How to Get Kids to Eat Their Vegetables

Is your child suddenly full when you offer them vegetables? Do they feed the dog peas when you aren't looking? As a vegetarian mom, it is really important my kids learn to love their vegetables. The last thing I want to do is make separate meals for each member of the family! Give my list of tips a try and you should be pleasantly surprised. You have nothing to lose!

1. Try vegetable drinks. Regular V8 or V8 Splash contains a daily serving of vegetables. Your kids don't even have to know! Letting them drink from a can or bottle can feel like a special treat.
2. Puree vegetables into your sauces. Your kids won't notice and it tastes good too! My favorite is a tomato based spaghetti sauce.
3. Try pickled vegetables. You never know what your kids will like. My daughter loves pickled beets and my son once ate a whole jar of pickles for Thanksgiving dinner!
4. Use vegetable dip. Try different brands until you find one your child really likes. They may use their carrot as a spoon to begin with, but will eventually give their vegetables a try.
5. Cut the vegetables into interesting shapes. There is nothing kids love more than playing with their food. It makes mealtime fun and they forget what they're eating!
6. Let your children choose the vegetables to buy at the grocery store. If they think eating broccoli was their idea, it won't feel like you are forcing them to eat it.
7. Grow vegetables in your garden. Kids love to dig in the dirt, bury seeds, water plants and pick vegetables. It's exciting for them to see their vegetables grow and they may even eat them right off the vine!
8. Let your kids help prepare dinner. Offer vegetable toppings for pizza, burgers or sandwiches and let your child prepare their own meal. My son only eats cheese pizza unless he makes it himself!
9. Use cheese spread over cooked vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus and potatoes. Most kids love cheese and it's simple to add. They may lick the cheese sauce off first, but will usually give their vegetables a try.
10. Eat plenty of vegetables yourself. Kids are mimics and notice what you are eating or not eating. If you don't complain about eating your veggies and be a good role model, your kids will take notice.

Getting children to eat their vegetables is a daily battle for many parents. Try not to bribe your child. It will only make them see vegetables in a negative light or always expect a reward for eating them. You don't want your children to think it sucks to eat their vegetables. Even if all your efforts seem to be in vain, don't despair. Give them a multivitamin daily and keep trying. Learning to love vegetables will benefit your child their whole life.