoothie! Lol

[tracysmith159]

on 7/16/2009 I drew a line on the wall showing the kids how tall they would have to be to ride a ride at sea world. We are plaining to go in the spring. Now the kids will eat the fruits and veggie just because they are trying to get taller. A little mean, but I'm sure they will make it regardless.

[sunnylyon]

on 7/16/2009 Great article! I know tons of kids who refuse eating their veggies.5*