There's no doubt about it: trying to get the kids to eat their veggies can be akin to the search for the Holy Grail - it can just feel impossible. But the good news is, that it isn't. It requires some effort, consistency and thinking outside the box so that they can see that eating their greens needn't be dull, it can be fun for them too. Below are some easy ways to get the little ones chomping away and clearing their plates.
Set an example
Your child will essentially eat based on the examples you set them. If they don't see vegetables regularly on their dinner plates (or yours!), it will be much harder to expect them to eat them daily. Kids eat what they know and if they see their parents eating them, it just becomes the norm as opposed to a 'big deal' to them.
Get them involved in the prep and cooking
If the little ones are involved with their food from the very beginning - from the seeds to harvesting the plants to the cooking stage - they'll get a lot of enjoyment out of the actual eating of their meals and won't think twice about eating their vegetables. Lidl's plant pots make this part simple and easy-to-do, simply spend €20 in store to receive your free seed pots and get planting. The kids will love it.
Make it fun
Who else had parents who made each dinner plate come with an elaborate backstory? The kids might find a plate of greens intimidating but if you make the eating of them a game, it takes the 'scary' element out of it and encourages mealtimes to be more focused on fun and healthy eating, as opposed to something to dread - especially if veggies are involved.
Don't force them to clear their plates
One thing parents all know to be true is that kids will neither starve themselves or let themselves go hungry. This is important to remember on the days that you might think you're hitting a wall. Kids can go through non-hungry phases, as long as they aren't going through a day not wanting to eat, if their appetite wains and they leave some food on the plate, try to avoid forcing them to finish everything. Forcing a child to eat a food they don’t like will only serve to create a negative meal experience, and if they associate food with the bad feelings, they'll never want to eat it.
Reward good eating behaviour
Creating positive experiences around food can help to fend off those fussy eaters. Giving them simple 'treats' for eating their greens, for example, can help them to associate this with something good. And if you're not sure how to start this, going for a simple method is best. Research has shown that rewarding a child for trying one bite of a rejected food or things they point-blank refuse to eat with things like stickers makes it easier for them to try the food.
Keep at it
Don't give up! Getting the kids on a healthy eating pattern requires time and patience, especially if they are fussy eaters. But the habits they pick up in childhood will remain with them well into adulthood, so it's worth persevering with positive examples each time they sit down to eat.
