8 Ways To Get Your Kids To Eat Their Veggies
The number one question I get asked as a vegan mom is...." How do you get your kids to eat your veggies? In my home it is a constant battle. "Sometimes, dinner is a battle no matter what you do. You're doing a great job out there, moms.Here are 8 tips that helped me to increase my kids' veggies consumption.
1. Start small.
If you have never held your ground about salad before start with one bite. Put that bite on their plate. (Not a piece of lettuce - one solid bite of salad.)
2. Serve your meals in courses.
We always have courses at my house. Guess what course one is?! A salad.Then we usually have an entree with yet again another veggie. Maybe a black bean taco and broccoli.
3. Stand firm and do not get wishy washy.
I started the veggie battle with my son. He refused to eat his bite. He fought a good fight. And did not get a second course. He went to bed hungry. That wasn't fun for anyone. On the second night..,, he fought the good fight. I calmly ate my salad. When I finished, I got my second course. He wanted second course. I ate my second course. He then quickly ate his bite and got his second course. Everyday... Until one day he said "Yum, I love my salad." and I think I heard angels sing.
4. Make veggies fun.
We had an imaginary button on our elbow. Every time a bite of the veggie was eaten out kids were allowed to push the button. Sometimes it made us do the wave. Sometimes our arms became windshield wipers. Sometimes we broke out into dance. Veggies were eaten and we all had a little fun.
5. Grow a garden together.
Join a community garden or put a veggie in a pot. Let the kids be a part of the process and learn about where veggies come from. If they grew it, then often they will eat it. Give them confidence and make them feel proud.
6. Have them pick out the veggie they want to eat at the store.
Get them invested in the process. It helps!
7. Have them help you cook said veggie.
My son has been helping me cook since he was one. I had steamed veggies he could cut when he was younger while I was working on the meal. As he got older I would cut and put into a cup and he would put it in the pot. Later he would stir. Etc and etc.
8. Talk about veggies and nutrients and eating a rainbow.
Have a rainbow that you can color in. Every time you eat a red veggie you can color the red line, yellow the yellow line. Each color in the rainbow represents a different nutrient. So eat your rainbows and get healthy and strong.