How to Get Kids to Eat More Greens

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Eating vegetables provides children with a great deal of health benefits as it gives them the vitamins and minerals they need for growth and development. Unfortunately, getting children to eat their veggies can be an adventure in and of itself. How can you get your children to eat more greens without causing mealtime mayhem?

1. Grow a Garden – A lot of children take a great deal of pride in growing their own food goods. When it comes to eating fresh and clean, you can’t beat growing your own fruits and vegetables. If you make a big deal about how much fun the garden process is, the children will follow your lead and are more likely to enjoy the foods they have grown themselves. With a side of ranch as a dipping sauce, you could find your children snacking on the products of their hard work from gardening.

2. Change Up the Cooking Method – If your kiddo won’t eat raw celery, he may love it cooked and served up in a soup. Change up the way you prepare veggies and you may be surprised at the reaction you get. Demonstrate how raw broccoli can be eaten just like a carrot. Spinach doesn’t have to be a boiled glop of green on your child’s plate as it can easily be added to salads. For many, green beans taste better when plucked from the vine then cooked from a can.

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3. Eat the Rainbow – Some kids won’t try a good simple because of the color. Come on, if it’s green, it must be gross, right? No! Include green veggies in a rainbow of veggies and encourage your child to eat through the rainbow. Serve up sliced red and yellow bell peppers and mix green ones in to give variety.

4. Add Seasoning – Nearly any cooked food can be greatly amplified by the use of herbs and spices. You don’t have to serve bland cooked vegetables if you have alternatives in your spice rack. Melted butter over cooked green beans with a few dashes of garlic salt can make the world of difference. In fact, why not allow your children to help you find the best seasonings to use on the veggies? They can be your taste-testers as they eat one bean at a time each seasoned differently.

5. Set an Example – If you don’t eat your veggies, don’t expect your child to either, so be sure that your child sees you eating a variety of green veggies. If you want your children to enjoy greens more, you’re going to have to enjoy them more yourself.

While mealtime can be a source of stress for many families, it shouldn’t be. Instead of fighting with your child to eat his veggies, offer a variety of green veggies in a variety of ways and you may be pleased with how your efforts pay off.

What are some ways you incorporate greens into your child’s diet?