Encourage Kids to Eat Vegetables

Guess what? My kids eat vegetables! Am I proud? You bet I am!

Many parents might be having a hard time teaching their kids to eat vegetables. My kids did not start out at once to be voracious vegetable munchers. Actually, until now, they have their moods and antics as to eating veggies. But luckily, most of the time, they eat ‘em and do appear to enjoy ‘em too!

I have read so many articles about teaching your kids to eat vegetables. But the tips I read actually did not work for my kids.

Now I am going to let you in on the things I did, with lots of help from my husband, helper and mother, to encourage them to eat vegetables.

1. Breastfeed!

I am glad to have breastfed my kids. You see, I love eating vegetables. So during the time that I was breastfeeding my baby, my baby already has tasted vegetables since the taste what you eat usually get into your breastmilk. The taste of vegetables, then, is not totally alien to them by the time they get to finally taste actual vegetables. Above it all, don't forget the folic acid, nutrients and immunization you will give your child. It's also free!

2. Show them you eat vegetables too!

In business, it's management or leadership by example. Wouldn't it be easier to encourage your kids to eat veggies if they actually see you eating them? Also, if you don't eat vegetables, then the probability that vegetables will be served in your dining table might be slim.

3. Keep them away from candies and unhealthy snacks.

Kids lose appetite when they eat candies and empty calorie-laden snacks like salty chips or crackers. It also gets their tastebuds addicted to extremely sweet or salty food. Vegetables are tasty but are not sweet nor salty so kids would veer away from them.

4. Don't scold them if they don't eat vegetables

In frustration, some parents might succumb to punishing their kids if they don't eat vegetables thinking that, by doing so, they are encouraging their kids to eat vegetables. On the other hand, kids would ‘fear' vegetables since they get punished because of them. It would also encourage kids to be creative in thinking of ways just so they would not eat vegetables.

Lastly, be patient. My efforts started at birth so don't be discouraged. Kids do have their own minds. So if I were you, keep serving and eating those vegetables!