Let’s face It. How many of us grew up eating a VARIETY of vegetables? I know I didn’t. It wasn’t the first thing I wanted to have that’s for sure. As I got older and realized how important they are, They started making a way on my plate.
As a mom, it was crucial I started my girls on vegetables. Yes, and although they do eat way more than I did growing up, we have those moments where they don’t want certain vegetables. That is ok, I keep trying different ways and I don’t give up.
As kids grow, they develop a taste for other things. They need a lot of calories to meet their demanding growing bodies, but we want to flood their bodies with nourishing foods, not empty calories. Like unhealthy fats, and sugary and refined foods all day.
A few tips that have worked for me are the following.
1. Cook the same veggies in different ways. For example, my oldest kept saying she didn’t like zucchini, I was offering it sautéed but once I made it like noodles, she absolutely enjoyed it. So try sautéed, air fried, grilled, blended, like in soups.
2. Get them involved in the kitchen. Have safe cutting knives for kiddos. Allow them to choose what veggies to cut. Like mushrooms, zucchinis, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Just getting them involved makes a huge difference and are more likely to try more vegetables.
3. Keep veggies accessible. If you want them to choose healthier options, you must have the options available. In with the good out with the bad. You’ll see how soon they start reaching for that cucumber with tajin and those apples with good peanut butter and maybe a few chocolate pieces.
4. Lead by example. If we as parents aren’t trying to better our eating habits, how do we expect our kiddos to do so? Like I always say, every step counts. You must really want to make the change to take the steps.
5. Try a smoothie! Such an easy way to “sneak” some veggies into the mix. I used to make a green smoothie with only green apples, cucumber, and spinach, not bad but now they drink one with 12 fruits and 9 veggies! Along with gut support and immune protection.
Let me know if you try any of these tips!
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