Is it okay if my baby won't eat vegetables?

Question

My 9 month old is very healthy and I provide him with lots of food options....he WILL NOT eat vegetables. He'll eat more fruit than the average adult, and he's on a vitamin, but I'm so worried about him not eating his veggies. Is this okay???? (I can't really force him!!)

Answer 1

my 6 month old refuses fruits! and only eats veggies. Babies are all different. They don't even need solids till after a year. If there breastfed or on formula so, your baby will be fine. your definatley keeping him regular i'm sure!

Answer 2

Yes and no. It doesn't really matter what he eats not because eating is just for the fun and social interaction. His nutrition comes from nursing until he is a year old.

On the other hand, he is now learning to like foods, and disliking vegetables is *not* in his best interest in the long run. So...while it isn't a problem per se right now, it could be laying down the foundation for a problem.

What kinds of vegetables are you offering him? If they are overcooked or mushy, they really have no taste. Try giving him a baked sweet potato. If he likes fruit, he'll probably like it because it's sweet. Grate a spoonful of carrot for him. Again, it's a little sweet so he may be more willing to taste it.

But try other vegetables, too. Lightly steamed broccoli is crunchy and also tastes good, plus it's a beautiful bright green color.

Let him see *you* enjoying vegetables. That will encourage him to taste them, too. (If nothing else, when he's at least 18 months old, just *forbid* him from eating any of your broccoli--that will usually get him interested in eating it!!)

Answer 3

Your baby will be fine, don't worry. Most babies won't eat veggies. In my experience as the mother of five, I found that my kids ate what they wanted, basically.

Your child loves the fruit, so when you give him something that does not even remotely taste like what he likes, he is going to reject it. And no, you can't force him to eat the veggies. Hint: Have you tasted the veggies that they put in baby food jars??? It is awful. It lacks any taste at all. I would suggest that seeing that your baby is 9 mo. old, try feeding him mashed potatoes, he will like that. Also, if you are dead set on the veggie thing, make your own in a blender from fresh veggies. Add a small amount of seasonings to them, remember I said small, lol.

Don't be scared to try different things, my son was eating spaghetti at 10mo. SO don't worry too much about giving your son plain ole veggies.

Also, if you give him vitamins, you should really have no worries about the amount of veggies he eats.

Answer 4

Kids do this from time to time. If your feeding them vitamins I would not worry. Yet I would encourage vegetables. Try sweet veggies...since he likes sweet things...like a butternut squash cooked with butter and brown sugar....or some yellow crooked neck squash. Sometimes you can get sweet corn buttered down a picky kids tummy. Sometimes they will eat what they see Daddy eat or Mommy eat if they really look up to them. We got our little one to eat veggies once they saw poppy the sailor man ect. At nine months I wouldn't worry, just feed the vitamins and try the sweeter veggies. Your doing good by giving him everything he needs. Later he will come out of the pickyness and eat more veggies.

Answer 5

Keep offering a variety of veggies. I make the majority of my daughters food and found that she prefers the veggies that I make over the baby jarred veggies. I microwave frozen peas, green beans,sweet potato, etc. with some water then put it through the food processor. If that doesn't work you can always try a little bit of cheese (mild cheddar) mixed in. I put grated cheese through the food processor with the veggie. You could also try mixing apples with sweet potato or something like that. Sounds gross to us but babies don't mind mixtures like that.

Also remember that baby's taste buds are constantly changing and it can take up to 15 trys for them to like something. So, keep trying. You are right, you can't force him to eat it.
Good luck!

Answer 6

Be careful of the fruits. They can cause diarrhea in babies and should only be used sparingly. My pediatrician only recommends them blended with cereal or if the baby is constipated.

A baby really gets all the nutrients he needs from breastmilk or formula. The only reason we start then on solid foods is really just a learning curve to get them ready for weaning around 12 months. I have known people who breastfed exclusively for 12 months, no baby food and had wonderfully healthy children. So I wouldn't worry too much. Take your time with it and offer it to him slowly.

Answer 7

Well no its not really ok. Children need a balanced diet. Mix his veggies in with his fruits. Different things have different vitamins and minerals. That is why you have to offer a variety of foods.

Answer 8

My pediatrician told me to worry about what he was eating in a week, not in a day. That relieved a great deal of stress in my life. Try Veggie Booty. It's like Pirates Booty, but it's made with Veggies and my little one ate that. It's better than nothing until he gets to the age where you can bribe him. Also, if he eats pasta with red sauce, try grinding carrots up in the sauce.

Answer 9

Keep OFFERING them...that's your job as the parent. Then he gets to decide what he will eat. Don't try to force him as that can cause issues. Sometimes kids will finally eat something if it is offered enough. Sometimes you can also "hide" vegetables in other foods.

Answer 10

I think he's probably okay. My son has an aversion to fruit right now, he's 8 months. Try mixing it with either cereal or fruit. Or just try and give him veggies every few days ..he may decide he likes them later.