how can i get my son to try different kinds of foods?

Question

my son wont eat vegatables or salads if he doent like the look of something he wont eat it

Answer 1

When my son was small he would not eat any veg at all , well he hardly ate at all to tell the truth , he was a worry as I thought he would die as his meal was the size of a biscuit , when he reached 10 or 11 he suddenly asked me for more one day , I went into shock!!! I took some food of my plate gave it to him he polished it off and more , now he is 27 he eats everything except peas , so let him eat what he likes within reason , don't force him to eat what he genuinly does not like , as he may end up hating you for it , as they DO remember things like that vividly as they get older, good luck and don't worry he will be fine.

Answer 2

I believe that this problem goes back to the days of cavemen. It's a survival thing. A child's taste buds are very much more sensitive than an adults. Back in the day, if something tasted bad then it might be poisonous. A child's instinct is to eat foods that are sweet and pleasant to look at. My daughter (at age 13) eats Broccoli with butter (florets only, no stems) almost every night and maybe corn (off the Cob) every once in a while. Why? I have no idea but it is the one vegetable that she really likes. My son was the same way growing up ...Just a limited number of foods that he would eat until he got in his late teens. Especially, after going through two weeks of survival training in the Air Force. Now anything goes!

What has seemed to work is to compromise and tell them to just try it and fine, if they don't like it then they don't have to finish it. But they will have to try it again the next time that it is served. They will commit to trying it again at another time for the option of spitting it out this time... Eventually, they will get used to the taste.

Hope that this helps!

Answer 3

the best way to solve this is simple

'this is dinner, you either eat it or dont'

implement this rule strictly - if they dont like whats on the plate, they will have to sleep hungry and next day they will realise their mistake. it sounds cruel but a good way to learn for kids that they dont have a choice there.

if you want to encourage him to eat more salads and fruits etc, my advise would be to involve him in shopping - take him to the supermarket with you and make him 'incharge' for buying the fruits and vegs

get him to pick up the bright red peppers and the lovely fresh carrots and when at home tell him 'look thats the nice carrots you picked' if he feels more involved, he may give it a try

growing your own vegetables and getting kids to do the planting is also a great way to get them eating the veg, they will feel a sense of pride in eating the vegs grown by them !

make charts with different fruits and veg with a small summary of what that particular fruit is rich in

eg eggplants - great source of iron - makes your blood strong
(something like that which is informative and fun)

another important point is - if you dont have salads and vegetables in your plate, dont expect the kids to eat that, they only do as they see !!

good luck

Answer 4

You have to make eating vegetables seem cool. Point out lifestyle heros who eat veggies also explain about healthy teeth skin hair etc and the need for vegetables then find ways of providing them within soup, salad dishes to go with meals etc it should be fairly easy as despite what most people actually think, ytheir diet consists of vegetable or soya extract rather more than they realise.

Answer 5

Here's a few ideas which my mum successfully brought up six children with...

Try arranging the vegetables in to pictures on his plate; smiley faces, monsters, animals etc.

Take him to greengrocers once a week and let him choose any fruit or vegetable to try.

Get him to help prepare food. Obviously stay well clear of him using knives but perhaps get him to wash potatoes or salad.

Get him involved in choosing which vegetables go best with other foods. Also give him the decision every now and again on how vegetables are cut (sliced length/width ways or in thin/thick slices)or cooked (mashed, roasted, steamed etc).

Answer 6

Try first of all to disguise them, I had this problem with my son and I minced the veg into a lasagne once his taste buds got used to them he began to accept them more, another way is make the food fun take time to cut them into shapes. Failing all that bribe him, eat this and you will get this, once he realised that things dont taste that bad, he will start trying new things. If that all fails don't worry to much, they will in time eat new stuff as they get older. Friends kids can sometimes help if they eat what your son won't peer pressure can work wonders. Monkey see monkey do

Answer 7

You don't mention how old your son is? it is difficult to suggest what to do with out an age group. Toddlers could play a game of guess the food, blind fold the child and tell them to put the piece of food in their mouth then tell you what it is, obviously include crisps etc just so they dont think that all they are going to get is vegetables. Slightly older children love food that looks like something, I.E. hedghog's mash potatoes with carrot batons, cucumber batons etc spiked all over, peas for eyes and cabbage for grass....

Answer 8

THIS SHOULD WORK!

Take your cooked vegetables, Cabbage, Carrots, Peas, Swede etc. Mash them as you would if you were going to make bubble and squeak, add salt and pepper, herbs, garlic or whatever you want to taste. Make them into burger (patty) shapes and dip in bread crumbs. Leave them in the fridge to cool and the will cook better when you come to reheat them.

When you want to serve them either grill them, oven bake them for 20 mins or heat them in a dry frying pan and they will go nice and crispy on the outside.

They will keep in the fridge for a couple of days so you have a supply of veg for him when you need it. They will also freeze if you put a piece of grease proof paper in between them to stop them sticking to each other. Make sure you wrap them well so they don't get freezer burn

Good luck! Sorry no suggestion for salads though.

Answer 9

Well, speaking as a former child myself, you couldn't get me to eat anything I didn't want to. I grew into some of it (like salad I love salads now) other stuff (like carrots, brussel sprouts and other vulgarities) I have never and will never like.

Now speaking as a parent, i really can't help you. My son is one of those oddly freakish people who doesn't like chocolate or most candy. He would rather snack on broccoli than anything. I'm happy for him cause he's going to be far healthier than I ever was, but sheesh, not liking chocolate???

Answer 10

As long as he's getting a balanced diet one way or another, don't worry. But keep serving up tasty dishes made with or including vegetables, which you and your partner tuck into with genuine enthusiasm, and encouraging him to try a little bit. Apart from mashed potato and baked beans, sweetcorn is often acceptable (also baby corn), and, of the "proper vegetables", broad beans and peas are often OK.