There are children who become vegetarians as a result of their parents' choice. There are others who do because of their religious persuasion, some for personal reasons, others for moral reasons. But whatever the reason, there are many parents who are clueless about how to raise a vegetarian child, especially if the parents are not vegetarian. Some may even worry if their child will be healthy on a strictly vegetarian diet. There are others who are not vegetarians but simply want their child to eat their vegetables and enjoy it. We set out to teach you fun ways to do so.
One popular way is allowing your child to play with your vegetables. We've all probably been yelled at once or twice, "don't play with your food!" during our childhood, but research shows that kids are attracted to pretty things, they like the aesthetics; they may not like the general taste but if it looks good, there's a chance you'll get them to put it into their mouths without much protest. Afterwards, you just have to get them to chew and swallow. Another great way to make vegetables appealing to kids is to choose what you introduce your child to. Give them vegetables which are tasty, rather than dull veggies such as broccoli. Later on, when your child grows to love vegetables, broccoli and other not-so-appealing veggies can be introduced.
Remember that a child's sense of taste is very acute, so vegetables that are not very appealing to the palate may seem like a nightmare to a child's taste buds. Don't panic however, because everyone's sense of taste evolves as they get older: if your child doesn't like broccoli or spinach now doesn't necessarily mean they won't love it in the years to come. And what's probably just as worse as trying to get a child to eat something that doesn't taste quite right to him is – force-feeding. When you yell at a child to eat their vegetables, they will automatically associate that food with negativity. Praise the child when he eats his veggies and try the other tips in this article to introduce vegetables to the kid, instead of force-feeding.
However, although it is not a good idea to force-feed a child, it is also not a good idea to give up after the first few tries. If you know you have tried to make the dish appealing and have chosen vegetables that are tasty, then keep trying until your child accepts it. Remember the experts do say children need to be offered a new food about fifteen times before they may actually eat it. You should also get them involved in the actual preparation process. If a child knows he has helped prepare a meal, he will be proud of the dish which means he may be more excited about eating it. Encourage the entire family to sit around the dinner table and partake of the meal also, while making positive comments about the dish.
Saying this brings along another important point – don't make the child eat his greens alone, you should eat them too. The best teacher is example, isn't it? Make veggie-eating time a fun time – placing washed vegetables and fruits on the table for easy access. Make it a habit to pick up a vegetable or fruit that can be eaten raw and munch on it when you feel for a snack. Your child will observe this and may actually adopt this habit from you.
If you have extra space, you can also let your kids help you plant a vegetable garden. They might get excited about the entire planting process and will also feel a sense of pride at the end product. And as we said earlier, involve your kids – take them veggie-shopping. Let them pick out the vegetables they like. That way, your child will feel as though he has been part of the decision-making process. It won't just be you fighting a losing battle – instead it will be a partnership between your child and yourself to encourage healthy eating habits.
