How to Get Your Child to Eat Their Greens

Are you struggling to get your child to eat anything that resembles a vegetable? If so, don’t worry; you are not alone. Many parents go through this difficult battle, and although it can seem hopeless at the time, it is entirely possible to encourage your child to eat vegetables.

And no, we’re not suggesting that you hide sprouts in mashed potato, or get on your knees and beg your child to eat; you just need to use specific tactics to encourage them!

Here are five tips to help you get your toddler to eat their greens.

Give Them A Two or One Deal

At the beginning of dinner, offer your child two different vegetables (such as green beans and broccoli), and then ask if they want green beans and broccoli or both. This gives your child the power to choose, so they will likely choose the vegetable they find most appealing (and are therefore most likely to eat), and over time they may even start to choose both. If they do start choosing both, just give them a very small amount so that they don’t feel overwhelmed by what is on their plate.

Ignore the Issue

Children often resist if they feel like their parent is pressuring them to do something, so don’t threaten or beg your child to eat their vegetables; simply ignore the issue and continue putting vegetables on their plate at mealtime. Over time they may feel curious to try a bite of something green, especially if you don’t let them a snack before the meal.

Puree the Vegetables

If your child still doesn’t want to eat vegetables, consider pureeing them. A recent study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that children under five doubled their vegetable consumption when the vegetables where pureed, rather than served whole.

Hide Vegetables in Smoothies

If your children dislike the taste of vegetables, even when they are pureed, don’t fear; you can blend them into smoothies to hide the flavor. For instance, you could add a handful of spinach to a banana and strawberry smoothie, as this completely removes the taste of spinach

Courtney P.

I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!