Got a few fussy eaters in your household? Don’t worry, every parent has to deal with a toddler that won’t eat their vegetables at some point in their life! However, when it comes to ensuring your children grow up strong and healthy, it’s imperative that they chow down a bit of kale and broccoli every now and then. But as we know, that’s easier said than done!
So what can you do here? How can you get your fussy eaters to happily eat the greens on their plate? After all, if you don’t instil good habits now, these fussy eating tendencies may continue on for years – let’s stop that possibility in its tracks! Here are some ideas that might just convince even the most stubborn of toddlers to try a carrot or two.
Get the Kids to Prepare Vegetables Themselves
If the kids prepare the meal themselves, they’re much more likely to eat the final product when it hits the table! After all, they’ve spent all this time and energy helping you to put the food together, and that’s something we all respond to, no matter what age we are.
So hand them the vegetable peeler, or hand them a slightly blunt knife (under your supervision), and get them to peel and cut potatoes, carrots, and parsnips. If they’re too young to handle any utensils, get them to wash the vegetables off before they watch you cut through them. If they’re a bundle of energy, you can get them to wield the potato masher from time to time too!
All in all, the more kids take part in cooking their meals, the more they’ll warm up to vegetables. It becomes part of their world, and that sense of normalcy is important to encourage at a young age.
Make Liberal Use of Dressings
We all know just how much a good dressing can take a normal salad to the next level. And because of the popularity of vinaigrettes, you can apply this same principle to the vegetables your kids need to eat.
There are a lot of dressings out there you can try out here, depending on the flavors and textures your children tend to respond to. For example, this green goddess dressing copycat recipe is a good one for kids who love a tasty yogurt snack every now and then.
Similarly, if your child loves the taste of fruits like apples and oranges, you can make a citrus base dressing super easy. Just get a jar out, squeeze some juice into it, and then add a few spoons of a healthy oil on top. Put a lid on top, then save yourself the elbow grease and get the kids to shake the jar for you!
Offer Veggie Snacks
Do your kids love a snack every now and then? Of course they do! But instead of allowing them to have a packet of trail mix or a grain bar or even a small bit of chocolate, offer out some veggie snacks instead. The more vegetables are framed as a treat, the more likely your kids will wolf them down without a problem when they’re put on a plate.
Carrot sticks in hummus is a popular snack choice here, but you can also provide fresh broccoli florets with a creamy dip, or put together a kebob of fruits and veggie pieces. The latter’s combination of sweet and savory tastes will help your child learn to love vegetables as part of their normal diet!
Disguise Vegetables in Other Food
And if all else fails, just cook some vegetables into other foods! When you’re putting together a vegan burger patty, don’t tell the kids how many veggies you’ve laced through it. When you’re making a pie for dinner, don’t let on that 4 or 5 different vegetables are inside the pastry. You can also think about layering vegetable slices through lasagnas and other pasta dishes.
All in all, if your child loves a certain meal, pack some vegetables into it without telling them. The more you sneak some veggies into their diet, the less you’ll worry about their eating habits, and they’ll be none the wiser but all the healthier for it!
If your kids are fussy eaters and hate the taste of vegetables, don’t start despairing about it. Change up your cooking practices, let the kids help out, make sure healthy snacks are available, and don’t be afraid to trick the kids into eating what’s actually good for them.