Getting your child to love vegetables is not a one-step process, no is there any way to force him or her to change the way taste buds report flavors. But there are some good ways to set the stage for kids to like vegetables, and other ways to "sneak" the healthy stuff into the little dickens when they're being ornery.

First, when you are ready to start feeding your baby more than just rice cereal and breast milk or formula, start with vegetables. Begin to introduce them to the baby with the green ones and move from there to orange and yellow vegetables. Introduce fruit to your child's palate last, so that they do not learn to expect everything to taste sweet. Once they've learned to appreciate the savory flavors of vegetables and pureed meat, the fruit is more of an expansion of the field of tastes than the one thing that they like.

If it's too late for that, or if your little ones are stubborn about trying new things, there are many ways to get the veggies into your child's diet without making a federal case of it. One way is to simply throw in some frozen mixed vegetables when you're cooking. Grocery stores have more varieties available than meals you cook in a week. I put them in nearly everything, including spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, and tuna casserole. Most dishes readily accommodate the addition of a few vegetables without a big change in the taste.

Another way to add vegetables to your child's diet is to use things like cream of asparagus or broccoli soup instead of cream of mushroom when you cook. If you're using two cans, one of each gives about the same flavor and a lot more veggies. This also helps accustom them to seeing vegetables in their food, especially if you start early and make it a long-standing habit.

Make vegetables readily available at home. Keep baby carrots and trimmed cauliflower in the fridge for snacking. Offer all different colors and textures. That's how my kids ones discovered beets, which they love cold. If they are used to seeing and eating them it's less likely that they'll pitch a fit about it.

You don't need to force your child to eat vegetables or make a big issue about eating them - that will only create a power struggle that no one will win. Make sure that they see you eating your veggies, too. And let them watch a little Popeye, if you can't find any other way to get them to eat their spinach. My boys now request it on their pizza!

Learn more about this author, Mel Bergen.
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