Vegetables - do your children eat them?

[susyp]

Just wanted to update on this thread - the useful advice about just carrying on giving my daughter veggies but not making a fuss if she didn;t eat them (but big cheers if she did) was also backed up by a visit to a dietitian (not because of veggies hatred) - she said exactly the same thing - just ignore it if she doesn't eat it. Have tried this technique - and some veggies are going in, not a lot, but there is definitely an improvement and it's not a big deal for her anymore -she used to literally throw them over a shoulder if i gave them to her. Today she was picking out tiny bits of carrot from a chicken casserole and eating them as if they were sweets- most uncharacteristic. Tiny amounts going in, but still.....

susypx

[samstopit]

great news! glad you are having success. It will get easier from here.

S x

[sophiechristophy]

hi susyp, that is great! thanks for the update.

[Fuschia]

Nice article re eating: http://www.toddlerbedtimetips.com/toddler-food.html

[BB100]

My kids don't like carrots and peas but I found they will eat broccoli and greens. They won't eat most fruit but will eat melon and grapes. They won't eat lettuce but will eat celery and red pepper. Maybe trying some more variety might help to find out what they like.

I also serve up vegetables as a starter if I don't think they are eating enough fresh veg.

[Sanne Panne]

What seems to work sometimes (in fact it just happened again this morning and I'm sure I'm not the only one to have experienced/used this) is to have them try something during a playdate at someone else's house. Peer pressure. "Oh look, are you eating kiwi? Do you like it? Shall mama buy some kiwis on the way home too?". Make sure to capitalise on it quickly or they'll find the particular food "weird" again.

And "eat one more piece of broccoli before you get your next fish finger" is indeed a good one but I can only use that to get her to eat more of a vegetable she already likes. Oh and "are you done with your sweetcorn? Shall I eat it then?" "NO! It's MINE!". Ok, you eat it then :)

[Annette Curtain]

Oh dear, it sounds like vegetable snooker at the dinner table. Do you sit & eat together ?

Nette.:)

[Sanne Panne]

Yes eating together definitely helps loads and is good for many other reasons too as we all know. But it doesn't mean they mangent tout ;)

[samstopit]

Very stressed, tired mummy: 'Tea's ready!'

4 year old: 'What are we having?'

Mummy: 'Fish fingers and alphabetti spaghetti!'

4 year old: 'Oh mummy! I really wanted broccoli and carrots!'

Aaagh!! This child would not touch a vegetable until he was 3.

[susyp]

Yes I eat with her and eat loads of veg, and definitely the suggestion that I eat her food if she doesn't want it works in many cases, but not with broccoli! I think she will be fine though, since a chicken casserole at the weekend she will now eat carrot - major triumph - but only if its chopped up VERY tiny and in sauce. Carrot peas and sweetcorn all going in - and tomatoes. That'll do me for now. We eat stacks of veg as get organic boxes since I was ill a couple of years ago so the example is there for her I guess. Funny things little people.

susypx