How can I get my 3 yr old to eat fruits & veggies?!
My son is now 3 1/2 years old and he weighs about 37lbs! By looking at him, he's not 'fat' but I can tell he's not as lean as he used to be!. Over the past several months we have moved to a new house, had a baby, and traveled A LOT so his diet has been a lot of fast food and or "quick" meals (i!.e!. mac & cheese, pb & j, french fries, cheese pizza)
He doesn't like veggies, except corn!. I can't get him to eat anything! Honestly, nothing!. A typical day's meals are: Breakfast: Cereal w/soy milk (usually fruity pebbles or similar type cereal) Lunch: Pb & J, his snacks are gold fish, sometimes a banana (if he's in the mood) or crackers!. Dinner is usually Mac & cheese, "veggie" hot dogs (made from soy) or other "non meat" foods such as a veggie burger!. That's pretty much a typical day!. He is a vegetarian, so I'm constantly concerned about his diet since it's mostly centered around 'carbs' and such!. My question is, what are some ways I can include veggies & fruits into his diet since he's SO picky!?!? (He won't even touch fruit juices by the way!)
Thank you for any help you can give me! Www@FoodAQ@Com
He doesn't like veggies, except corn!. I can't get him to eat anything! Honestly, nothing!. A typical day's meals are: Breakfast: Cereal w/soy milk (usually fruity pebbles or similar type cereal) Lunch: Pb & J, his snacks are gold fish, sometimes a banana (if he's in the mood) or crackers!. Dinner is usually Mac & cheese, "veggie" hot dogs (made from soy) or other "non meat" foods such as a veggie burger!. That's pretty much a typical day!. He is a vegetarian, so I'm constantly concerned about his diet since it's mostly centered around 'carbs' and such!. My question is, what are some ways I can include veggies & fruits into his diet since he's SO picky!?!? (He won't even touch fruit juices by the way!)
Thank you for any help you can give me! Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
I think that there are several ways to get him started, hopefully at least one works for you!. First, if he's hungry, he'll eventually eat what you offer!. So before you make him a sandwich, try giving him a few sliced apples or a couple of grapes!. Tell him you won't make the sandwich until the apples are gone!. It only has to be a few bites!. He may rebel and skip lunch for a few days, but he'll eventually be hungry enough to eat them and as long as you don't give in, he'll learn that your serious!.
Another idea is to sneak in the fruits and veggies!. Chop up carrots and celery very small in casseroles and even in his mac and cheese!. If they are small, he won't notice the taste or be able to pick them out!. Squashes may be good because you can mix them in and hide them well in certain foods like mashed potatoes!. Maybe try berries in his cereal and on top of his ice cream!. You can even sneak in some fruit in his next pb/j sandwich!. If he likes strawberry jelly, slice up a few thin pieces or fresh strawberries and he won't even notice them in between the peanut butter and jelly!. Eventually, he may find that he likes peanut butter and banana sandwiches or pb and berry sandwiches!.
You can try a wide variety, and make sure you're eating them in front of him so he can see the example!. Try things like strawberries and blueberries and some of the sweeter fruits!.
Remember that beans are a good source of protein, and are healthy too!. Try homemade chili or black beans in his next burrito!.
A great way to eat some fruit is a smoothie!. For breakfast, a snack or to go along with lunch and dinner, or even a dessert that night!. Just use a little yogurt, some fruit (bananas, berries, peaches, pineapple, mango, and coconut work well), a little milk and some ice and you have a great healthy fruit filled drink that tastes wonderful!. Top it with a little whip cream and a cherry and you've got a real treat!
You can also try fruits and veggies with dips!. You can chop up all sorts of fruit to be dipped into caramel, melted chocolate, cool whip, marshmellow cream, honey, pb, etc!. Plus, dipping is fun!. He may eventually like to dip veggies in ranch or even chip dips!.
I hope some of these ideas help, remember that his nutrition is up to you, even if he seems to refuse fruits and veggies, you're the one who is responsible for his health!. He may throw a few ugly looks at what you're trying, but if he's hungry, he'll eat what you give him!. If you always give in, he doesn't benefit!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Another idea is to sneak in the fruits and veggies!. Chop up carrots and celery very small in casseroles and even in his mac and cheese!. If they are small, he won't notice the taste or be able to pick them out!. Squashes may be good because you can mix them in and hide them well in certain foods like mashed potatoes!. Maybe try berries in his cereal and on top of his ice cream!. You can even sneak in some fruit in his next pb/j sandwich!. If he likes strawberry jelly, slice up a few thin pieces or fresh strawberries and he won't even notice them in between the peanut butter and jelly!. Eventually, he may find that he likes peanut butter and banana sandwiches or pb and berry sandwiches!.
