Getting Your Kids To Eat Veggies? Cookin Moms

Getting your kids to eat veggies?

amy 17 years ago

How do ya'll do it? For the life of me I can't seem to get my 8 year old to do it. I make him take a multivitamin and make veggies part of every meal, but he essentially refuses anything green. Any tips?

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randr88 17 years ago said:

Amy, I think most parents go through the same stage. For me it was a bit younger than 8yrs old, but the problem was the same. I just didn't give in. Deny ALL TREATS/DESSERTS unless veggies are eaten. But this strategy alone will create an aversion to the veggies b/c they are associated with "having to eat them" so I also try to expose my kids to a WIDE variety of fruits and veggies in hopes that they will find some that they will eat without a struggle or reward. Hope that helps!

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christyking 17 years ago said:

Amy, I agree with Randr88. Especially her latter suggestion.And on a different note, that lasagna recipe is soooo good. Probably the best i've ever had.

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eleanorhoh 17 years ago said:

In Asia, we eat tons of veggies with all our meals. As a wok enthusiast and instructor, many moms have your problem and were surprised to find they love stir-fry veggies because they keep their color and texture crispy, crunchy.

I have photos of Carter enjoying his asparagus on my website:http://www.eleanorhoh.com/tips.htm

Here's feedback from Zack, he says it all.
Your class showed me how much I could love eating vegetables. Normally, I hate asparagus and bell peppers. Now they're my favorite because of you. My mom made it last night, just like yours, and it tasted fantastic. Now I'm probably going to be a lot healthier because of you and the way you taught my mom how to cook. Love, Zack, 7th grader

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donnaja1231 17 years ago said:

As a child we always had a garden. So eating veggies was easy. I never had trouble with my daughter. I would say the only thing she won't eat even today at 30, is legumes of any type. Maybe if you start a little garden and let them grow it and when it comes time to pick the veggies they can cook them. I think once they get more involved they will like them. 8 isn't to young for them to start learning how to cook things. I was cooking around 11. And before that I was helping in the kitchen. There are great cook books for kids. Maybe you should get one for the your children.
Donna A.

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miamore73 16 years ago said:

Okay sounds wierd. My kids are 14 and 8 and love spinach, asparagus and brocolli the best. I mean these people get really happy when they see asparagus or spinach in the shopping cart.

I add lemon juice and lemon zest and garlic to veggies. Sometimes I may even through in some capers. The kids love lemons anyway so adding lemon juice helps alot.

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erisgrrrl 16 years ago said:

Everything is better when you can dip it! My son LOVES veggies so we don't have this particular problem but..... he'll eat 3x as many veggies if we give him something to dip it in! His favorites are hummus (if you make your own it's very healthy!), cheese sauce and ranch!

I also agree with donaja1231 tho. If your kids are involved in what's on the plate they have much more reason to eat! Even if you can't grow a garden let him help you pick out 1 new type of fresh veggie each week at the grocery (or even better, at the farmers market!), let him help cook it or at least decide how he wants to have it seasoned! Lots of folks are afraid of seasoning kids food but the more flavor it has the more likely they're gonna be to eat it!

Another great tip is just to hide it! When you make any kind of meatloaf, baked goods or casserole finely grate zuccini, broccoli, carrots, apples, cauliflower..anything... into the mixture first! (I have to use this one my uber-picky husband!)

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themechams 16 years ago said:

I always take my kids to the store with me and let them pick something they would like to try. We find a way to prepare them together and when they are involved, they will always try it. I know it sounds too easy to work, but when I married my husband his 2 kids were 5 and 6 and they would not eat any veges at all...not one. With a few trips to the store and a few nigfhts in the kitchen, they were converted. Now they will try anything!

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dimensionality 16 years ago said:

I know what it's like. My son didn't like anything except beets when he was little. He's grown now and he's definitely anything but a picky eater. What I use to do is make him at least try one piece of each thing on his plate and explain that taste buds change as a child grows. It was absolutely true. All of the ideas above are awesome and I especially like the concept of dips. Thanks for the helpful advice everyone! For my grandchildren though, I make every attempt to be creative with their veggies by changing the original colors and shapes. I always let them know what it is so they can later, relate the name of the food to the good taste. I do the food designing mainly for fun and they love to help so they know basically what they're eating anyway. My kids tell me they have no trouble getting them to eat the same foods without the drama. :)

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jencathen 15 years ago said:

I have a 9 year old and 7 year old. I found that they don't like veggies that are steamed. But I can get them to try anything that is tossed with olive oil, salt and pepper and roasted. I also let them help me make this dish and they are usually proud of their accomplishment and eat every bite even brussel sprouts and asparagus.

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