How do you get toddlers to eat vegetables?

Question

And why do most toddlers not like vegetables? Why aren't we born with an instinct to like the taste of things that are good for us?

I love eating vegetables and I eat a very healthy diet.

When she was a baby she would eat veggie purees no problems and she eats veggies mixed in with her dinner e.g spaghetti bolognese, curry, stirfry but She doesn't eat them if they are a seperate thing like if we had a roast and there were carrots and cabbage on the side she wouldnt touch them.

Answer 1

Everyone has really good answers, I just thought I'd tell you what I do to get my toddler to eat veggies:
-She does not get anything sugary (she loves Tylenol because it's the closest she gets to candy!) This makes things alot easier when giving her vegetables.
-We offer the vegetables first (meat/potatoes/so on second, fruit is always like a dessert). Since vegetables are the least favorite, she sees that is all that's on her plate and she eats them. Then we give her what she likes more afterwards. Otherwise, she'd never touch her veggies.
-If she will not eatthe veggies given, we take mashed potatoes and mash her veggies. Mix together, and voila! She barely notices she's eating her share of veggies.
-We also try brightly colored veggies (Butternut squash cut up like a cantaloupe, Baby Carrots, Corn, Bell Peppers...)

This is just what we do at our house, hope it helps a little!

Answer 2

Yeah, my 2 year old is a bit of a pain when it comes to vegetables. She will eat most fruits, loves raw mushrooms but won't touch them cooked!! I have found a certain amount of success with juicing a few vegetables like carrotts, brocolli etc with fruits such as apple, orange, strawberry and a little raw ginger or honey. Sometimes it works, because it's quite sweet, otherwise its try to disguise it, by grating or squishing. I have tried mashing sweet potato and a few other veg and making into a pattie, similar to a fishcake, fry it until nice a crispy, that worked. It's really hard not to make a big deal of it, and we don't all have the time to make mealtime 'fun', but that's really the best thing, don't make an issue of it, but also don't give them crap afterwards, thinking 'well they have to eat something' I end up giving most of my daughters meals to the dogs, but she's certainly not undernourished, and she likes her fruit. Good Luck

Answer 3

Give them a bite of vegatable and even if they are kicking and screaming reward them with the food or drink they like, such as bread milk what ever it is they like. I say this because my son is autistic and he ate nothing but bread, we used the bread as a reward, it took a while but he likes to eat most anything. Sense then most of my family with younger children have tried this and have had great results. Just offer a little of one veggie at a time until they can handle it, and if it is trying when you do this feed your child before you eat so that you can enjoy your meal. this is ok there will be plenty of time for family meals. Also if your child proves to hate the process take it very very slow only trying one veggie at a time with maybe only one or two bites a meal in time they will learn and your child will eventually be eating healthy don't worry about it for now, as you are working through the process instead give pediasure or carnation instant breakfast which has lots of nutrients in it.

Answer 4

Don't worry lots of toddlers don't like vegetables especially when they're cooked. Offer him/her raw veg e.g. carrots. Salads are also a good source of vitamins and iron.Raw celery dipped in a cheese dip. Fruit pieces are ideal. Take him/her to the supermarket and let them choose vegetables for themselves and let them prepare them at home. Don't overcook them as this tends to make them soggy. Cherry tomatoes are a favourite with kids. Why not make a point of growing your own veg and let your child take responsibility of caring and watering them, this will help them take an interest in preparing the veg once they are harvested and you'll find they want to try them. Good luck1

Answer 5

Oh! Very good questions!

How old is your toddler?
Has he/she never liked veggies even as jarred baby food?

My 7 year old son absolutely hates vegetables! Even did so through infancy and toddler years. He hated the feel of food in his mouth! Hated the taste of everything except for corn.

I have tried EVERYTHING to get him to eat different kinds of vegetables. I always tell him to try them, and if he doesn't like them, spit them out in the garbage. 99.9 % of the time he is standing over the garbage can, spitting out his food.

I suppose in time, he will eat more types of food. He has slowly began to like the taste of broccoli with cheese sauce on it. And he will now eat about 1/4 cup of applesauce. Oh, and he will eat mashed potatoes as long as there is not any butter or gravy on them. LoL

Just be patient and give him his/her daily vitamins. It will slowly happen for you.

Best wishes!

Answer 6

Try maybe cooking them somewhat,or not at all in some cases. (like spinach) Sometimes it may be the texture. Try using some (healthy) type of dipping sauce for the veggies or a gravy,that way their mind isn't just focused on EW,veggies. :) Good luck!

Answer 7

Taste is something you develop. If you've already given your child sweets then it's going to be difficult. My daughter liked raw vegetable sticks, red peppers, cucumber, tomatoes, carrots....and my husband used to make some lovely and funny presentations in the plate! Make it fun and eat veg in front of your child too!

Answer 8

I have a three year old who loves them. It's kind of tricky, but you have to start them out when they're young. Since my son started eating food early, we introduced him to veggies and other good food. Try putting cheese, or cutting them up into sticks and playing with them (carrots). My son calls brocodini trees and stacks them, before eating them. And honestly..a little salt won't hurt!

Answer 9

As a toddler my daughter LOVED vegetables. I offered a variety of them. Broccolli, cauliflower, different types of squashes, eggplant, ocra, fresh spinach. We ARE born with the instinct to like the things that are good for us but then someone gives us something that is NOT good for us but tastes good...offer that which tastes good but in a form that is good for them such as soy based products rather than regular junk food. Soybased chips, ice creams, hot dogs, burgers, cheeses...They have great taste (I'm addicted to soy chips) don't have any cholesterol, lower in calories and fat and better for our bdies all around.

Answer 10

im lucky, my son loves all vegetables, his faves are sweetcorn, broccoli and carrots. i dont even have to disguise them! he'll quite happily sit there with a bowl of steamed broccoli and carrots and eat them as a snack! sorry, dont mean to rub it in. if you disguise them and your toddler eats them like that, then they are still getting the nutrients so i wouldnt worry too much about it at the moment.