Does Your Child Hate Vegetables? 10 Ways To Make Your Kids Eat Vegetables
Many children seem to hate eating vegetables. How can you make them eat vegetables? This list will give you some tips on how to make your children eat more vegetables.
Roast with Seasoning
One person shared that roasting vegetables make them more palatable: “Roast! Broccoli, asparagus, Brussel sprouts are amazing with olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper.”
Chop them up and add them in lasagna
Another shared that they chop up the vegetables and add them in lasagna. Once cooked, it’s like they were never there at all.
Try preparing them in different ways
Variety is key. One parent says their son eats vegetables because they prepare them in a variety of ways. “I prepare veggies in a variety of ways and don’t force. I will sometimes ask him to try one piece but don’t force past that.”
Start giving them a variety of vegetables at 6 months old
Starting of your child with vegetables at a young age makes them more accustomed to eating vegetables as they grow older. One comment said, “You start when they are 6 months old and and constantly give them vegetables multiple times a day.”
Tell them it will make them fart more
One person who was not a parent shared their own advice as someone who used to work at a daycare. “Not a parent, but I used to convince the more juvenile kids at the daycare by telling them broccoli will make them fart more.”
This will work on older children who find farts funny!
Don’t just boil and mash the vegetables
One user shared, “Don’t be like my mom and boil down every vegetable until the consistency of mush. Boiled down, unsalted brussel sprouts tasted like crap. “Just find good recipes to make it tasty.”
They added, “maybe ask your kids what about it they don’t like – is it the taste, is it the consistency? Is it the way it looks? If you don’t know why they don’t like it, then you won’t know what to fix. But sometimes kids just don’t like it “just because” so at least you’ll know what you’re working with here.”
Involve your child in the process
“Involve them in cooking, even going so far as to grow the vegetables yourself,” one user shared. “Kids get really interested in how fruits and vegetables are made and feel a sense of ownership when they help grow the veggies. Also, provide the veg in a variety of ways. Freshly cut and raw, sautéed, baked, fried, etc. Incorporate them in different dishes. Also, pique a small child’s interest by eating it yourself and then asking if they want some of yours. Kids always want your food over their own.”
Unpopular advice: Don’t give them anything else
The same user above said, “and, while this may be unappealing to some, dont get them something else. If you serve sautéed green beans for dinner, then they can eat them or not. But if not, they don’t get something else. I’m not a short order cook.”
Wait until they are very hungry
Another unpopular advice is to wait until your child is very hungry before feeding them. “Wait until they are really hungry. Serve courses. Veggies first when that’s done second course is the thing they like.”
Blend them in other foods
Another mom said blending the veggies in other foods helps make her kids eat vegetables. “Use an immersion blender when making sauce or chili. I would add roasted eggplant and spinach to Spaghetti sauce.”
She also uses onions, garlic, carrots, tomatoes, jalapeño peppers, diced green chiles when making chili. “I blend the mixture with cooked meat (whichever you prefer: ground beef, ground Turkey, ground pork, ground chicken) until the mixture is somewhat smooth,” she shared. “Then I add beans. I added spinach to everything from meatballs, soup, and meatloaf.
The same user aslo said she would make chowders with a variety of vegetable such as potatoes, corn, carrots, celery, onions, garlic, leeks, and bok choy.
Are there other tricks you use to make your child eat vegetables besides the ones shared in this Reddit thread? Share them in the comments!
