It can be difficult to get your toddler to eat the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables. But there are some simple, creative tips you can employ to make sure your little one is getting enough of these essential nutrients. Read on for some of our favorite ideas for encouraging your toddler’s love of fruits and veggies!
- Sneak it In Whenever Possible.
The easiest way to get your toddler eating more fruits and vegetables is by adding them into their meals whenever possible. This can include grating carrots or zucchini into muffins, making sweet potatoes fries and blending up a smoothie with banana and spinach. These methods will ensure that even if your child picks around the veggies in their meal, they’ll still be ingesting essential vitamins and minerals.
- Make it Fun.
Letting toddlers help in the kitchen is a great way to make cooking fun while also teaching them about healthy eating habits. Ask your little one to help mash avocado or tomatoes for guacamole, or let them pick out which vegetables they want when you’re at the grocery store. You could also try turning snack time into an activity by cutting fruit into shapes with cookie cutters or arranging them in an artful pattern on their plates.
- Introduce New Foods Gradually.
When it comes to introducing new foods, it’s important to take things slow. Don’t expect your toddler to love every vegetable from the start—it takes time for children (and adults!) to adjust to unfamiliar flavors. Start by introducing a single serving of a new food once a week and encourage your child without forcing them.
- Pick snacks that contain fruits and vegetables.
There are some healthy snacks available that only have simple ingredients and absolutely no chemicals. There are some healthy snacks that are all natural and made with simple ingredients. Fruit bars and fruit rolls are my absolute favorites.
- Educate and encourage.
Visit local farms, farmers markets, and simply grocery stores to encourage healthy eating among your kids. Books about healthy eating are also a great resource.
Fruits and vegetables are essential components of any healthy diet, but getting toddlers excited about eating greens isn’t always easy! Nevertheless, with patience and creativity you can create an environment where trying new foods is not only accepted but encouraged. By sneaky sneaking veggies in wherever possible, making meals fun, and introducing new foods gradually you will help foster healthy eating habits in your little one that will last a lifetime!
The book I recommend can be found in Barnes & Noble (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/healthy-eating-with-liam-the-smart-rabbit-azaliya-schulz/1142940911)
Taste and Review activity can be downloaded https://azaliyaschulz.com/free-downloads/