Kids and Vegetables: Tips And Tricks For Parents in the Struggle

Kids are such picky eaters. Trying to get them to eat a well-balanced meal is like pulling teeth. It’s almost like if it’s not fried, salty, or sweet; they want nothing to do with it. So, imagine the struggle trying to get them to eat their vegetables. It’s a challenge that parents know all too well. They’ll sit at the dinner table for hours plucking their peas or secretly feeding broccoli to the dog. Short of forcing them to eat their veggies, most parents just give up and try to reintroduce the idea later. 

We all know vegetables are an essential part of a healthy diet. They’re packed with vitamins, minerals, and nutrients your kids need to continue growing. Unfortunately, getting them to eat their vegetables is easier said than done. If you’re at your wit’s end, there are ways to incorporate more healthy foods in their diet – without the hassle. Check out these tips below. 

Frozen Smoothies

Kids love frozen sweet treats, especially when the weather is warm. If you want to encourage them to eat more vegetables without the chaos, mix them in a smoothie. There are plenty of frozen smoothie recipes online with fresh veggies like spinach, kale, and avocado. Add some fruit and an all-natural sweetener like honey or agave and serve them in between meals. 

Fun Shapes

Your children already play with their vegetables, so why not make it a fun experience? When serving veggies, cut them into fun shapes your kids can enjoy. From apple cars with raisin wheels to stuffed zucchini boats, they’ll have a blast playing games and eating vegetables. Try serving these fun shapes during snack time, so the vegetables aren’t in competition with other food options. 

Sauces

Most kids love sauce. There’s something about smothering their food in the sauce that makes it worthwhile, from tons of tomato sauce on their spaghetti to blue cheese on their buffalo wings. Why not play on this angle and start incorporating vegetables into sauce or dip? Make some spinach artichoke dip, throw some peppers and onions in the spaghetti sauce, or use mushrooms in your alfredo. 

Meatless Burgers

Who doesn’t love a good burger from time to time? The food industry has come a long way with meatless burgers using plant-based ingredients. Instead of using beef or turkey, you can make burgers from avocado, spinach, kale, squash, and other delicious vegetables. Season the patties well, throw them on a bun, add some cheese, and the kids will dig in without an issue. You can even take it a step further and serve sweet potato or zucchini fries on the side.

Pizza Toppings

Making your own pizzas is a fun and easy recipe for families to try. You can get your kids to eat more veggies by having various toppings for them to choose from. Fresh spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, olives, mushrooms, and onions taste great on pizza. Allow them to pair the vegetables with a favorite topping like pepperoni or bacon. 

Air Fryer

Eating too much grease is bad for your health. Be that as it may, most kids love the crispy, salty taste of fried foods. If you want to get the kids to eat more veggies while reducing the number of fried foods you consume, invest in an air fryer. The cooking appliance uses a lot less grease and fries up delicious, crispy vegetables the entire family can enjoy. You can fry everything from cauliflower and broccoli to sweet potatoes and zucchini. Season them with salt and serve with some ketchup, bbq sauce, or warm cheese.

If you’re having trouble getting your kids to eat more vegetables, you’re not alone. While some kids develop a diverse palette later in life, there are ways you can start introducing veggies now. Each of the above suggestions is creative, delicious, and bound to work in getting your kid to eat healthily. Before you know it, they’ll be eating vegetables without you asking them to (or at least one can hope).