We all know how difficult it can be to get the recommended daily dose of veggies into our kids. Even if you’re blessed with a child who isn’t a picky eater, it can still be a chore. Here are 5 creative ways to get those veggies down the hatch and tips on how to be sure your attempts are a success.
Kids Nutrition & Healthy Eating
Hiding vegetables in food, smothering them with sauces, dips and melted cheese, preparing them so they’re convenient to grab from the fridge...as parents, we try everything to make sure our children are getting the nutrition they need. If you’ve run dry of ideas and the old tricks of the trade are proving to be a failure, here are five creative ways to get your children to eat their vegetables.
Photo by superbez
(Click on any image to enlarge)
1. Sneak Veggies into Smoothies
Affordable, super healthy, time saver, easy to make, versatile...there are several benefits to drinking smoothies, not to mention they are oh-so-yummy and kids love them! Adding veggies to a fruit smoothie can oftentimes go unnoticed by a child. If your child does notice the difference, try playing a game with them where they need to guess which vegetable has been added.
Here are some great fruit & veggie combos you can try:
- Sweet Potato/Carrot with blueberries and/or strawberries
- Cucumber with melon (cantaloupe and honeydew are great choices)
- Carrot with apricot and mango or peaches or apples and bananas
- Kale/Spinach with pears or pineapples
Tips: If you find your fruit & veggie smoothie needs some extra sweetening, adding fruit juice (such as orange or pineapple), yogurt or honey can help. Also, cooking or pureeing vegetables beforehand will help the smoothie be more...well, smooth! Leftover vegetables from last night’s dinner are ideal.
2. Provide Your Child with a Green Thumb
Have you child grow their own vegetable garden. Doing so will not only teach them how to care for the environment; it will also encourage them to eat what they’ve created and give them a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.
Tips: If you live in an apartment or simply don’t have the yard space to accommodate a vegetable garden, many vegetables can be grown in a pot outdoors, or even inside on the windowsill. For tips on what size of containers specific vegetables need and how much light they require, please click here.
Photo by briannaorg.
Please continue on to the second page of this article to discover more creative tips and tricks on how to get your children to eat their vegetables, including techniques that are fun and educational.