August 09, 2022
Photo from Unsplash by Nadine Primeau
Vegetable is a plant usually eaten as part of the meal. Vegetable provide nutrients which is vital for our overall health.
People who eat vegetables as part of their healthy diet have a lower risk of having chronic diseases like cancer, heart diseases, diabetes and many more.
I have known a lot of parents who have a hard time in letting their children eat vegetables. They wanted their children to eat vegetables but their children don't want to. Some of them will try to eat it but spit it after. Others won't really try eating or others will theow it away.
When they visited us and found out that my son is eating vegetables, they said "It's good that your child is eating vegetables. How did you let him eat it?"
I share some ways on how to let my son loves eating vegetables.
Be an example
I know some sayings that like father like son or like mother like daughter. It means that your children is like a little you. Probably they will have the same attitude or likes and dislikes like you.
Children tend to imitate what we are doing. So, one of the ways on how to let them eat vegetables is to be an example. Show or let them see that you eat vegetables. Show them how you love and like it. Tell them how delicious it is.
Showing them that you are eating vegetables plus you will say hmmm it's yummy, it's delicious plus your facial expression that you really like it will for sure encourage them to eat it too.
When my son saw a vegetable which is new to him, he will always ask, Mom, is it delicious? I will always say, yes it is. Then he will say, eat it first. Then, off course you will show him that you eat it.
My sister in law have a hard time to let her children eat okra or ladies finger because she herself is not eating it. She said that since she was young, she never likes it. Sometimes she became angry to her children for not eating it then we told her that she must be a good example.
Make it attractive, colorful and above all palatable
Photo from Unsplash by Gianluca Gerardi
The more different colors you have in your plate, the more nutrients you will got. I didn't say that you will need to put food coloring to make it colorful. You can have a combination of vegetables to make it colorful. My son really loves when I combine potatoes and carrots. He also loves a combination of squash, string beans, eggplant, ladies finger and other vegetables.
Make recipes or prepare food that contains vegetables
Kids really love fried foods. Sometimes I make patties with lots of vegetables. He really loves it. I used to make patties out of squash, potatoes and carrots, heart of a banana, and even some green leafy vegetables like moringga.
Let them help prepare and cook vegetables
Photo by me. That's my son helping me prepare the string beans
Children really wants to help. Allow them to help you in the preparation of vegetables as well as in cooking them. They will be excited to eat what they prepared and cooked.
Let them plant and take care of it.
Photo by me. That's my son watering the spring onions with the rice water
I don't know if you will find this important or helpful but just allow me to share about it because for me it does help.
My husband allow our son to plant some taro, cassava and sweet potatoes in the garden. Time to time he is excited for the harvest. When its time for harvest, he would be glad to help. He would be excited when we will cook it and again he is excited to eat what he planted.
I also allow him to plant spring onions and even let him take care of it by watering it in the morning and afternoon.
Let them eat raw vegetables when they are still young
Photo by me. That's my son eating slices fresh carrots
Children have a natural taste bud. They can even eat foods without sugar or salt when they are still young. During these times, allow them to eat raw foods because their taste bud is not yet acquainted with sweets or salty foods. Some raw foods that can be eaten fresh are cucumber, carrots, lettuce and even chayote. Have you tried to eat fresh raw chayote? If not yet, try it and you will be amazed.
Be consistent
Our children might not like to eat vegetables now but don't surrender, don't stop encouraging them to eat vegetables.
That's all for today. I really hope you find this blog helpful. Thanks for reading.