How do I get a 3yr. old to eat vegetables without making him gag?

Question

I'm taking care of my little nephew for awhile and his mother raised him on fast food, and in our house we eat home cook food with lots of vegetables. Now he's either telling me he's full or he makes himself gag. I want to know how to get him to eat healthy without him really knowing it.

Answer 1

Start with vegetables that are not as strong tasting - carrots, lettuce, etc. Once he gets used to the idea, he'll eat more. Also, try pairing them with stuff he likes. I hated broccoli until my parents put cheese on it. You could also try celery and peanut butter or dressing. Mostly, just ease him into it.

Answer 2

You could also try giving him some fruit if he absolutely refuses the veggies. Fruit is at least healthier than fast food. Or you could do a bowl of fruit (for example orange or apple slices, bananas or strawberries or peaches) and throw some carrot slices or raw potato slices in as well. Most kids seem to love eating raw potatoes.

Fruit juice is also an option (100% fruit juice boxes actually count as a serving of fruit- you have to get the 100% juice though)

Answer 3

If you REALLY can't eat any fruits or veggies without gaging then you need to take a multivitamin every day. That's not nearly as good as eating the real stuff but it'll help. You need the nutrients found in both. Have you ever tried V8 Fusion? It tastes like fruit juice but has the vitamines of fruit and veggies. Just be careful of the sugar content. Also, ever try melted cheese over veggies? makes them taste like cheese. Also, if you like meatloaf, add chopped spinach and carrots to the mix. Still tastes like meatloaf but has more vitamines.

Answer 4

My children eat brussel sprouts, spinach, broccoli, asparagus... the list goes on. This is how we do it:

At dinner time give him/her everything BUT the vegetable. Everyone else at the table talk about how delicious the vegetable is. Don't speak directly to the child but to the rest of the vegetable eaters. Let the child see you all eat it and enjoy it until he can't stand it anymore. When you finally "give in" and give him/her the vegetable make sure to give them only a TINY amount so that they ask for more.

Answer 5

I agree with bethlee... use one of the measuring cups you get on top of some medicines and put some catsup in it or salad dressing or even some syrup and let him dip the vegetable in it. He'll think that's fun and tell him what a big boy he is and how "grown up" he is being by eating his vegetables that way. Make some sound like "mmmmmm, good" as he tries it.

Answer 6

You can make it fun for him, don't tell him they are veggies. Lay them out on the plate in the form of a face, then tell him to eat the nose, eyes, ears etc. until the face is gone. If you have broccoli tell him he's a forrest ranger and he has to clear the forrest of it's extra tree's. He'll love the play, and should eat what's infront of him. IF not, get tough and don't let him down until he's finished what you want him to eat, and let him know that that's the rules of your house, it will help establish those boundries for when he's older and visits.

Answer 7

Velveeta cheese is a miracle worker for toddlers to eat their vegetables, that's the only way mine will eat broccoli, just melt it into the vegetable.

Answer 8

does he eat mashed potatoe?
mash carrots in with it and use water from boiling vegetables to make gravy. make him a version of hash browns but mix in a few vegetables with the potatoe!
home made burgers with peas are great serve the burger in a bap with lettuce tomatoe and cucumber.

one thing my grandad did with my cousin (she wouldnt eat veg at all) was to make her dinner plate less appealing. bright colours are appealing etc and he would only put a mash and meat on her plate. after a short while she demanded having a plate like every body else with veg ! she did eat most of it. dont know it could work for you.

another sneeky way is to put them in smoothies etc.

i also have a rule in my house when kids visit. they must eat at least i portion of veg on the plate. i always serve it regardless and it always gets eaten. my cousin is 16 and always complains of the 'shrubbery' on his plate but he does eat some of it.

Answer 9

When he's hungry, he'll eat. If he refuses it, take it back and let him down. If he gags, do the same. When he gets hungry enough, he'll eat what is put in front of him. Dang fast food parents!!!

Answer 10

This might sound odd, but my son loves frozen veggies (still frozen). We call them "peasicles", "cornsicles" etc and he thinks they are awesome treats. It's worth a shot!

Hiding them works great as well - veggie lasagna, meatloaf, zucchini bread, spinach raviolis, veggie pot stickers are all ideas.

Don't stress it too much though or he'll just pick up on your anxiety and use it for control. Gummie vitamins are great while you just keep casually offering or hiding them til he comes around.

GL!