kids who don't eat their fruits and veg

My mom always told us broccoli were little trees. That always got us to eat them. Maybe add cooked carrots and pees to a meat loaf. They won't even know they are there.

Please don't hide foods your kid hates in other food. It can create trust issues and more picky eating.

I'd ask her why she doesn't like them. Find out if there are any she's willing to try/eat, or a way to serve what she will eat. I was always happy my kid ate something, even if it was dipped in peanut butter.

EDIT: keys keep moving

Does anyone have any suggestions about how to get kids to eat their fruits and Veggies. I have a little one of 9 who does not eat any fruits or even veggies. Is their anything I can do to make it a good experience.

My oldest does not like veggies. He does like fruit. Does your child like smoothies? Maybe if you could put it in a fruit/veggie smoothie?

I do a little bit of Chocolate Whey Protein, then fruits, veggies, yogurt, and lots of veggies. I SHOW my son what I'm doing, and he still drinks it. Be careful of berries, because they have seeds and therefore the texture makes it strange.

The other thing we make is carrot mashed potatoes. My kids LOVE these orange mashed potatoes, and they get potato and carrot in them. We use whole milk so they taste rich. Good luck! The veggie/fruit war is ongoing in my house, although my kids do like most fruits.

I've been "lucky" enough to have three kids that all love fruits & veggies, and I always just kinda thought it was because it was one of those things where it was all they were offered when they were first starting foods, so they didn't really get a chance to like the not-so-healthy stuff. We skipped baby cereal (rice and oat) with all of them, and actually totally skipped traditional jarred baby food as well...I just took whatever fruits & veggies we happened to be eating and ran them through the food processor (yep, even with whatever spices they were cooked in) until they were a thin/fine enough consistency the kids could eat them. We started letting our kids try to feed themselves pretty much as soon as they started on purees and solids (around 7-8 months)...helped them as needed, but let them be involved with their food from day one. All of them have certain things they don't like, and I never have and never will push them to eat mass quantities of food they don't like--we have a "two polite bites" rule, they have to try at least two bites of EVERY food on their plate, and if they don't like it, they don't have to finish it. We don't make them clean their plate if they're full--I was forced to finish every bite as a kid and now have this weird guilt thing, particularly when I'm around my parents, where I feel like I HAVE to finish every bite regardless of how hungry or full I am, just so I'm not "wasting" food. That said....

Ideas to get them to try fruits & veggies---get them involved!! I personally am NOT a fan of hiding food within other foods to trick my kids into eating them, but it does work for some people....I just kinda feel like there's better options out there that will get the kids to actually WANT to try fruits and veggies.

* Let them pick out things at the store they would like to try. Any time my kids want to try a new fruit or veggie, we get it. We don't go overboard and buy mass amounts, but will buy one or two pieces or a small package to try, that way we don't waste a bunch if its something nobody in the family likes. I keep a little bit of extra money in the grocery budget specifically for that every week, because with kids (at least with mine), if they don't get to try something right when they WANT to try it, they likely won't want to try it again any time soon.
* Let your child help cook/prepare the fruits & veggies they pick. At 9 years old, your kiddo is plenty old enough to be helping in the kitchen if they aren't already. My 5 and 7 year old are in the kitchen at almost every meal, chopping, stirring, blending, etc. Let them hop on recipe websites and search for recipes, and let them TRY making them with your help as needed.
* If you have the space, let your kiddo plant their own fruits & veggies. Container gardens are great for small spaces, or a big garden is great if you have the room. There's just something awesome about being able to eat stuff that you grew on your own, and to be able to share it with family & friends is even better My kids LOVE to take fruit to friend's houses and tell them that they were the ones who grew it.
* Don't push it! If your child only likes apples and bananas, then just keep apples and bananas. Of course offer other stuff and encourage them to try them, but eating an apple or banana every day is better than eating no fruits or veggies at all, know what I mean? It may seem boring and repetitive to you, but kids are weird about having the same thing every.single.day. and it doesn't phase them at all.
* If they want to dip in weird stuff or make strange combinations, let them! It may seem like the most disgusting thing ever to you, but if they like it and it's getting fruit & veggies in them, who cares? My oldest loves to dip raw broccoli & cauliflower in peanut butter, and my daughter will dip ANYTHING, including fruit and cereal, in ketchup. Totally gross to see them eat, but whatever floats their boats.

