There are many sources of ongoing parent-child conflict. Homework, excessive video gaming, and curfews are some of the more common culprits. But there’s another one that may be more persistent and antagonizing than all the rest: vegetables. Some of the worst knock-down, drag-out battles to befall otherwise well-adjusted families have arisen from the struggle to get kids to eat their veggies.

Moms and dads will try anything from threats and punishment to trickery if it means getting the kids to try their broccoli, carrots, cabbage and peas. Appearance, smell, the insistence of parents and the thought that vegetables grow in dirt all work against coercion and logic. Try some of these tactics instead.

Be a veggie lover

Bear in mind that kids will know right away if you’re being hypocritical. Why should they dig into the potatoes and cauliflower if you don’t? Be positive about eating vegetables. But don’t overdo it — kids can tell pretty easily if you’re trying to pull the wool over their eyes, so don’t turn cartwheels after one bite of lima beans. Let the kids see you eat vegetables as a normal, everyday part of your diet. If you just don’t like vegetables, be as convincing as you can with just a few bites.

Get kids to help in the kitchen

Children tend to be more enthusiastic about food if they have a hand in preparing it. Get them to help cook the asparagus and the corn, and explain how they can tell when it’s done and ready to eat. Invite the kids to suggest new ways to prepare vegetables. If they think adding some butter, cheese or lemon would help, let them tweak away if it means they’re willing to give it a try. After all, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nine out of 10 children in the United States don’t eat enough veggies.  

Menu selection

After analyzing thousands of samples of wasted vegetables, researchers at Texas A&M University discovered that meal menu selection may have a lot to do with whether children are willing to try vegetables. The natural assumption is that if you pair vegetables with something that kids really like, such as cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets or fish sticks, they’re apt to eat veggies when paired with a favorite. However, the opposite seems to be the case. The study’s authors suggest serving green vegetables with baked potatoes or a casserole, something kids aren’t as accustomed to eating, so it’s worthwhile to reconsider how you’re serving vegetables and what with.  

Do something different

If your kids tend to have a negative knee-jerk reaction to steamed vegetables, try preparing them in different ways. Nutritionists point out that roasting vegetables in the oven or on the grill is nearly as healthful as steaming them, so give roasting a try. 

Farm fresh

Try showing your kids where vegetables come from and how they’re grown. Take a trip to a farmers market or to a local farm where they can see firsthand how they’re planted, raised and harvested. Make a trip to a farm that lets you pick produce fresh from the fields. It’s a fun activity for the whole family. Encourage your kids to pick foods that appeal to them, and introduce them to interesting and unusual vegetables. 

Kids get a lot more from eating vegetables than nutrition and vitamins. They learn to appreciate and enjoy healthy foods and the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. You never know. They may actually like veggies.
Courtesy of Pixabay.com.