How To Teach A Child To Eat Vegetables

Many people are still convinced that children cannot like vegetables in principle . Unfortunately, it is this stereotype that most often creates problems at the beginning of the journey, when the baby is just getting acquainted with various products.

Young parents are often convinced that children need to be persuaded to like vegetables , persuaded or motivated by something to make it happen. In fact, the main thing that can be done is not to prevent the child from getting acquainted with vegetables and finding the ones he likes. Let's learn more about how to do this.

Start complementary feeding with vegetables

And do not rush to add fruits to the diet. It is better to offer different options of vegetables in turn . Remember: to taste a new taste, children need time and many attempts. Because if a product doesn't work right away, offer it again in 3-4 days and be ready to do it a few more times. It is important that the baby clearly learns to recognize a new taste and finally decides on the verdict.

Keep vegetables in sight and introduce the child to them in their natural form

Let vegetables always be an available snack. Small reusable zip-top bags or containers with tight lids will help preserve freshness. As soon as the child learns to take a bite from a large piece, it is better to stop cutting vegetables into small cubes or sticks. Avoid techniques that encourage the baby to eat without realizing the feeling of hunger.

Cute molds for cutting figures from vegetables , trying to make them into images of cartoon characters or animals is a good idea for Instagram. But are you ready to carve bunnies out of carrots and make portraits of Mickey Mouse out of lettuce for the rest of your life? Your task is to teach the child to accept vegetables as they are, as tasty food, not a toy.

Stop talking about the benefits of vegetables

It is better not to create an additional background around the vegetables at all, because tension only increases resistance. This is especially important when communicating with children aged 3 and over. At this age, they already have a tendency to perceive adult claims about health benefits as a stop sign.

The fact is that most situations when children encounter the argument "it's good for health" have a negative connotation. This is what they say before visiting the doctor, when you need to go to bed, eat according to the schedule, or generally do something that the baby does not really want. For  a child, the main motive for eating should be the feeling of hunger and the desire to eat something tasty. The task of parents is to use it correctly and offer to eat those vegetables that they like.

Offer vegetables first

When the child is hungry, before serving the main dish, offer a small vegetable snack . For example, it can be pieces of vegetables strung on a skewer or vegetable sticks with Greek yogurt. This will not spoil the appetite, but the child will definitely receive a daily portion of fiber.

Avoid manipulation

Do not show your disappointment about the rejection of vegetables and do not show excessive joy if the baby ate a floret of broccoli or a piece of carrot. In matters of eating behavior, unwanted influence can have both negative and positive accompaniment. Demonstrating your disappointment or praising your child too much , you develop a habit of focusing food not on your own feelings, but on the opinion or approval of others. In adulthood, such an attitude can cause serious damage, causing various eating disorders.

Children with a strong attachment to their parents often have a high tendency to be obedient and a natural desire to please their loved ones. They will even be ready to eat something by a certain time, just something to get approval from mom or dad. But as soon as the child enters the resistance phase, which is a necessary part of development, he will try to demonstrate his own will in any way. And if vegetables are really unpleasant for the baby , then he will probably stop eating them.