How to get kids to eat veggies?

**northernmom2boys** · 09-10-2006, 08:04 AM

I have a 9 year old and a 5 year old.The 5 year old will eat veggies like they are candy,my 9 year old will not eat without a fight.Its not like one was more exposed to vegetables than the other.How do you get your kids to eat vegetables.I think I have tried every trick.HELPPPPPPPP

**dwallyfam** · 09-10-2006, 08:43 AM

For my daughter I would just put two to three bites on her plate. Tell her she had to eat that. Usually since it was a small amount we didn't have to many problems. Now she thinks veggies are great.

**leezza** · 09-10-2006, 12:43 PM

We were very lucky to have homemade balanced meals as we were growing up, we had to try at least one bite of something before saying we didn't like it.........I like all vegi's now except for those baby cabbage things.

I say make her try all things...........if that doesn't work maybe make her more of the items she does like.....

leezza

**Daisygirl** · 09-10-2006, 12:49 PM

My kids love veggies. One of their favorite ways to eat broccoli, cauliflower and fresh green beans is sauteed, then right before serving, put in some of that chinese honey garlic sauce and turn the heat up for a couple of minutes until it carmelizes. They will eat till it runs out their ears fixed that way.

Also, there is raw with dip, in cheese sauce, and another favorite is steamed and topped with butter and a dash of lemon pepper.

My girls also like what we call squish squash, which is simply squash that is boiled then mashed like potatoes, and seasoned with seasoning salt, butter and brown sugar.

They have to eat at least a couple of bites. If it is something I know they will be picky with, that is all they get on their plate and they can't have the "good stuff" until they eat their few bites of veggies. If you try that you have to hold firm. She may go on a hunger strike briefly but she WON'T starve!

**AmyMCGS** · 09-10-2006, 02:18 PM

Ranch dip! My DD likes most veggies, but sometimes doesn't want to eat (veggies,meats,anything). Add a little ranch salad dressing, though, and she'll eat anything.

**pkellyc** · 09-10-2006, 02:33 PM

I put them in my food processor and would sneak them into everything. My dd would gag upon seeing an onion. Meatballs, meatloaf, casseroles, gravy and sauces nothing was left untouched. I also didn't stop at onions, celery and carrots. Broccoli, cauliflower green beans and whatever else I had went in.
Now this was for the extreme non vegetable eater. I don't think it was the vegetables themselves it was the texture she didn't like. I also fed her a lot of fresh fruit which she would eat.

**pkellyc** · 09-10-2006, 02:38 PM

One more thing I forgot to mention dd is 20 years old now and she doesn't eat all vegetables but there are quite a few that she will eat. Not so bad. I myself just absolutely dislike lima beans.

**northernmom2boys** · 09-10-2006, 07:05 PM

Well tonight I got him to eat potatoes,carrotts and a bit if corn wooo hoooo ,he drowned it all in ketchup but I guess thats a start lol
Its weird we have always eaten balanced ,meals and he was exposed to veggies from little but hes not like his brother.

**momof42003** · 09-12-2006, 03:55 PM

Does he like raw veggies?? I mean, my daughter (3) loves baby carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower- IF it was not cooked and she had her ranch dip... So I serve those to her as a "snack" before dinner... Just because it is dinner doesn't mean it HAS to be cooked...She still has a dislike to any kind of potaoes, but I think that is a texture thing.. The other thing we have always made our kids do until they were over 5yrs was to make them eat as many bites as they were old.. Once they were six they had to eat 5 bites, not a bite more.. This has helped enormously... I hope that your nine year old starts to enjoy his veggies more.. Good luck.

**i.m.cheap** · 09-12-2006, 05:28 PM

Baked sweet potatoes with a little butter and cinnamon are yummy and good for you!

**Daisygirl** · 09-12-2006, 05:47 PM

Sounds like tonight was a victory, ketchup and all. Hey ketchup is made of tomatoes......hmmm....

**northernmom2boys** · 09-12-2006, 10:36 PM

thats what I figure ketchup is made from some tomatoes so its a start lol
I have been putting my foot down this week and we are having veggies every night and its no sweets after dinner till veggies are gone.Some nights I get tired of fighting and just give in,no more!!!!! lol
Thnk you all for your suggestions
Michelle