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Entice Your Children to Eat More Vegetables

By Lori Piper, published Oct 23, 2007
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As a parent, do you often become weary of repeating yourself? How many times over how many meals have you been repetitious with the phrase; "eat your vegetables"?

Maybe, just maybe it is not your children or you, but the vegetables that need some shaking up, some changing.

Ways to revamp vegetables #1

Color can do wonders to plain broccoli and/ or Brussels sprouts. Add some sliced red and yellow pepper to the mix as well as a sprinkle of black pepper or red pepper flakes.

Ways to revamp vegetables #2

In the mood for squash, but your children are notorious about not eating it? Sautee stale or almost stale bread (see there is no wasting of food) in a skillet with some olive oil and garlic. Toss over zucchini or roasted butternut squash. It looks completely different now.

Ways to revamp vegetables #3

Green beans not being enjoyed as a staple of any meal? Remember, they taste better crunchy not soggy and chewy. Still need a way to entice children to eat more green beans? Toss in some sliced toasted almonds.

Ways to revamp vegetables #4

Bacon, bacon, bacon. Slice up some turkey bacon and mix with spinach. Kids will be clamoring like Popeye in no time. Okay, maybe not, but at least they will eat spinach when it is served for dinner. In addition, spinach enchiladas are a great way to serve this vegetable as well.

Ways to revamp vegetables #5

Potatoes on the menu but all your children want is butter, sour cream, and cheese? Sprinkle some basil, oregano, and thyme over the potatoes. Offer only scallions and fat free ranch dressing as the "dressings" for the potatoes.

Ways to revamp vegetables #6

Frozen stir-fry vegetables are easy to make and inexpensive to purchase. Children are not always impressed with such things are they? Try whisking together some rice vinegar, soy sauce, and minced garlic and then pouring the mixture over the stir-fry veggies.

Ways to revamp vegetables #7

Toss in raisins or dried cranberries in with any green vegetable. It will look more appeasing, and young children can play the game of eating all the green to find different colors. You can add nuts as well.

Comments
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Very creative suggestions. I never had a problem eating vegetables as a child. They always seemed to taste so delicious. Sophie

Posted on 10/29/2007 at 6:10:00 AM

 
Great ideas. I saw Jerry Seinfeld's wife on Oprah earlier this month and her book is all about purees with veggies and hiding them into the foods. It was a neat idea and I hope the book will assist me in being creative.

Posted on 10/28/2007 at 11:10:00 AM

 
Super ideas for sure!

Posted on 10/28/2007 at 9:10:00 AM

 
These are great ideas.

Posted on 10/27/2007 at 10:10:00 AM

 
good article

Posted on 10/25/2007 at 3:10:00 PM

 
These are good ideas. If all else fails, I just say tell the children that they will not eat at all. That may help to get them to eat their vegetables.... especially when they become very hungry.

Posted on 10/25/2007 at 8:10:00 AM

 
Great ideas.

Posted on 10/24/2007 at 11:10:00 PM

 
Really great tips as usual!

Posted on 10/24/2007 at 11:10:00 AM

 
Great tips! Thanks!

Posted on 10/24/2007 at 11:10:00 AM

 
Some excellent ideas here. I like fresh green beans cooked in the oven 350 for about 15 minutes. Put a little olive oil and seasonings in a bowl with the green beans, mix them around and spread them out out on a cookie sheet, pop them in the oven and they are a little cruchy. The kids really like them this way. I add a little soy sauce to mine after cooking.

Posted on 10/24/2007 at 5:10:00 AM

 
All great sounding ideas! The mayo mixture for veggies sounds delish, I will have to give that one a try! My kids love spinach and broccoli (not sure which planet they are from), but have a hard time warming up to squash, so I could definitely use that suggestion. Thanks for sharing!

Posted on 10/24/2007 at 5:10:00 AM

 
Great article I am going to try some of them.

Posted on 10/23/2007 at 9:10:00 PM

 
cleaver ideas

Posted on 10/23/2007 at 7:10:00 PM

 
Great ideas. My kids all liked mashed potatoes so they would bury their veggies in the potatoes and gulp them down like that.

Posted on 10/23/2007 at 3:10:00 PM

 
You have some really great ideas for the veggie department. Not everyone here will eat veggies.. so I will try some of your ideas.. thanks.

Posted on 10/23/2007 at 3:10:00 PM

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