by Pat Merewether

Created on: April 02, 2010   Last Updated: November 03, 2010

The best way to encourage children to eat fruits and vegetables is to give them choices when they first start eating solid food. Avoid giving them unhealthy snacks that are loaded with sugar, fat and salt and present them with colorful, tasty natural foods, such as strawberries, blueberries, carrots, snow peas, etc.   However, here are some suggestions that will help you if you still have difficulty getting them to eat enough fruits and veggies.

Carrots are sweet and are easy to hide in many foods.  Shred or finely grate a carrot and stir it into your pasta sauce.  It will cook down and disappear into the sauce, while helping to thicken it and give it a sweeter flavor.  Grated carrots added to meatloaf will also be undetectable and make your meatloaf more moist and flavorful. You can do the same with parsnips. Add a 1/2 cup of finely grated carrots to cake batter, brownies or oatmeal cookies.

Ants-on-a-log is fun way to let kids help you prepare a treat. Cut celery into three-inch lengths, fill the pieces with peanut butter and add 'raisins' or the 'ants' on top.

Parsley is a super food when it comes to nutrition.  Chop it finely and add to soups, sauces, burgers or meatloaf.  Parsley leaf tea comforts an upset tummy.  Simply pour a cup of very hot (not boiling) water over a 1/4 cup dried parsley or a large hand full of fresh parsley and steep for five minutes.  Add honey or agave syrup to sweeten it and a bit of fresh lemon juice.  This is a good way to introduce your children to healthy, medicinal tea.

Fruit smoothies are delicious and easy to make.  Place a 1/4 cup of orange juice, a 1/2 cup (or more) of milk (rice, soy or almond mild works well in smoothies), a handful of strawberries, 1/2 a banana and a tablespoon full of honey, blend until smooth. Add a a bit of carrot juice to add extra nutrition and color. 

Fruit kabobs are colorful and appealing.  Slide a combination of fruits, such as pineapple chunks, melon balls, slices of star fruit, kiwi and strawberries onto wooden skewers for a colorful and healthy snack.

Frozen fruit treats work well.  Be sure you use pure fruit juice and avoid those with added sugars and especially avoid juices containing High Fructose Corn Syrup, which is showing to be quite dangerous even in 'moderate' amounts.  Popsicle molds are available in most stores, or use paper cups and a Popsicle stick when the treats are frozen thick enough for the

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