I am the mom that serves things like powdered kelp and tahini to my babies. I make plain yogurt at home and add things like nutritional yeast and liquid DHA for babies to dishes. I steam and puree every vegetable I can think of and spoon it into those tiny little mouths. And I do believe I laid a good foundation for my kids being more adventurous eaters.
But with that said, I have to admit that my oldest, in particular, will still have days where she wants nothing more than to survive off food that is orange and brown (bread, cheese, peanut butter). So if you are ever feeling guilty that you “didn’t do enough” to get your kids to eat fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods, take it from the mom who went all out in that department: kids are just going to be picky, at least from time to time.
Vegetables for Kids
BUT….I do believe that if you are feeling defeated in the battle over vegetables for kids that I can offer some tips that will help!
Offer Variety
First and foremost, if your child is still a baby, then there’s no time like the present to introduce as many different flavors as you possibly can. You’d be amazed at the things that you can puree or just chop up and put on their high chair trays. With my youngest, Layah, I have found that there are days when she just really wants to feed herself. That’s when I ditch the purees and break out things like rice and peas. She goes to town!
Offer Often
Also, if a baby rejects a food, put it away for a few hours and try again. Just yesterday Layah only ate 2 bites of the sweet potato porridge I made for her breakfast. I offered it to her again for dinner and she ate the entire thing! Just because they reject it once, that doesn’t mean that they won’t ever like it.
Set the Example
My nine month old is interested in trying ANYTHING that is on my plate. That motivates me to make sure I’ve got plenty of good food there. For example, yesterday I was having mac and cheese and I will admit, I didn’t have any vegetables on my plate at first. When I saw Layah making googly eyes at my food, I hopped over to my freezer and got some sugar snap peas. After a few minutes in the microwave, they were steamed and ready to eat. I got a good serving of veggies, and BOTH of my kids ate a good amount, too…all because it was on mommy’s plate!
Veggies ARE Snacks
My 3 year old asks for “a special treat” every day after her quiet time. I have moved out of my bad habit of giving her something sweet and started to offer her fruits and veggies. Carrot sticks with hummus, for example, have become one of her favorite “treats.” If you treat vegetables like they are something to look forward to, then they eventually will become so!
Blend Tastes
It is true that some vegetables have a more bitter taste, which can make them tough to swallow, literally. But I have learned that there are some vegetables that go nicely together and improve the overall flavor when combined. Earth’s Best has just launched a line of Organic Veggie Purees. These, my friends, are the new best friend of parents battling picky eaters.
Earth’s Best does an excellent job of finding the perfect match of vegetables to puree together so that the taste is fantastic and the nutritional benefit is huge. Darah begs to eat these any time she sees them in the pantry. She thinks they are “special treats.” And they are…they just happen to also be really good for her!
Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win all the new Earth’s Best Veggie Pouches!
Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.
I am a blog ambassador for Earth’s Best, and as such I have received complimentary products as a thank you for my time. All thoughts and opinions express here are strictly my own.
holly says
my daughter loves all fruit but won’t eat veggies unless they’re in pouches!
Gianna says
Yum to potatoes and zucchini.
Michelle f says
My little girl loves corn and broccoli
Earle I says
We were very lucky. We started our kids early and never stopped. We use fruits and veggies as snack treats. They really love broccoli. Go figure.
liz l says
My niece likes carrots
Jenny says
My son loves bananas
shanta spradlin says
My son really likes carrots
Mindi says
My daughter loves corn and my son hates it!
kristy dobbs says
he loves sweet potatoes
Misses Giveaways says
my kids love just about everything
Allison says
Peas, anything green doesn’t go
Julia Goldberg says
sweet potatoes was my 2yrs favorite. Now my 6 months old is getting ready to eat. He likes bananas and strawberries so far
Ed Nemmers says
The little one loves baby carrots!
jenn poulin says
Mine loves broccoli!
Renae says
My daughter isn’t picky about vegetables at all but her favorite is probably sweet potato.
Kari Flores says
I’m pretty lucky my 7 year old son loves most vegetables will even eat salads but he absolutely will not touch a mushroom which is OK because it is my favorite vegetable (more for me).
