Toddlers are notorious for their strange eating habits, such as liking something one day and not touching it the next, or going for days only eating one type of food.
This is because a young child needs time to get accustomed to the tastes, textures and smells of different foods; and also because toddlers enjoy asserting their own independence and making choices for themselves.
So, if your tot says “no” to the plate of delicious veggies you’ve just put in front of them, it may not be because they hate them; they may need more time to try them, or they want to test their boundaries (and push your buttons).
Vegetables are a great source of nutrients for a toddler’s growing body and brain, so here are some ways you can get them eating their five-a-day.
1. Hide or dunk
If your little one screams at the sight of veggies on their plate, try disguising them in purées, sauces, soups and smoothies. You can leave some on the side of the plate, too, just in case they want to try them out.
Toddlers enjoy feeding themselves, so why not give them a small serving of yoghurt, hummus or applesauce to dip veggies in? If they can have a little fun and feed themselves independently, they’re more likely to enjoy mealtimes.
2. Play with food
And we don’t mean throwing it at the wall! Why not make some funny faces and shapes with fruit and veg to amuse your tot? Get creative and they’ll appreciate the effort.
You can also try serving different textures, i.e.: raw, cooked and mashed veggies, to see what they enjoy most. Try mashing a little carrot and parsnip together, or whatever combination your toddler enjoys. Ask them to “taste” the vegetables for you and describe the flavour. This is a good way to distract them and get them to try new vegetables.
3. Explain where vegetables come from
You could start a small garden patch of veggies or take your toddler to the supermarket with you. Toddlers are extremely curious and seeing where vegetables grow or helping you do the shopping can pique their interest.
Next time, they are at the dinner table, the boring old veggies may seem more interesting to them.
4. Use incentives
If your toddler refuses to eat a meal with vegetables, offer rewards such as dessert or playtime afterwards. Make sure your toddler knows this is a conditional offer, only available if they finish their entire meal.
It can take a toddler a while to get through a meal, so be patient and encourage them. However, if they are flat-out refusing to eat, let them know when mealtime has come to an end.
5. Keep trying and never give up
Toddlers are fickle, and their tastes and moods change easily. So, keep an open mind and offer your tot an assortment of vegetables - even if they have only shown an interest in one or two types.
They may surprise you (and themselves) by helping themselves to something different out of pure curiosity.
