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 momofsix
I am a homeschool mom with six children.
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How to Encourage Children to EatTheir Veggies:
1. Whatever types of foods children are introduced to when they are young, they will develop a taste for. If they are introduced to raw veggies then they will like raw veggies (except for those things they might have allergies). Of course they might not like it at first, but reintroduce it several times later. Sometimes they make faces at things they have never tasted, but if reintroduced a couple of times, they develop a liking for it, especially if mom likes it. Whatever you do, don't validate the funny faces with, "oh, I am sorry, you don't like that". Instead just try to present it in a different way. One time might be as steamed version, another might be on pizza, and other as a snack creation. Your response to their funny face (oh, that is strange to my palate) can be encouraging to keep trying it in different ways, or your response can be discouraging so that they never try it again. For instance, my children don't like canned mushrooms, but when they tried the fresh mushrooms they liked them. If I had given up on mushrooms after the canned experience, then they wouldn't enjoy the mushrooms in so many great recipes. So, your response to their faces is very important.
2. Have you ever noticed that children like to eat whatever is on your plate? Children enjoy the foods you enjoy. When they hear or see you enjoy something you enjoy, they will want to enjoy it with you. If you eat raw carrots or fresh green peppers and say, "mmmmm, this is sooo good", they will learn to enjoy it. (My grandma said great grandma was really good at this. She made so many wonderful "hmmm, this is sooo good" sounds while she ate that you had to just try whatever she was eating.) Doing this several times really helps them enjoy what you enjoy.
3. While your children eat, discuss what makes the food so healthy for them. Talk about broccoli with all the calcium it has in it when it is raw. It is loaded with green chlorophyll. That is so good for you. Talk about all the vitamin C in carrots. When you talk about this, get excited about what you are sharing. Get really animated and into it-wow, this is sooo exciting because it is so good for you. When they understand that certain foods like avacado or nuts are full of great oils for your brain to develop and be smart, they will feel encouraged to eat it.
4. Plant a garden. Veggies or fruits taste a lot better when they don't have the bitter pesticides on it or when they are ripened by the sun. Children will also enjoy feeling like they are eating from the work of their own hands. It gives them a new perspective on veggies and fruit. By the way, did you ever notice that navy beans from the health food store taste drastically different than from the grocery store? You can't sprout the ones from the grocery store because of the chemicals applied to prevent growth. However, you can easily sprout the ones from the health food store. The taste between the two is remarkable. One is bitter and the other is sweet.
5. Encourage your children to cook with you. Use lots of fresh veggies in making a salad together. My children created a fruit salad with me. Just carmelized some great fresh pecans (taste a lot better from health food store than grocery store) with some brown sugar and butter. Put that aside. Cut up some green or red leaf lettuce. Top with blueberries, strawberries, and pecans on top. My children especially love Balsamic vinegar on this salad. You can top with parmesan or goat cheese. The children and I made this salad up ourselves. I think they especially love it because they created it.
6. Shop together for groceries- I really have fun trying out samples of fresh fruits or veggies at the store. If the children put it in their minicarts and purchase with me, they really feel like it is theirs to eat. I especially love to shop at the local farmer's market, especially the organic ones. It is fun to come home and whip up a great fruit salad together. My youngest son can't write the words so he draws what we need on paper. He then reads it to me as we shop for groceries. He doesn't always remember correctly, but it is fun to play along with him, and I think he enjoys the food more because he helped to buy it.
7. Use fresh herbs together on your veggies and Fruits- I have the children go out and pick the basil or cilantro. We cut it up together and put it in the mix of things. Fresh Basil is especially good on veggies, and cilantro on fruits (we think). Oh, and don't forget the best olive oil (don't buy the cheap stuff-look for basil olive oil). The better the oil, the better the taste. Vegetable oil gives a yucky greasy taste while a good tasting olive oil will add to the flavor and health benefits (olive oil is great for the brain).
8. Use Sea Salt and fresh Ground Pepper on your veggies or meals- The difference in Sea Salt and grocery table salt is drastic. Study it for the health difference. One is bleached and the other is not. One has all the minerals your body needs and the other is stripped. You can really taste the difference. It really makes a difference on the foods. Also, fresh ground black pepper from your local farmer's market or from the health food store (you can buy in bulk). It is also drastically different. One has additives and is aged from sitting long on the shelves and the other is without the additives. I especially noticed this when I was hosting a Korean student (they use a lot of black pepper in their foods).
9. Use Good sweetners in your meals or cooked veggies-I especially like to use healthy natural maple syrup. Be sure to get the one without fermaldahyde. I also like to use local honey (yummy). I have heard that using local honey from local bees helps to fight against allergens in your area. Creams are great swetners. I have not found a local farmer to help me with this, but I like to buy the good stuff. Lastly, Jams (no sugar-love the Amish ones at our stores), and Sucanat (natural sugar without the bleaching). All these different sweetners are so much better for your children than bleached white sugar. By eliminating or cutting back on white sugar, your children will much better concentrate on their school work.
10. Check your attitude towards veggies and fruits. Children pick up on our attitudes. If you are struggling with this from your own negative experiences, try to create some fun with it. Work on some lapbooks together.
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...Tedd Tripp speaks on parenting...
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