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It is important that toddlers eat a healthy amount of vegetables, but it is often difficult to persuade them to eat these foods because toddlers can be very picky eaters. Children often dislike vegetables and can be difficult to get accustomed to, because of their texture, smell, appearance, bitter taste or flavor. My daughter still hates eating veggies on their own so I have successfully used many of these techniques outlined below. Is this statement true for you ” my toddler refuses to eat vegetables ” or ” my child won’t eat vegetables”. Then keep reading for 12 tips on how to get a toddler to eat vegetables. This article will give you workable tips on how to make vegetables more appealing to your toddlers to eat.
12 Tips on How to Get Your Toddler Eat Vegetables
1. Be a role model by eating lots of vegetables
Children tend to emulate what they see their parents do. Your toddler looks up to you as a role model, and by letting your child see you eat lots of vegetables they will be tempted to try them out for themselves.
2. Expose your toddler to a wide range of vegetables
Vegetables come in a variety of different colors, textures, and sizes. Make sure you offer your toddler all different types of vegetables so that they get to taste different options to find the ones they like.
3. Choose fresh vegetables for a better taste
The fresher the vegetables, the better the taste. Fresh vegetables tend to taste better than pre-packaged, frozen, or canned ones. Visit the produce section each time you are hoping to cook vegetables to pick out the freshest ones.You can even have your toddler help pick them out at the grocery store. Also, make sure to cook your fresh vegetables so they are soft. Serve soft veggies for toddlers so they can properly chew and eat their vegetables.
4. Wait until your toddler is hungry before giving them vegetables
If you feed your toddler with snacks or fruit juice constantly throughout the day, they won’t have room for vegetables at mealtime. Avoid letting them take snacks constantly so that they get hungry and will be more willing to eat some vegetables.
5. Give your toddler a choice between which vegetables they would like to eat
This makes the toddler a little more comfortable with the idea of eating vegetables and also makes them feel like they have power. If you are trying to decide which vegetables to serve for dinner, ask your toddler which one they’d prefer to eat.
6. Encourage your toddler to take one bite of the vegetables
Instead of saying that they have to eat all of the vegetables on their plate, ask your child to take at least a bite so that they can taste the food. Forcing them to eat all of the vegetables will only make them lose interest in eating their food and this can be discouraging.
7. Serve smaller quantities to make the vegetables appealing
Piling a bunch of vegetables onto your toddler’s plate can make the task of eating them seem overwhelming. Put a spoonful of veggies onto their plate that they are more likely to eat, making sure to balance them with the main meal.
8. Be persistent and consistent in serving your toddler vegetables
If your toddler rejects a certain vegetable, continue to put it on their plate at mealtime even if they are not interested. kids sometimes need to be exposed to food multiple times before they are ready to try it. Once you commit to getting your toddler to eat their vegetables, you have to continue to encourage them each time veggies are served.
9. Mix vegetables into smoothies for a nutritious drink
You will need to balance out the vegetables in the smoothie with other things like fruits or milk. Choose fruits that your toddler likes, such as bananas or blueberries, and add in some greens like spinach or carrots.
10. Scrambled eggs with vegetables in them for a nutritious breakfast
A great idea is to hide vegetables in food that your kids love to eat. If your toddler likes eggs, add some vegetables like spinach, peppers, onions, or tomatoes to the eggs before scrambling them to offer different tastes and textures. You can even add a little salt or cheese to enhance the taste. There are also lots of vegetable recipes for kids online as well.
11. Present dietary facts in a way that your toddler can understand
This tip applies to older toddlers. Inform your child that eating a balanced diet is important. Vegetables are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. State the importance of a healthy diet in a way that your child can understand. Some of the benefits of eating vegetables every day include:
● Growth and development.
● Boost vitality and energy.
● Reduces the risk of obesity and other chronic diseases.
12. Explain more about the benefits of vegetables with illustrations or imaginative play
Toddlers aren’t too concerned about their health and find words like “vitamins,” “nutrition,” “energy,” and “disease” to be abstract terms. Be imaginative with your explanations. For instance, tell your child something like, “I bet that Superman always eats carrots; that is why he is so strong.” You can also bring sports into the discussion.Explain to them that doing sports and having an unhealthy diet doesn’t work. Say something like, “If you don’t eat enough vegetables, you won’t have the energy you need to play soccer.”
Eating vegetables can protect your toddlers from chronic diseases and also give them energy. So, it is necessary to help your toddlers get used to eating vegetables and love eating them too. It takes practice in a low-pressure environment, patience and nurturing to get your toddler to eat vegetables. Persistence and praise can help too. Don’t just read, but put the above tips into practice and watch your toddler become healthy and a veggie-lover.
I hope you enjoyed these 12 Tips on how to get a toddler to eat vegetables. Until next time,
Sincerely Jackline,
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