How To Get Kids Eat Veggies-10 Easy Tips

Vegetables are an essential part of the diet. However, it is usually observed that kids avoid veggies. So, how to get kids to eat veggies?

• If you are having difficulty getting kids to eat veggies, follow some excellent tips we will share.

This article covers some tips to give veggies to kids in different ways.  After following these tips, your kid may eat them happily.

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How To Get Toddlers Eat Vegetables

You are a mother of two kids. Your kids love fast food, fried chicken, and baked items.

You want them to eat vegetables, but your kids are not interested.

Making your kids eat veggies may be challenging for you. Some kids are not willing to eat a bite of raw or cooked veggies.

Vegetables are an essential source of nutrients that provide multiple health benefits.

• A kid must eat veggies early for proper growth and development.
• The mother should make a child eat veggies in different ways, but it must be a moderate action.

Tips to get kids eat veggies

We all know that vegetables are great for us and are enriched with useful vitamins. Why then do children so often reject them?

• Below is some advice for those who have trouble getting their kids to eat them.

| Banish the word ‘veggies’

• When getting your kids to have their veggies, never call them “vegetables;” instead, call them “greenies.”

This is because when you say “veggies,” it won’t appeal to them.

| Serve vegetables with something that is appealing 

• Combining vegetables with a delicious dip can make them more appealing to the taste buds of young children.

Children often love cheese, so grating cheese on vegetables can make a tasty side dish.

| Offer veggies like a fun

• Your kids like cartoons and try to follow them. You should include veggies like fun in your kid’s diet.

Offering them veggies in funny shapes with different dips is a great way to encourage kids to eat veggies.

• Take dips, hummus, or salad dressing with veggie cuts to make it fun for kids. The creative design of veggies will seek the attention of kids.

Offer carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower on one plate. It will look colorful to the child.

• Make it fun – give them a colorful, humorous vegetable character (like The Proud Tomato) and have them act out a story together.

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Sing a song or ask them to enjoy it, just like in different cartoons.
If your child is a picky eater you can also use other food art to create different animal or plant shapes.

| Make delicious veggie recipes

Kids do not like conventional vegetable recipes. There are unique and kid-friendly recipes available on the internet for kids.

Try using them to make kids eat veggies. Here are a few tips for creating delicious recipes:

• Add veggies like boiled carrots or spinach in milk, yogurt, and fruit.
• Add steamed or fried onions, and tomatoes to boiled rice or finger chips.
• Add cooked tomatoes, olives, leafy lettuce, or spinach to pizza or sandwiches.
• Cover vegetables with cheese or spreads.
• Make dips and add a small piece of boiled veggies to it.
• Involve cooking while preparing veggies.

Kids love watching cartoons that prepare delicious recipes. It would be best if you take advantage of the internet and television.

• Watch different innovative recipes and involve kids with you while preparing veggies.
• Kids will think they have made these dishes and enjoy eating their cooked food.

| Clap and praise when kids eat veggies

• If you praise your child when he tries a veggie or fruit, they will think it is a big task and try it again.

When he eats a piece of vegetable, clap for him. If they do not eat, don’t punish or scold them.

• Instead of this, eat vegetables in front of them and express that you are enjoying the taste. They will try it behind you.

Clap and appreciate when they try veggies. When you are in a gathering, praise your child for having a good habit of eating vegetables. It will let them eat again and again.

| Make snacks from vegetables

• Vegetables are one of the best ingredients to add to salad as an integral part. Don’t bring unhealthy snacks for kids; make snacks with vegetable cuts at home.

It will attract kids to eat. Also, when they are feeling hungry, offer them vegetable-based snacks.

• Carrot Sticks full of vitamin A,  and Cherry Tomatoes full of vitamin C can be given raw in a salad form.

If your child is a fussy eater, you can also make cutlets of different shapes by boiling them and offering them with tomato sauce.

| Plan dinner properly

• A good dinner can be casual and simple, but it should be well-balanced.

For a healthy diet, schedule a proper dinner plan for the entire week. Add raw, boiled, or cooked vegetables for two to three days.

