Sometimes I doubt my parenting skills. There are days I wonder how in the world I won’t miss these little people up and scare them for life. One decision I feel good about is instilling a love of vegetables in my children. After all, can you really go wrong with that one?
Vegetables are good for you packed with vitamins, minerals, and none of the junk in processed foods that make you so sick. Getting kids to eat them can be the hard part. The fact is kids don’t care about the health benefits of food.
Encouraging kids to love vegetables
Feeding kids vegetables can take a lot of time and patience. Taking your child shopping for whole foods with you is a great way to get them interested. The farmers market is packed with so many new and interesting vegetables that you are bound to find something worth a try.
Grow your own garden of veggies with your children. Gardening is a great homeschool activity. Kids learn so much about where their food comes from and the work involved. When kids grow their own food they have a sense of pride that makes eating a meal made from all of that hard work exciting.
If your child is still an infant you can really benefit from taking advantage of those first few foods. When starting your baby on their first foods introduce vegetables before fruits and grains. It may take time before your baby begins to accept the foods you are giving him. Just keep going and offering the same food until they take it.
Your baby will develop a taste for the foods you give them. By starting with vegetables before sweeter foods they will enjoy the subdued flavors of vegetables more. Avocado makes a great first food either as a portion of mashed baby food or sliced for baby lead weaning, packed with healthy fats for a growing brain.
When choosing baby food, it’s important to consider the source and quality of ingredients. Many parents opt for “organic baby food” to avoid exposure to pesticides, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and other potentially harmful chemicals.
Additionally, organic foods are often richer in nutrients and antioxidants, making them a great choice for your little one’s growing body. There are many great options available for organic baby food, including purees, finger foods, and snack options.
So, when it comes to feeding your baby, consider going organic for their health and well-being. Not only will you be giving them a nutritious start in life, but you’ll also be supporting sustainable agriculture practices and reducing your carbon footprint.
Toddlers can easily be trained to eat vegetables without them even realizing it. We call broccoli trees and spinach and salad veggies leaves like on trees to make them fun for the littles. This makes them seem cool and exciting.
This trick worked well on my oldest and before I knew it she was choosing green beans when her father came home from training with the Army and offered her ANYTHING in the store she wanted. To his dismay, she walked right past the Halloween candy. Sometimes the trick in life is to make something seem exciting.
Additionally, the plating and the texture of food can also make the food appear exciting and inviting for babies. Adding colors, cutting down shapes, and designing colorful vegetables and fruit can make the baby want to try eating them more willingly.
Sectioned plates and cute-shaped bowls are great go-to tableware for kids and especially picky babies. Toddler bamboo dinner sets can be a good choice as they stay put due to their suction base as well as making the healthy food look more enticing thanks to their cute animal shapes and colors.
Sometimes older children are not so willing to eat vegetables as younger ones. Older kids have often developed preferences for flavors and textures. For picky eaters like this, you can often encourage children to eat vegetables by leaving them raw and crunchy. Carrot sticks or chips are always a great option for a crunchy snack.
If all else fails don’t fear giving dips like ranch dressing or hummus a try to encourage your children to give vegetables a fighting chance. While it is not ideal to hide vegetables behind flavors it is better than having a child refuse them all together.
For cooked vegetables give fresh herbs and spices a try when cooking to boost the flavor and make them more exciting.
For cooked vegetables give fresh herbs and spices a try when cooking to boost the flavor and make them more exciting. Have your child help you cook and create new recipes using vegetables. This gives them a sense of control over what they are eating and pride in the new thing they learned to cook.
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