HI

I love adding spinach and fresh veggies to my smoothies, I add them in my moms shakes and she likes it. Hard for her to chew simple things Like lettuce or spinach. Also, I used cauliflower to make a low carb pizza. the crust was made w/cauliflower and cheese. You just have to get creative. I wouldnt make it a 'big deal' when you make these recipes, just be creative. Kids are funny eaters and will grow out of picky eating.

I suggest getting them involved in help you cook. Once I was in Calif visiting my great nephews...each night we made milkshakes for dinner. One night the youngest one (age 7) wanted to make his own...added oreos, strawberry kiwi greek yogurt, milk and other crazy combos). Even his siblings were grossed out...needless to say, because he made it...he drank it all and swore it was the best milkshake in the world! lol! so basically they will want to eat their own creative inventions!

While in Dallas two wks ago, I fixed my God babies dinner and made oven baked sweet pot fries from scratch and tossed in light cinnamon, sugar and nutmeg. My sorority sister didn't think they would eat sweet potatoes, but they ripped thru them...even the two year old! I find that the fresher and raw ...the better vs. frozen or canned. Even take them w/you to pick out the fruit and appreciate the color and smells!

I've realized even as an adult, I use to always say what I DIDNT LIKE, until a chef at work began preparing foods in different ways and it opened up my eyes and taste buds. Over time your taste buds will change ...just keep an open mind. So teach your babies that life lesson for sure!

good luck, Shan

I never had a problem with fruits and veggies with my kids. However, each one has one veggie they will not eat and one they just can't seem to get enough of. My grandson, loves broccoli, but only if it is dipped in ketchup. Actually almost anything dipped in ketchup is good to him.

You might want to try frozen grapes and apple pieces to see if they like that ice cold crunch. You can also try the frozen fruit bars in place of popsicles.

Naked is also a great product if they like juice. The little one loves Green Machine, because of its name and the fact that its green.

My kids like asparagus - but it wasn't easy.

We have a rule that you have to try at least one bite of everything on the plate before you say no to it. If they don't eat anything on their plate then I save it for them. And if they say they're hungry later they can eat that. But that's another story.

So I served asparagus once. Girls didn't like.
Served it a second time. Girls still didn't like it. I liked it so I wanted them to like it.
Served it a third time - girls ate two whole spears each (they are 3 and 5).

So really what I'm trying to say it just keep giving it to them. By the 3rd time you'll know if they really like it or not.

Does anyone have any suggestions about how to get kids to eat their fruits and Veggies. I have a little one of 9 who does not eat any fruits or even veggies. Is their anything I can do to make it a good experience.

Kids won't eat what doesn't taste good to them if other stuff that tastes good is in the house. Kids don't eat for nutrition, they eat for taste.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Maybe find different methods of cooking the veggies and adding different seasonings. My kids love roasted veggies. They also love dips hummus, honey mustard, ranch, ketchup, salsa, ect. Maybe she can help plan meals? Look at cook books or online for ideas together. Take her shopping with you and have her help cook. Kids are more willing to try foods they helped make. I know I love to try what I make.

The key is to give the fruits and veggies to your child when they are babies, so they grow up developing a taste for them. Too many people just give junk to young kids and they never develop a taste for healthy food.

I've actually also heard that what women eat while their child is in the womb affects what they have a taste for. Freaky!

Take away everything else until they have to eat through starvation. When I refused to eat my veggies, my mum just said I could leave the table and go hungry to bed instead.

Nobody is 'born' with a certain set of eating preferences. They eat what they're used to, and they get fussy eaters if they're allowed to much unhealthy foods.