Melissa says
Love carrots HATES peas!
susan smoaks says
our son hates broccoli
Erica C. says
He hates spinach.
Rickie Hinrichs says
Carrots I convinced her it’s good for her eyes she actually believed me.
Ann Council says
He does not like peas.
Ashley Morrissey says
My son loves it alllll! But, especially carrots!
Racheal says
My godson loves carrots.
Brittney House says
My kids hate peas, but I don’t blame them, peas are gross. They love green beans
Paula Michele Hafner says
My son loves carrots. He doesn’t like cauliflower.
jeanne conner says
Peas just have not gone down from day one…..
Danielle Wood says
sweet potatoes by far
JoAnn F. says
My grandson loves corn.
jofo120 at yahoo dot com
kimberly pugliese says
my little one LOVES sweet potatoes, but we haven’t found ANY food that she doesn’t like yet!
alli says
My little one loves everything except cucumber!
leah says
My son absolutely loves carrots. He would eat them at every meal if i let him
Beth C says
loves broccoli hates carrots
Solducky says
Mine love broccoli and green beans, but don’t care for carrots much. So I sneak carrot juice into their smoothies. 🙂
sarah t says
my son loves cucumber
Jessica O says
My daughter loves peas and carrots!
Sara Wood says
my son does not like peas
Zoopa M says
Loves broccoli but won’t eat anything else thats green!
Amity Johnson says
My girls actually love edamame…
DAN VERMEULEN says
No surprise, Broccoli
sarah says
My daughter loves peas and carrots.
Maria Kiguthi says
My kids both love collard greens.
Vicki Wurgler says
loves peas and carrots
Lindsey G says
Good tip – I always offer a sweeter snack when Sophia asks, I’m gonna try to sneak some vegetable sticks in now! 😉
Shannon says
Peas!!!
casey everidge says
loves apples and carrots!
Ttrockwood says
My nephew loves cherry toamatoes and cucumber
Alycia M. says
He loves peas!
acartwrightmorell at gmail dot com
Brandy Fisk says
Loves cabbage in egg rolls!
Linda Lansford says
They hate ocra
Deborah says
Loves sweet potatoes (not a vegetable lol).
josh says
my guy loves the broccoli!!
amy says
loves broccoli – hates potato.. what a weirdo.
Leslie J says
Loves peas — hates broccoli!
Abby says
My youngest is seven months and just getting started with anything other than breast milk. So far she’s only had bananas and avocados (mixed) and she loves it!
Sandy Cain says
She hates sweet potatos —- strange, everyone else loves them!
jess says
My oldest wont eat any veggies!
Rachelle says
My daughter likes most, but is not a fan of asparagus
Alexa B. says
dont know yet. we’re starting solids next week.
Dana says
Love broccoli, but hates spinach.
Kim Burnett says
My son loves carrots
Sarah says
My 8 month old has a love-hate relationship with peas!
Sarah Davis says
My son loves carrots but hates peas unless they are pureed.
allison s. says
loves cucumbers!
Stephanie Larison says
My daughter loves carrots
Shannon Baas says
loves peas.
Danielle K says
My son loves sweet potatoes!
ColleenMarie82 says
My daughter loves Broccoli
Alison says
Hates squash
Adrienne says
Used to love sweet potato, but now hates it…..
Deborah Grant says
She loves carrots .
brandy says
Mine love peas!
Maryann D. says
My kids never liked peas
Kristi says
She loves broccoli and hates green beans
jenn says
loves bananas cannot stand peas
Sunnie says
They like all kinds of fruits and vegetables, they dont like bell peppers.
Debbie Clauer says
My oldest daughter loves cucumbers.
Janet W. says
My grandson cannot stand carrots. Hates them!
renee says
My oldest daughter loves turnip greens which I think are completely disgusting.
Renee G says
My son hates peas
Colleen Maurina says
Our little guy loves broccoli and peas!
beth cole says
My boy loves carrots!
Denise M says
my little one loves broccoli but hates spinach