• Involve your child while planning the dinner list and ask them to include veggies and innovative veggie recipes.

It will encourage them to eat dishes they have included in the list.

| Give vegetables that kids like

• Different kids have different attitudes toward vegetables. Some kids like a vegetable, while others do not.

Offer them what they like. Most kids like carrots, corn, peas, and sweet potatoes, so try to give them often.

• Pick them carefully. Choose a wide array of veggies that are easy to prepare and that have a pleasing color, shape, and size. Some examples include:

• Peeled carrot (easy to prepare, pretty color)
• Cooked broccoli (easy to prepare, fun to eat)
• Carrot cut into sticks (easy to prepare, pretty shape, bright color)
• Bell pepper (easy to prepare, beautiful color, soft texture)
• Onion, celery, and broccoli stalks (dried right out, easy to prepare, pretty color, fun with dip)
• Mashed potato and sweet potato (included in healthy food and easy to give shapes)

| Don’t force them to eat veggies

• Do not push them. Many parents force their children to eat their vegetables.

This is counterproductive. Children instinctively know when they are being pushed and will not like it.

• Your job is to encourage them to eat their vegetables.

A mother who tries to get her kid to eat veggies may become frustrated when he does not eat them.

• At that time, you may scold them and force them to eat them; that is wrong behavior. If you push them, they may eat at that time but will develop hate for this particular food.

If they push it away, stop giving and offer it later when they are happy.

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| Keep giving veggies

• Do not give up if your child avoids vegetables at one time. A child may develop a taste for it when he sees it frequently or as he grows up.

Some kids immediately try new food, while others have a terrible attitude toward new things.

• Hide them – chop them up very finely and mix them with pasta or rice. Or, use them in a soup or stew where they can’t be seen.

The best way to get your child to eat their vegetables is to hide them well.

• Use veggies to layer cheese quesadillas. Fold them into a tortilla, add cheese, and roll them into a burrito. Serve with salsa.

Make vegetable tacos. Layer veggies with cheese and other toppings in a tortilla.

• Blend veggies into a smoothie and serve with a straw.

Offering them vegetables continually and when they are happy may make them eat or try them.

| Make veggies taste sweet

• Some kids love sweet foods. Add a small amount of brown sugar to veggies like boiled carrots and offer them.

Peanut butter is sweet and has many health benefits. So, you can incorporate it while making vegetable sandwiches.

When you are giving beetroot juice, mix it with sugar cane juice and provide it to them. You can also mix peas in yogurt with sugar to make it taste for kids.

| Sneak in the veggies

• Sneaking in food is the best way to get the kids to eat their veggies.

Try preparing the food for your children in such a way that veggies are the primary (not the side) part of the meal.

For example, dice or mash the veggies and make them a part of the stew.

| Your child’s age

• A 3-year-old needs lots of different colors on their plates. Make their plate colorful by combining different colored veggies.
• A 2-year-old will be happy with one solid.
• A 6-year-old can use their fine motor skills to cut a few different shapes. So they like recognizing shapes. Make veggies cutlets of varied shapes.

My 3-year-old is still entertained by the social aspect of eating together, even if he is not hungry, or you can use their plates to serve the food and let them play at the table with their toys.

Bottom line

• Sometimes, it becomes challenging to get your child to eat fruits and vegetables. The cold drinks in the market have a much sweeter taste than fruits and vegetables.

Kids are more tempted towards ready-made foods, processed beverages, and snacks than raw fruits and vegetables.

• So, offer them veggies frequently or after following a few tips discussed earlier in this article.

You should experiment to see which of these methods works the best for you and your child. Once you have found the proper routine, stick with it.

• Also, keep a handful of vegetables at home. Always involve your kids in shopping while you are purchasing vegetables. It will seek attention and let them try it again and again.

Never lose hope. There are ways to get your kids to eat their veggies comfortably.

• Another approach is not bringing cold drinks and snacks to your home. When kids do not see them, they will try vegetables.

Everyone has their way of getting kids to eat vegetables. Find the best solution that works for you.

• Also, offer veggies when they are hungry and want something to eat. This article will help eliminate this problem, and your kid will start eating veggies.