Tricks for making children eat vegetablesTricks for making children eat vegetables **6 Tricks to Teach Kids to Learn the Habit of Eating Vegetables** Children don’t become fussy eaters until they reach about 18 months or older. This is the period when it's almost impossible to make them eat. And the struggle doesn’t end there. As they grow older, children begin to develop a distaste about certain foods, especially vegetables. If this paints a near-accurate picture of you and your child, here are tips on how to help your kid develop the habit of eating vegetables:
Start early. Many of the preferences we have about food were developed early in our childhood. If you want your children to like vegetables, start when they are young. They are more likely to develop a habit eating vegetables if these foods are introduced to them earlier. Don’t force the issue. The more you try to force children to eat their vegetables, the more they will try to resist you. If you try to hide foods they prefer (such as junk foods and sweets), it will only make them more irresistible. If the child resists your suggestion about eating vegetables strongly, don’t force them. They will only dislike vegetables more. Try other tricks instead. Introduce the food gradually. As soon as children learns to walk, their fear of anything new develops. According to experts, this is a form of survival mechanism, helping to protect the child against unfamiliar foods that may be poisonous. This gradually fades with age. The problem is, the period when children need nutrition from vegetables is also the period when they begin to reject them. To ease their minds, introduce the vegetable into their diet little by little. First as garnishing and then as part of the meal. Expose your child to vegetables over and over again to help break down their resistance. Don’t reward food with food. Bribing a child with sweets in exchange for eating veggies won’t help them develop the habit. Use other rewards instead, such as a new toy, a movie ticket or going on a trip to the museum. Set an example. You can't make your child eat broccoli if you hate it yourself. However, if you like vegetables, setting an example shouldn’t be a problem. Kids are more likely to try something if they see their parents doing it. So the next time you eat vegetables, encourage your kids to develop the same habits by showing them that you too enjoy your greens. Never chastise. The idea is to help your child see how good vegetables are. If you nag or fuss about vegetables at mealtimes, your child will associate vegetables with unpleasantness. Help them develop the habit of eating vegetables by making them feel good about the food.
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