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3 Tips to Get Your Toddler to Eat Their Veggies

3 Tips to Get Your Toddler to Eat Their Veggies

As a parent, you want the best for your children, and that includes giving them all the nutrients they need to grow up healthy. But as we all know, getting them to eat their veggies can be a serious battle, and often doesn’t feel worth the hassle.

But, there are ways to make it easier. From sneaking vegetables into their food to making fruit and veg more appealing, here are a few tips and tricks and get them eating the right things.

 

1. Smoothies

Smoothies

The best part about smoothies? You can put in whatever you want, and your kids will be none the wiser! They’re packed full of health benefits and are super easy to customise for breakfast, snack time or supper. They also tend to be naturally sweet which kids love.

Plus there are so many different ingredients available; spinach, strawberries, bananas, kiwi, carrot, the list goes on, so there are bound to be a few different variations that are kid approved. 

All of this makes smoothies one of the easiest and most delicious ways to get your toddler to drink their fruit and veggies.

 

2. Hide Vegetables in Food

Hide Vegetables in Food

Yes it’s sneaky, but what they don’t know won’t hurt them – in fact it will do them a world of good!

Here are some examples:

  • Add some mashed cauliflower to mashed potato – you really can’t tell it’s there.
  • Blend onions, mushrooms and tomatoes to spaghetti bolognese.
  • Finely grate some vegetables of your choice and add to homemade burgers or meatballs.
  • Add a layer of spinach to a lasagne.
  • Slice some peppers and use them as a pizza topping (covered in cheese of course).
  • Swap fries for sweet potato wedges – they’ll notice the change here but they might love it!

 

3. Serve the Veg First

Serve the Veg First

It may seem obvious, but if kids are hungry, they will eat. Putting vegetables on a plate next to other more appetising food won’t work, they’ll fill up on the unhealthy stuff and the veggies will always loose. Here’s a better idea…

When your kids are getting tetchy during the pre-dinner hours, don’t give in and let them have a snack of their choice. Instead, try placing a plate full of veggies on the table, you might be surprised what they will munch on when they’re hungry! Chopped peppers, carrots, tomatoes and cucumbers are great snacky food ideas full of goodness, and it shouldn’t fill them up too much before dinner time.

Our professional staff at The Riverside Village Nursery often put some of these tricks into practice and we’ve seen great success! If you want to read more about what our nursery offers, click here.

Riverside Nursery