prepared broccoli with dinner one evening. Simply tell your child, who has refused to as much as try broccoli up to this point, that he or she must try just one small bite of the broccoli. If an honest attempt was made to taste it, but your child still finds it unappealing, then praise your child for trying the broccoli, and move on to the following step.

~ Offer a healthy alternative.

Make it a household rule that if the vegetable being served with a meal is disliked, then another vegetable or fruit must be chosen in its place. It is important that you do not place conditions on what that fruit or vegetable should be, but instead, allow your child to decide. Also, it is important to keep in mind that fruits contain many of the same vitamins and minerals that are found in vegetables, and their natural sweetness can be much more appealing than the sometimes bitter taste and hard-to-chew texture of certain vegetables. Also, allowing your child to choose an alternative will help him or her to feel respected and empowered, and you will still feel as though you are ultimately in control of the situation.

~ Be a positive role model.

If you, as a parent, continually sing the praises of vegetables and healthy eating in general, and practice what you preach, then it is highly likely that your child will, over time, follow in your footsteps. It is not fair to demand that your children eat vegetables when your own actions do not demonstrate the habits you are attempting to instill in them. Also, let your child know that it is perfectly alright to favor certain foods over others, and that there are, in fact, some vegetables that you do not like. This will prevent your child from feeling as though it is somehow wrong to have an aversion to vegetables, and it will help him or her realize that you can relate and understand.

All in all, it is entirely possible to find many ways in which to ensure that your child is eating vegetables. The key is in understanding your child's personal preferences as far as food is concerned, and using a bit of imagination and creativity to make vegetables more appealing. Food likes and dislikes change over time, and as a child grows, he or she will most likely reach a point where vegetables will not be seen as the enemy, but as a healthy and well-liked type of food.

Learn more about this author, Mary Ann Rudy.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

• << previous page
• 1
• 2

---

Add your voice

Know something about How to get your child to eat vegetables?
We want to hear your view. Write now!