You parents out there, how do you get your kids to eat vegetables?

Also, they have to see you eating veggies regularly. They tend to copy the parents.

How old are they?

When they are young you can sneak them into sauces, soups and smoothies and you can also still use those squeeze packs for snacks.

Try preparing them different ways...my son (age 4) likes carrots cooked but not raw, etc.

My son will also eat caprese salad like there's no tomorrow. He likes anything with balsamic vinegar so he'll even eat lettuce if it has balsamic. Find the salad dressing they like and let them dip their vegetables in it.

Well then we need a proper study.

Chimps raised on a typical american diet vs their regular wild diet.

When my daughter was about 7 she got an affinity for soda (from her dad) she didnt like water at all but would drink apple juice and junk juice (like capri suns and such, which were plentiful at summertime parties)

I sat her down, we got the cookbook out and looked up how much a teaspoon of sugar was. We did the math together on the can of sodas sugar content. Then I took two cups. I poured the soda in one and then got out the sugar bowl and started spooning the sugar in the empty glass, based on how many grams were in the soda. Holy shit, you just keep spooning it in!

Anyway, she got the picture right then and there and we came up with filling a gallon pitcher with water, lemon juice and about half the sugar that was in that one can of soda...with the idea to taper off as the got used to the flavor. It worked great and it wasnt long before she kicked the soda and juices and started going for the water.

Kids understand more than you think they do.

Yep that was the story of my youth, traumatized by being forced to eat mushy peas and carrots that I hated. But now I've got em both in the kitchen.

Nice post.

Quality of life is a major factor too...being happy and not always grumbling about having to graze...

Hey Fred, wanna play a round of golf?

Nah, I just started eating this tree and it's going to take five or six hours...

Last Edited by BRIEF on 08/11/2020 07:26 PM

A bit harsh, Trin...

I'm the kid who was told at school "you don't have to eat your vegetables, your mom isn't here."

My daughter just enjoys them, I guess. Maybe it's hereditary; the taste for certain things, I mean...

After three hours at the dinner table my dad threatned to blend it up and get a funnel from the garage to force it into me.

Complete asshole.

Find kid friendly veggie recipes and let them participate in cooking them. It makes a child want to try what they help make and teaches them basic cooking skills.

Last Edited by FireBorn on 08/11/2020 07:37 PM

Yes, that's one of the things I've learned today, thanks.

Grate up zucchini and carrots for spaghetti sauce :)

Your welcome. Veggie pizza is a good one.

Not a bad idea.

Lately we've gotten creative with broccoli, lol.

Yes I used to hide peas in my paper napkin, terrified my Dad would catch me.

Lol, my fav was spreading the veggies around, to make it look like I ate and it never worked.

I would act like I had to pee, then stuff my mouth full and go to the bathroom and spit it in the toilet. Flushing it got rid of the evidence

Lol, holy shit that was funny!

I had the same problem especially with one of my kids. We always gave the a little snack before they brushed their teeth and went to bed. We always told them they have to eat the veggies to get the snack later. It usually worked.

Give them only veggies for dinner for about a week and they won't have a choice.

Who is the parent in this scenario?

#1 Don't breed.
#2 Stuff your carrot in their mouths if they don't finish their broccoli.

Never had an issue with either child. But they were raised in a garden, which helped them connect to vegetables.

Find a good cheese sauce recipe.Put the veges on the plate and drizzle cheese sauce over the veges.

They fucking starve if they don't. Quit being a lil bitch.

Smothering the veggies in cholesterol cheese isn't what I'm looking for.

Try lemon pepper seasoning -- it's like the bacon of spices... it makes EVERYTHING taste better.

Maybe choose less dirt tasting vegetables like gooseberries (technically a fruit) or sugar snap/snow peas.

Buy a food processor and mash the veggies up or make hummus.
Season the shit out of it to deceive their little nose/taste brains... they are quite picky about extreme tastes and smells.

Give them sun chips to dip into the (broccoli) "dip".

This is what worked for us too. Veggies were always on the table, often snacked on in the garden, and everyone participates in harvest and preserving. Some kids don't like this or that vegetable but every kid likes all different kinds. Roasted beets are a fave, same with asparagus. Salads with mild greens, seeds, nuts and fruit ( tat soi is super popular with kids for its mild taste). Most of my kids turn their nose up at kale, mostly because I put it in everything.
I just chop it more finely and call it parsley. Grate zuchinni or summer squash into pasta sauce. Make homemade soups with the kids. Zucchini can go into breads, mock apple pie bars, muffins..all things kids love.