It is always a challenge to figure out just how to get your kids, and sometimes even you and your husband, to eat enough vegetables. While the colors may be vibrant, the flavors might not always be. So I have found some time tested ways to help my family get their recommended servings of vegetables, and turn veggies into their favorite snack!
Preparation is Key
When I got married, I even thought my husband would never eat vegetables because every time I steamed something up, it wouldn’t even make it onto his plate. It took nearly a year for me to realize that my husband would gobble up nearly every raw vegetable I could buy but couldn’t stand cooked vegetables; It turns out my kids are the same way.
Decoration
Remember why “Ants on a Log” were such a big hit? They gave you a craft project when you got home from school that was both edible and delicious. There is no reason why you have to give kids raw and bland vegetables; you can turn vegetables into tools, spread into paint, and have a contest with your normally stubborn kids. Plus the kids will get so much satisfaction over the fact that they just decorated something that they’ll feel just as much satisfaction knowing that it’s a treat that they get to eat. Scary Halloween cucumber slices and reindeer made out of carrots have been my kid’s favorites so far!
Get Creative with the Dips
While ranch might not by your favorite thing, it definitely will get the kids to start dipping everything from carrots to broccoli. My kid’s new favorite dip is Greek yogurt, which also gets in nearly a third of their needed protein for the day! Other good dips to get your family into are fat free options like sour cream and whipped cream, as well as my personal favorite: hummus.
Have the Children Grow them in a New Way
Sure you could not keep that little pea plant alive when it was sitting in a cup of dirt on your window sill, but remember how cool it was to grow your Chia Pet? Instead of having your kids dig through a garden or shop with you in the grocery store for veggies, getting them to grow them right in your own kitchen is a great way to help them learn, as well as get them excited for fresh tomatoes and cucumbers. I use special LED grow lights that give us wonderful organic fruit and vegetables.
Disguises
I thought my sister-in-law was crazy when I heard she fed her kids smoothies laced with kale and spinach. Well, I thought it was crazy until summer hit and I was trying to sneak a bit of Vitamin K into my kid’s diet. There was no way they would ever eat plan spinach or kale, but when I blended it well with enough dark berries and yogurt to disguise any hint of the leafy greens.
Guest post by Lucy Markham, an avid blogger and as a mother and new home owner, always looking for ways to improve her home and family.
