Getting Children to eat vegetables?

Question

My son absolutely will not touch vegetables unless its french fries in a happy meal! I put them on his plate and tell him that if he at least will try it that he will get big and strong. He says "but no mommy, I will puke." I do give him multi vitamins every day, but I want my son to grow up healthy. Any advice?

Answer 1

Here's how I got my kids to eat them: Go to the store and buy a variety of raw veggies and veggie dip. (Don't forget the dip, kids love to dip). Cut up all the veggies and make a colorful tray out of it. Tell him to pick his favorite color and try one. Have fun with it. Make faces with the veggies and eat the eyes. (You basically have to act like a kid and play with your food LOL). Or, have some of his friends come over who do like veggies and then make the veggie tray for them all. Kids will usually try something they haven't tried if they see their friends eating it. I learned this with my son when he started kindergarten. My son started eating broccoli because he LOVES dinosaurs. I told him the broccoli was little green trees and he could eat the trees just like a dinosaur. The key is to make it fun for him. If you try to force it on him he is more likely not to eat them at all. Keep them available to him and eat them more often in front of him. His curiosity will eventually make him open up to the idea. Hope I've been helpful and good luck!

Answer 2

My son was much more likely to eat veggies that he helped grow and pick. If that is not an option, there are certain things that we consider fruit that really fall in the vegetable group, like various melons. Try finding the veggies that he will eat and keep giving him that multi-vit.
Also lots of veggies can be grated and put in sweet breads which most kids gobble up readily, or pureed and put in things like spaghetti sauce without him ever knowing it's there.
Make sure that at each meal there is some variety, and remember that kids tummies don't hold alot so go easy on the portion sizes. And avoid the "clean plate club" mentality.
In the long run, he'll probably outgrow it.Good luck!

Answer 3

All three of mine love veggies... just have to find the ones they like best. My son loves peas because he used to pick them in the garden with his grandmother... my other son eats all of them, but prefers raw carrots and brocolli. My 7 year old daughter loves steamed brocolli and yellow squash.

I think the key is to try the fresh ones and make sure they see you eat them too. Try taking him to the farmer's market or growing some your own in a garden. Maybe he will be more inclined to eat them if it's "fun." Explain that it is important to stay healthy by eating a variety of foods. Make a chart and see how many different kinds of veggies you can each "try" and put stars next to ones you like and silly faces next to ones you don't. Try them with a touch of butter, or a cheese sauce, or grilled on the BBQ... look up recipes online or in cookbooks and have him choose or help you make them.

Good luck. Don't stress. It'll work out.

Answer 4

I completely understand. My kids are the same way (age 2) . the research and answer I was given by my doctor is to continue to offer them but that as long as they like and eat fruit they are doing ok. They'll come around eventually.

What I do is give them fruit and a vegetable for dinner/lunch and they don't have to eat all of the veggie but they have to try one bite. That is it. They have to try the fruit too. They may not like it but sometimes it works and they'll mistakenly eat a little bit more.

My theory is that I will continue to cook for the family, they are welcome to have their own opinions about food but they have to try it every time. (even if they tried green beans on Tuesday, they have to try a bite again on Saturday) I think it creates a healthy attitude about trying new foods.

Good luck.

Answer 5

I have found a way to get my 1 1/2 year old son to eat carrots, I boil them in orange juice instead of water and add a teaspoon of brown sugar to make them a little sweet. As for the other veggies I put them in casseroles or mix them in with mashed potatoes.

Answer 6

My mom always put veggies in meatloaf for me, because I hated veggies and loved meatloaf. She used canned mixed veggies, but I am sure you could use anything from onions to greenbeans. A trick I use is to put Spinach in lasagna. Just a little. Mixed with riccota cheese. Also try mashing Cauliflower up with cheese, and calling it mashed potatoes. You have to boil the cauliflower for awhile, till its really mushy. Then add cheese, either Kraft or Velveeta, or if you want to get fancy pick a good melting cheese, like mozzerella. Goodluck!

Answer 7

My mom told me to eat my vegetable. I ate them.
Try giving him stuff like sweet corn or a baked potatoe. Find the vegetables that he likes and encourage him to eat new foods. Try not getting fries at fast food and try a healthy life style.

Answer 8

If he does not finish his dinner including his veggies say okay your full, go play then. An hour later he comes back mommy I'm hungry I want ice cream the answer is NO, you eat your dinner, look the kid isn't going to starve when he is hungry enough or wants that ice cream bad enough he will eat them, and learn to like them.

Answer 9

I put veggies in the food processor and add them to meatloaf, sauces, lasagna, bread, whatever. i love the look on their face when they say they love something, and i tell them it has some veggie in it. they usually keep on eating (you don't have to tell them ;-) Steamed carrots cut up in mac and cheese works. also, let them dip in pretty much whatever. the veggies far outweigh the fact that they may love dipping them in ketchup. maybe try some special way to prepare them, that smells different and yummy. baby carrots steamed then tossed in a little butter with some fresh dill is wonderful.. the possibilities for deception is infinite!!! :-)

Answer 10

I have the same problem with my daughter. She'd rather eat happy meal fries too. Her doctor said its pretty normal and its okay as long as you still try to get them to do it. AND as long as they get that vitamin daily!