Jul 27, 2011

Ten Tips and Tricks to get your kids to eat more vegetables





I fell in love the second I suspected I had a pea in the pod.

I did not particularly care what the sex would be, what color, fat or how tall ...

My main concern, and it still is - is for health, character and ability to love.

So, from the second I was aware, I began to change my 'tude, the things I ingested and was adamant about safety, seat-belts, and industrial responsibilities to our eco-sphere.

Yup, one zygote started ALL that!!!

Well, the cards were on our side and 15 years ago, I managed to bring someone into this world who is pretty darn healthy - and let me tell ya ... there were NO organic food markets back then.  I simply went to markets that I knew went straight to local farms. My other blessing was that my little tyke's pediatrician was from Italy and never prescribed any antibiotics for my brood. She was authentically nature-based before it became trendy and I am forever grateful for this stroke of good fortune.

She taught me how to mash basic dinners and to use as little processed baby food as possible.

THAT was a chore in the beginning, but it soon became part of our routine and lil Bub went directly from breast milk to mashed organic as possible diet that included little to no processed baby food.

This was such a HUGE help when it came time to feed a 3 year old broccoli. It was LOVE instead of repulsion.

SO, my ten tips to get kids to eating veggies??

1) START EARLY
eat them so your breast milk has the flavor. once they are old enough, feed it to them. don't ask, just do it.

2) EAT THEM ALL THE TIME
who says asparagus isn't a breakfast food???

3) LEARN TO SEASON
once taste-buds become defined, palates are seeking flavor. don't be afraid to spice.

4) PUT VEGGIES IN EVERYTHING
smoothies, bread, rice, pancakes, crepes

5) LATE BLOOMING?
add veggies to meatloaf, baked potatoes, mask in foods that the kids already enjoy

6) DISCUSS
have frank discussions (or eat hotdogs Chicago-style - which is a SALAD on a hotdog) about health, energy, best practices to living right

7) BE A ROLE MODEL
healthy eating is as healthy eating does

8) INCLUDE ALL MEMBERS, yes the dog
when choosing the best diets, include everyone, even the family pets

9) EXPERIMENT
new recipes are fun

10) VLOG
do a video about it and post it. when your family sees how much fun can be had, they will jump on the bandwagon!


“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Peas and Thank You blogging program for a gift card worth $30. For more information on how you can participate, click here.” 

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