Introduction
Is your child eating healthy? As parents, we want to do the best for our kids. Making sure your child gets nutrition is one of the most important things you can do for them. It’s not just about eating vegetables, either. You want to make sure that they eat a balanced diet full of calcium, protein, and zinc. But it can be challenging to get your child to eat vegetables. Children are naturally drawn towards sweets, salty snacks, or fatty meats—all things that don’t necessarily make for a happy and healthy food for kids and lifestyle as an adult. Well, don’t worry, we have got you covered! We have listed some tips to help you make eating vegetables less of a chore and more of a fun activity for your children.
Keep trying: If your child has not developed a taste for eating vegetables, don’t get discouraged. It can take up to 15 times before your little one might accept eating something new. So be patient!
10 practical ways for eating healthy vegetables in kids
1. CUT THE VEGETABLES INTO FUNNY LITTLE SHAPES
Want to make eating healthy vegetables a little more enticing? Trying cutting them up in exciting shapes and making funny faces out of broccoli, or making smiley carrot sticks can get your kids eating healthy without even knowing it!
2. GET YOUR KIDS TO HELP YOU PREPARE THE FOOD
Children love contributing to household chores. If your child helps you prepare the vegetables, they will be eating up more of them! They will feel more involved in the process and have a sense of accomplishment, making them eat more of it!
3. SERVE HEALTHY FOOD WITH A DIP
Dips like hummus or guacamole can get your kids eating broccoli and carrot sticks more quickly. Try making natural sweet dips by mixing fruit purée with yoghurt for your kids!
4. MAKE EATING HEALTHY A GAME
Giving your children an incentive to eat more vegetables can also be effective. Try getting the family involved in eating healthy by making eating competition games such as eating brussels sprouts within a fixed time, eating one type of vegetable first, and so on.
5. HIDE YOUR VEGETABLES IN OTHER FOODS
Children often struggle eating green vegetables by themselves, so you can try doing something like eating broccoli in your favourite pasta dish. Fruits are also a good way of getting vitamin C and fibre into kids’ meals without struggling too much!
6. SNEAK VEGETABLES INTO SOUPS OR CEREAL
If your healthy kid doesn’t love eating vegetables, but they love eating soup, then why not sneak them into soups? You can try eating spinach in your favourite tomato-based soup or eating broccoli in your next batch of homemade bread.
7. TRY EATING VEGETABLES RAW
Salty snacks are a non-vegetable food item that kids love eating, so it is imperative to start eating more raw vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, and broccoli. You can try eating a raw carrot or cucumber with their favourite dip. This way, they will not even know that they are eating vegetables!
8. TRY EATING VEGETABLES WITH A FAVOURITE SIDE DISH
If you are looking for another way to get your vegetarian kids to eat more raw vegetables, then try eating raw carrots or cucumbers with their favourite side dish. You can be creative and make an apple sundae by eating apples with vanilla ice cream and caramel syrup or even eating celery sticks as a snack while eating cheddar cheese or broccoli as a side dish for eating honey mustard chicken.
9. LET THEM CHOOSE THE VEGGIES WHEN OUT FOR GROCERIES
When going out for groceries, let your kids help you decide which veggies to buy. This will help them feel better about eating the veggies. They will also be more likely to eat them once they are cooked because it was their choice!
10. EAT TOGETHER AS A FAMILY
Eating healthy together as a family allows the kids to see how eating healthy is essential and not just something mom says. Being around the dinner table can also help children eat vegetables they might otherwise ignore!
Benefits of eating healthy veggies
1. VEGETABLES ARE FULL OF VITAMINS, MINERALS, AND FIBRE
Vegetables contain many nutritional components that keep you full longer. They also contain essential vitamins and minerals their bodies need to grow, such as iron and vitamin A.
2. VEGETABLES HAVE LOW CALORIES
Being able to fill up on vegetables is a great way to feel full with fewer calories. Remember, eating healthy requires eating a balanced diet, and eating low-calorie foods is one way to achieve that balance.
3. VEGETABLES ARE LOW IN FAT
Vegetables are naturally low in fat and high in fibre, making them an excellent choice for anyone looking to eat a healthy diet or follow a weight-loss diet.
4. VEGETABLES ARE VERSATILE
Many vegetables can be used in various ways (such as eating them raw or cooked), making eating healthy with vegetables easy and fun! There is no right or wrong way to enjoy eating veggies – you can do it anyway that tastes good!
Conclusion
The key to getting your kids to eat more vegetables is understanding how their brains work and what they need. With a bit of knowledge, you can better meet your child’s brain’s needs to get them to eat healthy foods that will set them up for success later on in life! If you want help figuring out how best to encourage good food choices at home or with your childcare providers, we’re here for you. Our team of experts is ready and waiting to partner with parents like yourself who want healthier children by providing solutions explicitly tailored around our clients’ individual goals and challenges. What do you think? Do these findings ring true for your family too? Let us know if there’s anything else we can do for you!!
Also Read:
How to Get Kids to Eat Vegetables and Healthy Foods
8 strategies right up your sleeves to encourage healthy eating in children
