Vegetables! The word that sends most children running and screaming from the opposite direction of the table! How many times have you heard a parent asking how can they get their child to ingest a few? Just a couple? Please anything to soothe the fears that their child isn't getting enough of what they need!

From one Mommy's point of view she thinks she has the answer. Why? Because she has been conquering this one step or rather one bite at a time!

With my children I always introduced veggies as a first solid food. Not once did they get a taste of the good stuff (strawberries, raspberries, etc) until I had them enjoying the fine cuisine of strained peas!

Of course that soon changed when they no longer had to be fed by me. Once they fed themselves they held their ground! No way hose was something that awful green color being any part of their diet. What was my plan of action? Disguising! For instance.. Cauliflower pureed hides nicely in mashed potatoes.. a little bit of pureed carrot in spaghetti sauce? Never knew the difference. I felt like the Master of the Universe. Until of course I was caught one day by an ever so clever 4 year old.

We now in our home have developed a rule at dinner time called "The One Bite Rule". They are encouraged or have one bite of everything on their plate. Including those pesky vegetables that cause so much terror to the child and peace of mind to Mommy. Dessert is a great way in our house to further encourage this rule. No one bite, no dessert. Often after trying the one bite they realize they do actually enjoy a certain veggie, or for that matter different items they normally would not be willing to try. It has proved to be a good dinner time rule and the kids feel proud of themselves after dinner for being so brave.

But as for me I am still praying they will come out with some candy flavored veggies! Or make then a fun color.. PLEASE ANYTHING!

Learn more about this author, Shanna Dietsch.
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