In a recent column Joyce Houston of Project Lean in Eureka discussed the issue of feeding children vegetables. She noted that vegetable preferences usually begin in childhood and are greatly influenced by family members and child care providers. It is important that children be regularly introduced to a variety of vegetables.Since some children do not like new foods right away, it is important to be patient and try again in a few weeks without pressure and without comments. The following ideas may help improve your success rate:- Approach new vegetables as an experiment. Allow the child to choose it in the store, smell it, cut it and taste it raw. Then look for a creative way to prepare it.
- If a child states they don't like a food. It's best to say something like: "Sometimes a food tastes good to us and sometimes it doesn't. Maybe the next time we have it, it'll taste good to you." This allows a child to dislike a food with no big deal, but try it again. A frequently served vegetable has a better chance of being eaten and preferred eventually.
- If a child asks if they liked it last time consider saying: "I don't remember, let's see how it is this time." Sometimes allow the child to decide which vegetable will be prepared. Make it a choice between two that are neither strongly liked nor disliked.
- Help the child raise a small vegetable garden, even a container garden. They will usually eat what they grow.
- If a child snacks on pieces of raw vegetables while dinner is being prepared, it's all right if they don't eat them cooked at the meal.
- Remember that when someone says negative things about a food or foods the child hasn't liked previously, the child listens and learns to dislike it or continue disliking it without giving it a chance.
- Talking to friends or relatives about what a child won't eat while the child is present, reinforces refusal of the food.
- Help prevent iron deficiency anemia by including iron-rich vegetables: broccoli, spinach, white potato with the skin, artichoke hearts, asparagus, green beans, kale, hominy and green peas.
Keep mealtimes pleasant.
Do not force a child to eat. |