Kids don't eat vegetables? 15 simple ways to take it down easily

Original production of "Secret Garden of Cattle Herding Class"

Translated by Jenny Catton

Photo credit: Lifehack

After a busy day, you want to cook a delicious meal that you know the whole family will enjoy. But you also want to make sure your child eats three to five vegetables. The problem is, as every parent knows, convincing their child to eat vegetables isn't always easy.

Well, here are 15 fairly simple tricks to turn even the most veggie resistant diehards into veggies. Get it in your pocket!

1. Make it fun.

Well, you're tired and hungry, that's fine. So I'm not suggesting that you remake Frozen characters in vegetable shapes. But putting food in a funny pattern or a smiley face is a matter of minutes and can make kids happy. Who can resist eating carrot noses or smiling faces made of peas?

Photo credit: pixabay

2. please feel free

Often children refuse to eat something simply because they want to control it. So, give them the choice when eating, put the vegetables in the bowl, let the children eat whatever they want. They'll make your jaw drop!

3. Let's be chefs together.

If your child helps you cook, they are more likely to enjoy eating it. My little bean loves to chop mushrooms and tomatoes with her extra safe knife. Mixing, stirring, serving, that's all the fun of kids.

Photo credit: pixabay

4. Earn a little star

Well, not everyone agrees that eating vegetables and giving rewards is a good idea. After all, healthy eating should not be treated as a chore that must be endured. But for some kids, trying a new food or eating three different types of vegetables every day to earn themselves a little star may also be a big motivation.

5. Let's go shopping

Ask your kids to help you go shopping. They will love knowing about the different fruits and vegetables they are exposed to, and you can ask them to choose a new ingredient at a time. So when you get home, they can't wait to sample the finished product.

Photo credit: pixabay6. Iron Man eats vegetables.

When I was a child, my parents told me that if I ate green leafy vegetables, I would grow up to be "as strong as Popeye." It doesn't matter who your child's favorite character, celebrity or athlete is these days. The routine is the same. Tell your kids that superheroes eat vegetables, and they'll love to copy.

7. My vegetables, my decisions.

Find your favorite recipe book or browse the web and let your child choose the recipe for themselves. Say important things three times! This gives them a sense of control. If they helped make the choice, they were more likely to eat a large plate.

8. Eat a rainbow

The great thing about vegetables is that they're really interesting. Talk to your child about their different shapes, colors, and textures, and encourage them to eat as much of the different colors as possible. You can even create a chart so they can tick off the different colors they eat each day.

Photo credit: pixabay9. Be a farmer yourself.

A great idea to get kids excited about vegetables is to get them to grow vegetables they like. Even if your space is limited to pots and pans or flowerpots on the windowsill, kids can grow carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, and more.

10. Invite a friend to dinner

Isn't it strange that children often behave differently when they're with friends? You can use that to your advantage. If your child has a friend who likes vegetables, borrow them for the evening.

11. Let's have a vegetable science.

We are always telling our children to eat vegetables, but we always forget to tell them why. Instead of saying "because they're good for you," teach them about the different vitamins found in different ingredients so they understand how vegetables keep us fit and healthy.

12. Come up with a new name.

Whether it's Percy peas or cucumber spears, kids love to give ingredients weird names. Interesting names can also make children less afraid of vegetables.

13. Try fancy containers

If your child hates vegetables, try using different containers to make it more interesting. Carrot sticks, for example, can be served upright in a beaker rather than flat on a plate. A compartmentalized plate is a great way to make mealtimes fun and make kids less overwhelmed than when faced with a pile of vegetables on a traditional plate.

Photo credit: pixabay14. The Great Law of "Three Movements and Four Movements"

If there's a vegetable your child says he doesn't like, try cooking it another way. For example, if they don't like boiled carrots, you might find that they actually like diced carrots. Don't like boiled mushrooms? Try feeding them raw.

15. don't make a mountain

Don't turn mealtimes into battlegrounds. If your child really doesn't like something, don't force them. If they feel that only this food gives them strength, they will refuse to eat something else.

Of course, it's not always easy, but you can take a relaxed approach and remember that you can always try again the next day.

Photo credit: pixabay

This article was compiled from a March 2017 article on lifehack.org.

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