Small Greens: Ways to Get Your Toddler to Eat Vegetables.
Getting your kids to eat vegetables can be tough. Some are readily enticed by it, while others may still need more discipline and convincing to consume their greens on the plate.
In addition to providing important nutrients for growth and development, introducing children to vegetables at an early age can help them become more well-rounded eaters in the future. If your children are reluctant to eat vegetables, try these tips to help them enjoy their greens:
1. Include It in Their Regular Meals
When you have a picky eater, it’s easy to get discouraged. You’ve bought their favourite fruits and vegetables and tried preparing them in different ways, but your toddler keeps turning them down. Try to not show disappointment when trying new food.
Start with small portions of new food for your toddler, especially if they’ve already refused the vegetable or fruit before. But don’t feed them only these foods. If all you serve is green vegetables in a smoothie or muffin, it may make them less likely to choose other vegetables.
Appearance may also help entice your toddler to try something new. Try chopping vegetables into coins or strips instead of long slices and serve them warm. If your toddler likes noodles and fries, cut the vegetables into these shapes.
Another thing you can do is put a vegetable on their plate but let your child eat it. If they don’t eat it, try again at another meal
2. Take Them Along with You When Shopping for Vegetables
Children are more likely to try new foods when they see them on their own plate or hear it is a new food that mommy and daddy enjoy. So bring them with you when you go shopping for fresh produce at the grocery store or visit a farmers market.
If they see you or their friends enjoy something, they will likely try it.
3. Serve It With Their Favourite Foods
Children usually like to eat what they eat. So if a child doesn’t like green beans, try offering them with other more popular fruits and vegetables, for instance, with a sauce made with pineapple, kiwi, mango, mandarin, or strawberries.
4. Give Them More Choices
The more choices your children are given, the more likely they are to choose something of their own.
Instead of saying, “eat your vegetables,” say, “you can choose two vegetables from our table.” Then let your child look at them, pick two, and eat them.
5. Serve It in Different Forms
If your child is refusing to eat vegetables, you can find ways to make vegetables more enjoyable. Try different cooking methods like steaming, stir-frying, grilling, frying, roasting, and boiling.
Sprinkle some cheese or sour cream on it or add a creamy sauce to make them creamy and delicious.
6. Go for Colourful Veggies
The more colours your children see on their plates, the more they will want to eat them. Some vegetables are more colourful than others. These include carrots, beets, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, broccoli, asparagus, red cabbage, tomatoes, and zucchini. Experiment with these vegetables to see which ones your child finds the most appetising.
Conclusion
Some children are naturally inclined to eat vegetables, but this is not always the case. Encouragement, discipline, and communication with your children can go a long way in getting them to eat their veggies.
Children tend to like vegetables that are more colourful and look more appealing. So, it’s a good idea to try cooking vegetables in different ways and serve them with other dishes your children enjoy.
If you are looking for a fresh business that offers vegetable deliveries in London, look no further than our services here at Covent Garden Fruit Co. We serve only the best and the freshest when it comes to fruits and vegetables. Check out our online store for more of our fresh veggies and their prices.