You can try a wide variety, and make sure you're eating them in front of him so he can see the example!. Try things like strawberries and blueberries and some of the sweeter fruits!.
Remember that beans are a good source of protein, and are healthy too!. Try homemade chili or black beans in his next burrito!.
A great way to eat some fruit is a smoothie!. For breakfast, a snack or to go along with lunch and dinner, or even a dessert that night!. Just use a little yogurt, some fruit (bananas, berries, peaches, pineapple, mango, and coconut work well), a little milk and some ice and you have a great healthy fruit filled drink that tastes wonderful!. Top it with a little whip cream and a cherry and you've got a real treat!
You can also try fruits and veggies with dips!. You can chop up all sorts of fruit to be dipped into caramel, melted chocolate, cool whip, marshmellow cream, honey, pb, etc!. Plus, dipping is fun!. He may eventually like to dip veggies in ranch or even chip dips!.
I hope some of these ideas help, remember that his nutrition is up to you, even if he seems to refuse fruits and veggies, you're the one who is responsible for his health!. He may throw a few ugly looks at what you're trying, but if he's hungry, he'll eat what you give him!. If you always give in, he doesn't benefit!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Make his food interesting, make a big deal all day about a 'special' lunch today, then create a smiley face or other picture out of veges, completely, with a yummy gravy or alternative saucse over it!. Serve it for yourself too, and make delighted noises,!.!. yummy! oh how lovely!! etc,!.!.!. He'll see you and be convinced!. Good Luck!!
:)Www@FoodAQ@Com
:)Www@FoodAQ@Com
Get him to dip his veg in peanut butter!.
Splash out and buy lots of different and exotic fruits for him to try!. He's eat because he's curious and you should find some that he enjoysWww@FoodAQ@Com
Splash out and buy lots of different and exotic fruits for him to try!. He's eat because he's curious and you should find some that he enjoysWww@FoodAQ@Com
Try casseroles!. I think it all depends on his tastes, so try different recipes and different fruits/veggies to find what he likes the taste of!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Just keep on getting one of things and try it with him !.The thing you least expect might be the thing he loves !.My daughter is addicted to oranges and water melon its all trial and error Www@FoodAQ@Com
Grind them altogether so that your child would never know what's in his food!. (^^,)Www@FoodAQ@Com
Sounds pretty typical, kids like things pretty bland and plain!. You didn't mention if he likes fruit and yogurt, or real juice popsicles!. Cheese sauce makes veggies more appealing!. Try making some sweet potato fries!. Apple sauce can have other fruit blended into it!. There may also be an element given his age of trying to control things!. Especially with all the changes in your lives recently!. You might try a little reverse psychology and not allow him to have fruits and veggies!. also regarding leanness!. Kids tend to grow out then up!. Make sure he gets a good multivitamin each day!. You can also try mixing some healthier cereal in with the fruity pebbles!. Cheerios or something with some whole grain!. Www@FoodAQ@Com
As a parent you have the same problem the majority of parents have!. All you can do is your best!. Find the best food available that they do like and just encourage your kids!. With my kids their diet changed year by year as they grew up!. They went from hating vegetables to loving them by the time they were 16!. We didn't force anything on them, just encouraged, but always made sure they ate something that was healthy!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I know that most children hate casseroles so I won't suggest them!.
what you should do is start giving him chopped up carrots or celery with a dip, I know most children like celery with peanut butter, and you can give him carrots with humus, keep on introducing new vegetables that you know he;ll like, you can make corn soups, there's probably a website for children vegetarians so try googling it, you'll probably;y get a million ways to make him like vegetables and fruits!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
what you should do is start giving him chopped up carrots or celery with a dip, I know most children like celery with peanut butter, and you can give him carrots with humus, keep on introducing new vegetables that you know he;ll like, you can make corn soups, there's probably a website for children vegetarians so try googling it, you'll probably;y get a million ways to make him like vegetables and fruits!.Www@FoodAQ@Com