by Susan Kliebenstein

Created on: March 07, 2008

From artichoke to zucchini there are literally hundreds of vegetables, many varieties of each, and thousands of recipes for their preparation. Is it possible that kids can dislike them all? Or is it just the idea that they are "vegetables" that they dislike. Maybe we should avoid calling them vegetables when children are present! That probably won't work, but here are some things that might.

1. The first time you present a vegetable to a child, give it your best shot. Make it look as good as you can and taste better than usual. "Plain vegetables" are not usually your best chance for success. A little sweetener, a bit of sauce, a souffl, or a playful shape might make a better start. A playful name or story to go with the first try might be good too. Curly-cue carrots or rose radishes, Carrot cake, rhubarb pie, and sweet potato brownies can all add a little motivational support.

2. Set a good example by eating your own vegetables. Put sprouts on your sandwiches, chomp on those tiny carrots, drink an occasional V-8, and order side salads at the fast food place. Children take their cues from you.

3. Shred cabbage, carrots, zucchini, and onions into your spaghetti sauce. Put corn in the chili and shred carrots into the taco meat. Make casseroles that contain vegetables. Don't miss an opportunity to add a vegetable to any recipe you can.

4. Try some fried vegetables from time to time. Corn fritters, fried sweet potatoes, okra, or squash might substitute for French fries. Fried green tomatoes or eggplant are probably not so likely to be a hit, but you never know until you try.

5. Make a rule: Two servings of vegetables before dessert. Give plenty of choices for vegetables but don't let anyone get by with breaking the rule, including the adults! Keep fresh vegetables and dip around for between meal snacks, but make sure everyone knows how much constitutes one full serving. One mini-carrot does not make a serving!

6. Add a sauce. Try cheese sauce, butter sauce, garlic sauce, sweet and sour sauce, barbecue sauce, ranch dressing, mayonnaise, catchup, mushroom soup, gravy, spaghetti sauce, or what ever they like. If nothing else they may eat it because you think it's weird and disgusting!

7. Try a game with a great prize. Can your kids find and eat 1/2 cup of 30 different vegetables in 30 days? You will have to take them vegetable hunting, or make a trip to the farmers market. And you might need to look up a recipe for some of the weird vegetables you've never cooked before.

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