We will help you fix this by listing all the known and not so well-known ways to correct this situation. We will immediately stipulate one nuance – all children are different, so this or that advice may not be suitable for your child. Try different approaches, don’t stop – come up with something of your own, because you know your baby better than any professional.
1. Baby doesn’t like vegetables? Don’t talk about it
Never say in front of a child that he does not like vegetables or refuses to eat them. In this way, you only contribute to the rooting of this habit, and the culprit himself may perceive your words as the norm and, in addition, use the refusal of vegetables as a way to attract attention or even manipulate parents if he realizes how much this worries you.
2. Add to your favorite dishes
If the baby loves pasta and cutlets, add some vegetables to them, just a couple of pieces and do not force them to eat. Most likely, the fussy will not notice that he ate them. We advise you to pretend that nothing special happened.
3. Cook together
While preparing lunch or breakfast, it is impossible not to try the desired ingredient or salad. There is a good chance that spending time together in the kitchen every day will show your child the best side of vegetables.
4. Don’t Offer an Alternative Meal
When the baby knows that by giving up vegetables he will get another, tastier dish for him, then do not be surprised by the constant whims. However, the whole lunch should not consist only of vegetables, otherwise, the child will remain hungry.
5. Lead by Example
Children should see that their parents appreciate vegetables and eat them with pleasure. Sometimes a personal example is much more effective than persuasion and encouragement.
6. How to get your child to eat vegetables – creative approach
A dish of broccoli or a steamed vegetable may not be very appealing, but if everything is taken as a game, there is some hope. If a child sees broccoli that looks like small trees, he will certainly be happier, and maybe even the thought will not arise from refusing it.
7. Serve vegetables as juice
In case all else fails, offer vegetable juice, you can also mix it with fruit juice and then the child will not notice much difference. For a kid who goes to kindergarten or a schoolchild, we recommend leaving a bottle of juice in a briefcase. Even if he does not drink, the child can share with friends and see with his own eyes that vegetable juice can be delicious.
8. Color and shape
As mentioned, appearance matters a lot. Experiment with shape and color, make real drawings by adding cheese, raisins, meatballs to vegetables. Ships, planets, a clearing with flowers… The possibilities are endless here.
Some children are stubborn when it comes to food, and incorporating vegetables into the diet can be a process that requires a lot of effort and patience. But do not give up, look for an individual approach, because habits created at an early age remain with a person for life.