Getting young children to eat their vegetables has been a problem faced by parents for as long as anyone can remember. We all know that vegetables are healthy and children need to start their young lives off right by eating a balanced diet, but if they refuse to eat vegetables, what can you do about it?
Let’s look at some tips on getting little ones to eat vegetables, such as child-friendly vegetables and some cool ways to get your children eating, and enjoying nutritious food.
Let’s look at some tips on veggies. If your children flat out refuse to eat what’s served on their plate, then it’s time to think outside the box a little and get creative. One way you can get them to eat their vegetables is to get a little tricky by hiding vegetables in food.
For example, if your children love pastry items such as a meat pie, you could make your own pies, fill them with a little meat and cheese and make the dominant part of the internal mix out of broccoli, carrot, cauliflower or any of a number of other vegetables. They’ll still love the pie and get a vegetable fix in the process. This is just one example, but there are many ways you can technically “hide” veggies inside food they love. Any dish that is a favourite will work with this idea. Over time, you can start adding more and more veggies.
Another method you could try is to make vegetables fun in some way. Maybe you could have your children create designs out of vegetables before baking them in the oven, or cutting slices of potato into fun shapes before boiling or steaming them. If children are having fun and being creative, they’ll have more incentive to eat their creations.
Fruits and Vegetables for children
A good balance of vegetables is vital for their nutrition and growing bodies. Fruit can often be easier to get children to eat, because they love the sweet flavours. While not every child may like every single fruit imaginable, they’re bound to have at least one or two favourites, such as bananas or apples.
When it comes to vegetables for children, it’s more about knowing what vegetables children will eat. Many children seem to favour potatoes, perhaps because fries are made from potato. They need more than just starchy vegetables though, and one of the biggest challenges many parents face is getting children to eat anything green.
There are certain vitamins and minerals that are found in green vegetables – particularly green leafy vegetables such as spinach – that are not found in other veggies.
Although it may be a challenge, you’ll need to find creative ways to get your child to eat their greens. Things like peas can be easily blended in with their favourite dishes, as can small chunks of broccoli.
When you enrol your child or children at Inspired, part of the curriculum is teaching youngsters about nutrition and healthy eating. This includes encouraging them to eat their vegetables.
Did you know our Menu meets the Victorian Standards? Our menu caters and provides children with a nutritionally balanced diet.
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