How do you get toddlers to eat vegetable?

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

Babies do actually have a "sweeter tooth" than adults, as a survival strategy. Sweeter foods are higher in energy, so you don't need to comsume bulk, they also tend to be softer (fruit).

It just becomes a matter of patience, and make sure they are more cooked than the ones you would give to an adult.

Answer 2

Hello again! Disguise them in sauce- blend them all up and use for shepherds pie etc. If she won't eat them as they are don't fret, as long as she's getting it, doesn't matter how. You can deal with it as she gets older. She may well get used to seeing them on her plate, so don't change the meal, keep giving as is. My little girls were the same but stick to your guns and praise when she eats well. Also I found my daughters hate carrot cooked but love it raw which is healthier anyway. Broccoli is trees, cauli is flowers, say things like watch mummy bite the top of this tree off-chomp! Then laugh and ask her if she can do it, if she says no just carry on doing it yourself. Maybe next time...! You may also find "I will ever never eat a tomato" by Lauren Child helpful!
Best of luck!

Answer 3

This is what worked with my kids. At every meal put just one small piece of veg on her plate such a a slice of carrot and just ignore it if she doesn't eat it. After a few days it will be eaten with no comment. After this take weeks to gradually introduce other veg and build up quantities. My kids got to the stage where they would ask for raw veg as I was preparing it, which I thought was really good for them. Only trouble was this Christmas when everyone was here, I went to cook the carrots and found just two slices floating in the pan!

Answer 4

If the only way your toddler will eat veges is in spag bog or curries or whatever, then be happy they are getting them that way. Some kids like veges, others don't!

My daughter hated a lot of vegetables, but she's 9 now and it's taken a while to get her to eat veges. Now she just loves everything.! their taste in food does change as they get older, they do become easier to feed, believe it or not.

I used to make meat patties and put the veges in that, you can still puree it and add it in with the meat with an egg and some bread crumbs and the little darling won't know what he/she's eating!!

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 5

Toddlers are very particular eaters. If you can get yours to eat vegetables mixed in with other items, I would count your blessings. My son won't eat meat and if we try to mix it with other items, he picks it out. When he was a toddler, we tried hiding meat in mixtures (e.g., spaghetti sauce), and he would spit it out.

Every toddler is different, but here are a few tricks that I've heard of for vegetables:

1. Ketchup. Some toddlers will eat vegetables if it is covered with a favorite condiment such as ketchup.

2. Popeye the Sailorman. You tell your toddler that eating vegetables will make him stronger. Arm wrestle with him and win. Let him eat the vegetable, then arm wrestle again, but let him win.

3. Try different vegetables until you find one that works. Every kid is different, but you can typically find at least some vegetables that your toddler likes. With my son it is avocados. I can't get him to eat broccoli, but he would eat avocados morning through night if given the chance.

Answer 6

It a question of keeping at it - I heard on the radio that it can take more than 20 times of trying a child with a food before they like it - in my experience this is true.
I keep putting all the veg we have on the children's plates for them to 'try' - this has now worked with my 5 year old son, who has finally acquired a liking for brussel sprouts - I'm still working on salad stuff, but I know i will get there in the end - it's patience and taking things at their speed, but continually exposing them to the different food.

Answer 7

So long as your daughter eats vegetables in some form or other - as you state mixed in with her dinner - that is fine. As she gets older she will start to eat them as a seperate item. My children were always very fussy eaters - now they are 48,46,45, 43 & 35 they eat everything and anything. One eception - the oldest always detested peas - and still does!! You can't win them all!

Answer 8

Three tips - one repeating another on the board - help them to grow the vegetables, mix them with other things [Brussels sprouts in garlic butter was good] and make sure that when you eat it is at a proper meal. Keep them from eating between meals especially sweets. I know, I know it's a counsel of perfection...

Answer 9

try growing some fresh veggies, there are alot of patio varieties of tomatoes and baby carrots and cucumber can even be grown in a window sill box. My kids love to see the seeds grow that they plant, and then allow them to pick and eat them fresh. Of course you wont want to use chemicals of any kind so they can eat them with a quick splash of water. My kids love THERE garden.

Answer 10

I just got my 15 month old to eat brussels sprouts by putting bbq sauce on them. But only one little tiny one. Remember that you may have to introduce a food 15 times or more before your child will accept it so don't give up. A friend of mine put a piece of tomato in her son's mouth everyday and everyday he spit it out. Then one day he ate it. Now it's his favorite vegetable.