How do you get kids to eat more fruits and vegetables?
I know most of you either don't have kids or yours are grown, but I have to try to stay on topic once in a while. After all I am the babysitting lady! Kids are my business.
If your kid just does not like any fruits or vegetables, I can't help you. But, if it's just that they reach for chips or sweet snacks first, the following ideas might help. I always tried to get my kids to eat more fruits and vegetables. I tried putting the fruit basket right on the table in front of them at breakfast and lunch time but that made little difference. I'd ask both of the kids what vegetable they'd like for dinner. I'd end up cooking 4 different types only to have 3/4 of it thrown away.
Then one day I figured it out. My kids would always be asking when breakfast would be ready or lunch or dinner because they were "starving." Who says the fruit or vegetable had to be eaten with a meal?!!! So now, in the mornings I take a plate and put out at least 3 -6 types of fruit all washed, peeled (oranges), sliced, diced, and ready to eat on the table while I'm making breakfast. Ta-da,..... the fruit gets eaten, and if there is any left, I finish it off, why not - it's good for everyone.
Next, I tried to head off the dash for the cookie jar after school. Just before they get off the bus, I put out some celery with peanut butter, celery sticks, carrots, and ranch dressing for dipping, or apple slices with yogurt for dipping. Wa-la - they eat it!
Dinner is more difficult, mostly because there are few vegetables that we all enjoy. We do all like salad, so a few nights a week we have salad. Sometimes I will just put out raw carrot sticks and celery which everyone also enjoys. Then, whenever I'm baking at night, I'll peel apples to really bake a pie or dutch apple cake or sometimes I just peel them because the kids love to eat the peels. I don't imagine they taste different off the apples but I remember liking them also when I was a kid. that's my two cents today!
Comments
And it's true, I'll ALWAYS eat sliced apple. But seeing THE WHOLE, not as appealing. I'm sure there is some psychology there...
All the best,
April BraswellRomance Coach, Online Dating Coach
Applesauce is a hit here. Bananas are still too green.
Tim
My understanding is the soluble fiber from the peel is very healthful.
And your kids are lucky you're so dedicated and clever.
Sheridan
Hunger is a great motivator as well.
Steve Chambers
Sales Training
Having fruits just there ready to be eaten and leveraging your kids hunger is a brilliant idea Lisa.
I must be a big kid as I still have to force myself to eat more fruits and vegs and use a similar idea. I always put a banana, an apple and a large bottle of water on my desk each morning before I start work. Getting to the more tempting but unhealthy stuff requires getting up and going to the kitchen, so I leverage the "law of least effort" and reach out for what's in front of me instead. It works well for me.
All the best
Yann
Yann Vernier - Personal Coach
Not to worry, Lisa, I'm sure that those who don't have children still enjoy your ancedotes -- they bring back lots of memories for me.
These are great ideas. A good snack that they, and you, may enjoy is real air-popped popcorn (not the commercial junk in a bag) with apple slices.
Or, I suggest to my clients: have a contest -- kids love 'em; you also participate -- who eats something of each colour each day? A simple little chart on the computer can easily cover the week and you can use up those little stickers the kids have. Whoever 'wins' for a timeframe you choose (such as a week), gets to choose what to have for supper on a specified night. We always had 'kids night' on Wednesdays when the children were little (like 3 to 10) -- my son would choose pizza, pasta, tacos, fajitas; my daughter rack of lamb and roast potatoes or lemon chicken, with a salad.
Sue Crutcher, Baby Steps to Success Expert
Tim, have we ever met in person - you're a riot! "Tastes like chicken" hmmmmm that could be a lot of things. Every time I hear that phrase, I think of my sister-in-laws brother who's really into fishing and hunting because his dad always was. He's a little rough around the edges but I love him. Anyway, he'd come home from school and go out back and catch a squirrel for a snack! Ughhh He said it tasted like chicken.
BTW, I didn't mean to make it sound like I purposefully don't feed my children for a little while so they'll be hungry, it's just that little kid thing like "are we there yet?" Naturally they are hungry at mealtimes and fruit doesn't fill them up before a meal like a handful of cookies would. I think you knew what I meant though.
Yes, I knew what you meant! Kids are always hungry, little fire box. Grazing all the time, and growing! New clothes again!
Tim
everything tastes like chicken!
My parents used to play a game with me and my brothers when we were little. They cut up red bell peppers and green bell peppers. And then they'd bet us that we couldn't taste the difference between them with our eyes closed. We would take taste test after taste test to prove we could. Brilliant move on my parents' part.
Sounds like you have your own brilliant ways to entice your kids to eat their veggies.
Jennifer Skinner
Wardrobe Planning Expert
I have no children but I wanted to say that I do enjoy your blog
and you said you didn't know anything about sales or marketing
Yes squirrel does taste like chicken
Focus Your Energy
Matthew Shields
I have no children but I wanted to say that I do enjoy your blog
and you said you didn't know anything about sales or marketing
Yes squirrel does taste like chicken
Focus Your Energy
Matthew Shields
Great ideas to get the kids to eat fruits & vegetables.
Vist my blog at
scottalexanderbell
And web site
I am The Road Warrior
Aaron
David Power
Expert in Hypnosis, Success Thinking and Practical Parenting
Scott A Bell
I am The Road Warrior
congrats on your rise to international consciousness
www.kevinhogan.com
A resource being use to improve kid’s nutritional status is a new book “The ABC’s of Fruits and Vegetables and Beyond.”
Hey Lisa.
making your skin more beautiful
Noelle,
Thank you for your comments. I checked out the site. Is it yours, or are you an affiliate? I'm personally not into those types of pre-made entrees but they appear to be healthy for those out there who are. I wish fulltank foods all the best.
Lisa McLellan
Child Care Expert
Hi Lisa. I work full time for Full Tank, so the microwave can be my friend! But you are right. Most of the time, the nutritional value is not there. These products have excellent nutritional value and they are organic. So when I am short on time, Full Tank is a quick, healthy option. Interestingly enough, my son has autism and he has sensory issues with the color, texture, and smell of veggies. Again, Full Tank helps him get the veggies he needs without the fight.
P.S. I love that picture of your dog. What a cutie. What breed?
Hey Noelle,
That's my Border Collie - Molly. I didn't have any decent pictures of myself for the blog because I am never in the pictures - I'm always the one taking them. My 8-year-old took that shot.
Anyway, if your company would like to trade reciprocal links, I would certainly add them to my site. My website is fairly new but has already been viewed in over 25 countries. Please contact me through the "contact us" button on my website it they're interested.
Thanks,
Lisa McLellan
Child Care Expert
I thought that was a border collie! We just got one ourselves, but he has a little bit of lab in him. Such great dogs.
As for reciprocal links, we are just in the process of setting up a blog. Let's chat in a month. I think that is the more appropriate place for reciprocal links. Just went to your website. It is fabulous! Very informative. What a great resource Wish I knew about it when my kids were younger!