Neat ways to get kids to eat thier veggies

[bluebird]

What are some neat ways to get your kids to eat AND enjoy veggies? I allowed my kids to eat veggies raw with a ranch dip. When I found out how much sodium is in most dips I started making my own. It worked, because my kids are now teens and older, they eat thier veggies.

[andyandlexismom]

I add veggies to a lot of soups. As long as it's not potatoes or celery. lol!

My kids love raw veggies and dip, too.

I sneak mushrooms, onions, carrots..etc into meatloaf and hamburgers.

[Crafty Amanda]

I've actually bought those V8 Fusion drinks that have vegetables and fruits, and they are really good! The kids are clueless they are drinking vegies LOL

All of my kids like broccoli. We used to call them trees when they were little. They keep going through different stages as they grow up. I have two kids that LOVE salad and two that won't touch it.

:-P

[Kathy]

The trick is to introduce fruits and veg early in life as soon as they start solids. I've never had a problem getting them to eat the right stuff.
I made their baby food from scratch starting with potato, pumpkin, and slowly from there.

Colour the food, mashed potatoes can go in many colours, get them to help prepare the food, help with a veg garden knowing they can go anytime to pick a veg (beans are good) and eat.

Lasagne and spaghetti bolognaise are good to put mashed veges in (mix with the sauce)

I loved a couple of years ago ds2 came home from a 3 night school camp, he said Paul was hungry cause he didn't eat hardly any of the food, cause he hates veg, and hates this and that! DS2 said it was great food.

[Linda coolen]

Always have fresh fruit available and put out veggies at 5pm or just before dinner/lunch. It's surprising what children will eat at those times.

[andyandlexismom]

Originally Posted by Linda coolen

Always have fresh fruit available and put out veggies at 5pm or just before dinner/lunch. It's surprising what children will eat at those times.

Oh, isn't that the truth! My kids are say that they are starving right around that time.

[Kathy]

Isn't that the truth, they probably think they are getting a way with something sneaky cause I always say NOT to eat to close to dinner!

[Linda coolen]

That's a great insight Kathy, I never thought of it that way.
*Whatever works*
Linda coolen

[Crafty Amanda]

I agree Linda, great idea! My kids seem to be the hungriest right after school. That's a great time to put out celery and peanut butter or ranch dip, or apples and peanut butter

[Susan Metcalf]

I am enjoying reading Kingsolver's book Animal Vegetable Miracle. I have a friend who is going on 3 years old, and I read her bedtime stories sometimes. Any food stories out there for toddlers?

[Linda coolen]

Hi sister,
I looked at my library of kids books and found two. For toddlers; "Yummy, Yucky" and for preschoolers "Pretend Soup". Your little one might be between the two but they're worth a try. I'm sure there are many others. I also enjoyed the Kingsolver book.

[UmaNanna]

Originally Posted by Crafty Amanda

I've actually bought those V8 Fusion drinks that have vegetables and fruits, and they are really good! The kids are clueless they are drinking vegies LOL

All of my kids like broccoli. We used to call them trees when they were little. They keep going through different stages as they grow up. I have two kids that LOVE salad and two that won't touch it.

:-P

My kids loved V-8 vegetable juice. I love the new spicy hot variety. Put a little vodka in it and the adults are all about the veggies too. lol

[andyandlexismom]

My kids love the V-8 juices, too.

My son loves broccoli but my dd will only eat the stalks and then, only once in a while. They both love salads so that's a plus.

Pasta salad is another great way my kids will eat veggies that they normally don't eat. I can even get them to eat tri-colored pasta in it.

[Kathy]

The V8 juices are all very dear over here so don't buy them.

I made a tomato based veg soup and put some in the freezer, tonight with that vege soup I will add some tomato paste and we will have vegetarian spaghetti bolognaise.