Getting children to eat their fruits and vegetables can be challenging for many parents, especially those that are picky eaters. And, while some kids might enjoy new foods and don’t mind eating fruits and veggies, others might need varying preparations and repeated exposure.
Vegetables and fruits are great sources of vital nutrients that aid in their growth and development. And, by introducing a wide range of them to children from a young age, you ensure they become well-rounded eaters.
So, if you’re having a difficult time getting your toddlers to eat their fruits and veggies and miss out on important nutrients for kids, keep reading this blog. A leading CBSE school in Kolkata has provided some useful tips to ensure your children eat better.
The Best Ways to Ensure Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables
Here are a few creative ways to include more fruits and vegetables in your child’s diet.
- Offer fruits and vegetables as snacks. For this, make sure you wash them as soon as you get them home and keep them in plain sight and with easy accessibility.
- Include leafy greens and yellow vegetables in their diet such as beans, carrots, pumpkins, spinach and broccoli among others. They are a great source of vitamin A and offer numerous other benefits too.
- Set an example for the little ones by consuming more vegetables and fruits yourself.
- Purchase fruits and vegetables that are in season. They will be cheaper and will be more flavourful. You can also take your children with you and encourage them to choose things they think they will like.
- If your children have favourite foods, try adding fruits and vegetables to them. For instance, if your little one loves to eat cereal, you can top it up with berries such as strawberries, blueberries and raspberries among others. Or, make pancakes with fresh blueberries. You can alternatively finely chop vegetables and add them to kebabs you make at home. The options are virtually endless with this one.
- Include a wide range of vegetables and fruits to keep things interesting. You may try different recipes that allow you to add a wide variety of flavours, spices, herbs and colours.
- It’s a good idea to prepare the same meal for the entire family instead of making different things for different people and serving it family-style. And, at times, you can also ask your children to pick and choose something they might want to have.
- If your child is food-phobic, give them time to get used to new foods. This gives them a better chance to understand what they like and what they don’t. It also guarantees that they get the right nutrition for kids through their meals.
- When exposing children to new fruits or vegetables, keep the portion sizes small. This reduces the chance of them being overwhelmed or turned off by a large serving.
- Be sure not to “hide” vegetables in everything you cook. It may make them less likely to enjoy foods and result in them not wanting to eat home-cooked foods.
- If your child refuses to consume fruits or vegetables when they are sliced or chopped, you can cut them into hearts, stars and other shapes. You can make use of vegetable cutters to make the task easy and fun.
- You can use brightly coloured plates and bowls and use fun forks and spoons to make the task of eating fun as a whole.
Getting children to start eating fruits and vegetables and ensuring they receive nutrition for kids can be difficult. However, it’s not impossible. As you can see, there are numerous ways to go about their dislike for fruits or vegetables and make the act more interesting and fun. And, while it might take some time for them to get used to it, every meal will present a new opportunity that you can make the most of by following the tips provided by one of the best CBSE schools in Kolkata.
