Most parents have hidden mashed broccoli in the cheese sauce, grated carrots and cauliflower into the seemingly innocent bolognaise and christened everything from peas to potatoes with names like “green raindrops” and “fluffy clouds” to get toddlers to eat their vegetables.
Leigh-Ann Silber, registered dietitian and trustee of the 5-a-Day for Better Health Trust, says while it is true that getting children to eat vegetables may be a challenge, it should not have to involve guerrilla tactics.
“Moms know their toddlers need five daily portions of vegetables and fruit for optimal health and development but getting tots to eat them can be tricky, with the result that we resort to masquerading these foods in other dishes in the hope of increasing their intake.
“We need to encourage our children to eat their vegetables and fruits as just that – vegetables and fruit. Camouflaging them under sauces and in dishes where they’re not easily identified does little to encourage children to want to eat these foods. If they don’t believe they’re eating vegetables and fruits as children, there’s little hope of them wanting to eat these foods as teens and adults,” Silber explains.
The Nutrition Information Centre of the University of Stellenbosch (NICUS) says the toddler years are the “age where the eating habits for later life are established. It’s therefore important that a positive attitude towards food is formed and sound eating habits are developed”.
Silber says: “Start your toddler on veg and fruit as early as possible but without disguising these foods, in order to foster that attitude and nurture those habits.
“This does not mean that you have to completely eliminate using sauces and clever vegetable disguises but try to get your kids to enjoy vegetables in their most original state as possible.
“Parents should make vegetables and fruit fun. Try letting your toddler wash the vegetables you’re preparing; pick out that week’s fruit when shopping; or play I Spy with you in the vegetable and fruit aisles.”
You can also try these tips:
* Toddlers love learning colours. Introduce different coloured veg and fruit at meal and snack time and make a game out of it.
* Make animals and pictures (including your child’s favourite story/character) out of veg and fruit.
* Prepare handy finger foods.
* Serve up smoothies – and tell them what’s in them.
* Make 100 percent pure fruit juice popsicles.
Children learn by example, so make sure you get your five-a-day to encourage them to do the same. – Daily News