what do kids think of vegetables and how do we get them to eat it?

Question

I guess it's normal that kids like hotdogs more than vegetables but why is that the case? i remember that when i was a kid, vegetables were a complementary dish my mom would prepare for the family. What causes kids to dislike our green friends?

how do we get to make them eat it?

Answer 1

I've never known a kid to eat anything but carrot sticks once we stop feeding them baby food. The do seem to like raw veggies and dip better than cooked ones. I'm going to tell you the honest truth, you can't get a kid to eat anything they don't want to without turning the dinner table into a hateful place for them and you. In my opinion that is the most harmful thing you can do for the whole family, make dinnertime as relaxed and enjoyable as you can, and they will grow up sharing their lives with you every time you eat dinner together. Also, as he sees you eat, without pressure, he will copy it, even if it takes years. Get him a good multivitamin and let him eat what he will, sneak veggies into smoothies, carrots are good, soups, and spinach into quiches and calzones, and start early before he says no to everything.
What makes them dislike veggies is being made to eat them, how would you like it if a huge person got all angry when you wouldn't eat your least favorite food?

Answer 2

after raising 7 children, i found an article that said when a study was done regarding veggies. two plates were placed out, one garnished and one not , that the garnished one even though the same items was chosen time after time over...
I did this and wasn't surprised by the article. My kids liked to help cut out as they got older the leafs, animals, flowers etc , bell peppers, carrots etc can be lots of fun, cut a cucumber and place a apple corer in the center to remove seeds. place a carrot that has been peeled in the hollow left by the corer, and then slice to make rings the cucumber. The think it's magic, till you teach them when older.. Or , take a banana and a cake tester , pierce a hole in the side, and go side to side inside and pull out and repeat to "slice " in the peel the banana.. when you peel it they see the rings and are they surprised!.. the younger they are the better. watermelon's can be carved into baskets, and such.. well, they grew up and ended working in restaurants, one is over a business food industry that works with stars. I think if children early in life are introduced to veggies (strained) it helps.. but, i made fresh.. they don't have to adjust to the taste change..have you ever tried the strained????? We take ziplock bags of all kinds of veggies/ fruits, cheeses/ crackers etc. on the road when were out. they are healthy and crunchy. change can be difficult at times, but they will get use to, if they know you won't give in, and stop at a fast food place.. keeping us as adults to the new routine can be the hardest sometimes.. one of my children's family has changed to vegetarians . We have seen improved health and better choices in eating habits when we introduced them. also, find the ones they like helps, have a plate of all kinds of veggies, taste test them.. like an adventure learn about the different veggies / fruits where from etc. and ways to prepare. . we make smoothies and veggie drinks too... they may not like one way but another can't get enough of.. try different spices and herbs, cheeses, dips.. put them on skewers sticks, in paper cups anything fun and appealing.. it works..I found too the more fun food preparation was, and the kids were a part of it, they didn't complain.. we also had the three bite rule, three bites to try it, never say i don't like it if never had it , and try it again in prepared differently.. also, tastes change as we grow.. it did for us , so why would they be different.. things i hated as a kid i love. now, I can't get enough of.. maybe too kids hate feeling like they don't have a choice to like or dislike something.. good luck!

Answer 3

They will learn to eat what they see you eating and enjoying. You are the best lesson in good eating. But you can also make it fun. invite them to try eating the 'little trees' and see who can eat the most trees (broccoli) Get them involved in food preparation, and let them design their own salads, or decorate their own celery sticks... with creme cheese and rasins etc. (ants on a log) This summer get them growing their own vegetables such as green beans, carrots and cherry tomatoes...and let them pick them themselves and eat them fresh from the garden. Have fun and make it all a game. You will be suprised how well they respond.

Answer 4

I can think of several things..
If you have enough room ..get the kids involved in growing them!! I tried this with my little one and he loved eating what he had grown and was so very proud to share the goodness!!

Also get them involved in preparation as much as possible..


There are also ideas such as making fun plates of vegetables aranged into pictures (faces, cats and dogs, flowers)

OR

Fruit and Veggie Kababs sticks– Make fruit or veggie kababs by stacking pieces of fruit or raw vegetables on a pretzel or toothpick. Add pieces of cheese for calcium.

OR

Ants on a Log – Fill pieces of celery with peanut butter and add a few raisins (or ants).

I did a bit of searching...

Check out this website by kellogs
I found it very informative!


http://www.kelloggs.co.uk/health/ntrn_kids_fun_fruit.asp

Answer 5

Kids aren't into the more bitter taste of vegetables than almost all other foods do. The taste just isn't as appealing!

If you want them to eat them, make them! Vegetables are healthy for them, and if they won't eat them, they shouldn't be allowed to eat anything else! If they go to bed, for breakfast they get the veggies they wouldn't touch the night before at dinner. They'll get the picture. My parents did it with all four of us kids and we turned out to really do okay with vegetables. As long as you start younger and inforcing this stuff, the shorter amount of time you spend frustrated trying gently to get them to eat. You're the parent :-)

Answer 6

nicely i replaced right into a real spoiled new child and can refuse to consume countless meals. I progressed very undesirable eating conduct hence. I nevertheless consume little or no vegetables and that i've got a widespread candy tooth. the only reason i'm no longer as fat as Homer Simpson by now's that i'm quite a particularly gentle eater (it is WHAT I consume that ought to in all probability make a nutritionist cry). If I finally end up with diabetes or a heart attack i will have in basic terms myself in charge. young ones are not brainwashed to consume in basic terms quickly nutrition and cookies yet what they are is surrounded by quickly nutrition and cookies. And to the unacclimatized palate of a youthful new child, which suits basically off the flavor responses that evolution gave them, quickly nutrition and cookies are the perfect tasting meals in the international; plenty, plenty extra effectual than vegetables, because of the fact people are developed to love meals that are intense capability. To an uncultured palate candy and fried meals are heavenly: they are organic capability, extra concentrated than something in nature. by assessment fruit and vegetables, undesirable in sugar and fat, flavor uninteresting and unappetizing. they have food that are in basic terms as necessary yet in nature they are elementary to party as meat and different capability-wealthy meals are demanding, so we in no way developed a yearning for them like the single we've for meat and sugar. My nutrition plan (meat and sugar, in fact) is what a human will consume if dropped right into a nutrition saturated environment and left to his very own units. vegetables are an gained flavor, and till they are gained as some distance because of the fact the youngster is in touch you're torturing him by making him consume that tasteless crud whilst he's surrounded by issues that flavor plenty extra effectual. and additionally you will guess he will enable them to nicely known! Is it any marvel countless mothers and dads finally end up giving in?

Answer 7

I don't know. my kid eats them just fine. I wonder if it is becuase I never make a big deal about it. i serve them up with everything else. She eats the ones she likes and leaves the ones like brussel sprouts alone. In fact if I tell her somethign is healthy, she will eat it. It is just her way I guess... i never make a big deal out of it. Lettuce and that she rarely eats..

Answer 8

Maybe the mother could prepare a cheeze sauce for the boiled broccoli, since broccoli is a very healthy accoutrement to a child's diet.

Answer 9

children naturally avoid bitter tasting foods. Some kind of survival tactic long ago. You can make fondue, add spinach to smoothies, and lot's of things on finger food. Kids love finger food

Answer 10

maybe because its the fact the food is green. to get them to eat it maybe you should try scaring them say "if you dont eat this the monster will get you" or say that like popeye or something fun that your child likes every kid is different. such as if they like superheroes or dolls try involving that.