What to do if your child doesn't like vegetables? 7 tricks to make picky eaters fall in love with vegetables!

"Mom, I don't want to eat this, I just want to eat what I like..." Broccoli, beetroot, cabbage, green onions...these are all vegetables rich in nutrients and beneficial to human health, and they are also the most popular vegetables for young children" Spit on" vegetables. Not liking to eat vegetables is probably a "common problem" of most children. For parents, it is a big problem for the baby not to eat well. They have used various methods, but they don’t work. Every meal time, the baby in the family becomes a little devil, and eating is like a war, which makes the adults exhausted . As a parent, are you often helpless against your children’s picky eaters? However, as long as you guide them correctly and don’t put too much pressure on your children, they will naturally learn to accept new foods after a long time. If necessary, you can also listen to child care experts for advice. Experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics, Natalie Digat Moos and Sally Sampson shared 7 ways for children to make their children not picky eaters. Mothers may wish to learn from them.

1. Parents should set an example for their children.

Children are picky eaters because they mimic their parents' behavior in deciding what to eat and what not to eat, according to a UC Santa Barbara health study. Experienced parents know that children like to grab things and put them in their mouths, whether it's food, mud or soap, they eat them with great joy. What parents don't know, however, is that these little ones watch how adults react to certain foods from an early age and then follow suit. If parents want their kids to eat broccoli, they should set an example by eating it from the first day their kids can eat. When eating, parents should show great interest in food, and they can praise while eating: "It's delicious!" "We all like to eat." Children will actively imitate after receiving positive hints.

If children are not to be picky eaters, parents must set an example, and teaching by example is more important than words. As a parent, if you don’t eat a certain vegetable yourself, it’s even more difficult to expect your children to eat it! Studies have shown that children who grow up in families with healthy eating habits are less likely to be picky eaters and are more willing to try more vegetables they don’t like. At the same time, it is more likely to develop the habit of eating fruits and vegetables. Especially mothers should pay more attention to balanced nutrition during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The mother's choice of food will affect the taste of amniotic fluid and milk, which is very important for children to develop good eating habits.

2. Make vegetables more interesting.

The study found that eating vegetables for children also needs "selling points", and food with good color, fragrance and taste can more arouse appetite. When it comes to food, the child's primary concern is taste, hunger and nutrition are irrelevant. Often due to a developing sense of taste, children prefer sweets and are less interested in healthy vegetables such as tomatoes and squash. You may wish to give the food a name, such as "see-through eye carrot", "superhero pumpkin", or make some food shapes, such as: cherry tomatoes are used to reconcile colors; tomatoes, bell peppers, and zucchini can be used as containers after being hollowed out. It can increase children's vegetable intake from 32% to 66%.

A large number of psychological studies have found that don't ask children what vegetables they like to eat, and help the little ones make decisions. A good option is to provide children with brightly colored "rainbow vegetables". Examples include beets, corn, carrots, broccoli, and cucumbers.

In order to increase the food interest, experts recommend that it be equipped with small food, such as some ice cream sticks and bell peppers when making carrot and cucumber ice cream. There are many ways to increase children's appetite, and imagination is the greatest productivity. In general, the key to solving the problem of picky eaters in children is to attract children's attention and stimulate their curiosity.

3. Pay attention to collocation, small quantity and many categories.

Another trick to whet your child's appetite is to combine a variety of foods. Even for adults, a plate of vegetables with a wide variety, bright colors and novel shapes looks more palatable than a dull pot of zucchini. Parents should carry out meal matching scientifically and reasonably. In the case of a reasonable combination, even children who don't like vegetables will eat more to avoid waste. For vegetables such as carrots, cherry tomatoes, small pieces of cabbage, cabbage heads, etc., we can encourage children to eat with their hands.

For children with picky eaters, you can try to provide a small amount of food and stimulate them repeatedly. Parents can also enhance their children's interest in eating through positive demonstrations and pleasant guidance.

4. Hide vegetables in food.

For children with picky eaters, vegetables can be combined with other foods organically. Parents can add a very small amount of vegetables to their children's favorite foods, for example: stir vegetables and meat together to make stuffing, or use vegetable puree and dough to make meatballs, dumplings (baozi), delicious and healthy, He Leer Why not?

Experts suggest that in the cooking process, we should learn to jump out of the routine and find another way. Endive smoothies, carrot pudding, veggie cakes, spinach pancakes...these are delicious, nutritious treats that are a great way to combat picky eaters in kids. Come and try it!

5. Combination of meat and vegetables, more vegetables and less meat.

A study found that combining vegetables with a child's favorite foods can greatly increase a child's vegetable intake. Foreign comparative studies have found that after kale and cream cheese are paired, children's vegetable intake increases from 20% to 72%. Another study found that when half the plate is meat and only a handful of vegetables, kids will naturally save the vegetables for last. And if the amount of vegetables is doubled, the child will be more interested in vegetables. In addition, it is recommended to encourage children to eat vegetables before meals—that is, when they are very hungry—and avoid serving vegetables at the end of the meal.

6. Take more children to the vegetable section of the supermarket

Next time you prepare food for your kids, ask them what they would like to eat, or take them to the supermarket to pick out some of their favorite vegetables. Preparing food according to their preferences can not only meet children's independent needs, but also make children more willing to accept your dishes. However, following does not mean catering. If parents have other dishes that they want to prepare, such as spicy Thai dishes, they only need to put less chili in the child's portion.

7. Let the children become "assistant chefs"

Kids may not like vegetables, but they have a passion for cooking. Children usually prefer and are willing to taste vegetables that they pick or cook with their own hands. Purchasing ingredients, cleaning vegetables and fruits, preparing dough, making meatballs, cleaning tableware... These are all jobs that children can do and can improve their enthusiasm for eating.

When adults are cooking, it is good to ask children to wash the vegetables while cutting vegetables, or to tidy up the table. Studies have shown that when the whole family participates in the cooking, mealtimes are more relaxed, and children who participate in the cooking tend to have a more positive attitude towards eating, because they are more willing to eat the dishes they helped to prepare. Giving your child the nickname "assistant chef" can encourage them to eat more healthy foods and develop good eating habits.