How to Turn Picky Eaters into Vegetable Lovers

Lots of parents find it hard to get their children to eat vegetables and when you have picky eaters, it can feel like an impossible task. Even colourful vegetables aren’t the most appealing food choice for children and many would much prefer to eat something else. You may feel as though you’ve tried everything and still can’t get them to eat their greens. 

However, with a mix of creativity, patience and the right tools, you can get your picky eaters to enjoy vegetables in no time. Here at Fussy Food Plates, we know how stressful mealtimes can be and our products are designed to make feeding your children slightly easier. Here are some useful tips for parents with picky eaters. 

Present Food Creatively

Children are often more willing to try foods that look appealing. You can turn ordinary vegetables into fun snacks by using crinkle cutters and food press and pops. By making vegetables into intriguing shapes, they will be more visually appealing to your little ones. Serving vegetables on colourful and themed children's dinner plates can make eating vegetables even more fun. Children playing with their food isn’t always a bad thing and it might encourage them to start trying new vegetables at mealtimes. 

Get Children Involved in the Kitchen

Involving children in meal preparation, such as washing vegetables or using crinkle cutters, can increase their interest in eating them. Let them try using safe kitchen tools to create fun shapes and turn boring vegetables into something more fun. This hands-on experience can make them more inclined to try their own creations and make eating vegetables more exciting. You can use the preparation time to teach them more about why vegetables are good for them too. 

Introduce Variety in Textures and Flavours

It’s common for children to prefer certain textures or flavours over others. Experiment with different cooking methods when serving vegetables, like roasting, steaming or cutting them up raw with various types of dips. This can help you to find what they like best. You can even try using different herbs or mild spices to make the vegetables more interesting. This can also gently expand and develop their taste palate.

Combine Vegetables with Favorite Foods

Introducing vegetables alongside your children’s favourite foods can be a great way to make them a more normal part of meals. This could mean adding peas to pasta or peppers to pizza. You may find that your little one doesn’t even notice to start with, so it can be a good way to get them used to the taste of vegetables. The key is to integrate vegetables in a non-intimidating way that doesn't overpower their favourite flavours.

Create a Positive Eating Environment

Setting a positive tone during meals can greatly influence children’s eating habits. If you don’t eat many vegetables yourself, this could be having an impact on your children. Try to make vegetables a common sight at mealtimes and model healthy eating behaviours. It’s also beneficial to keep mealtimes as stress-free and enjoyable as possible, try to avoid putting pressure on your little ones or bribing them to eat certain foods, it can have the opposite effect. 

Use Stories and Games

You can try using stories and games to teach your children about the importance of healthy eating and how vegetables can make them strong and healthy. Interactive books, apps, or even simple games like 'name the veggie' can make learning about nutrition more fun. When children understand why vegetables are essential in their diet, they may be more likely to try them when you serve them at mealtimes. 

Be Patient and Persistent

It's important to be patient with your little ones and keep offering them a variety of vegetables, even if they are initially rejecting them. Children's tastes can change and repeated exposure can lead to acceptance over time. Celebrate small victories when they try something new and try to avoid turning mealtime into a battleground.

Getting Your Children to Eat Vegetables 

Turning picky eaters into vegetable lovers can be a challenge, but with the right approach and some useful products, you can change the way your little ones eat. When you make vegetables more fun and turn mealtime into an engaging experience, you can encourage your children to explore and enjoy a variety of vegetables. Getting them to eat their greens from a young age can pave the way for a lifetime of healthy eating habits.

If you’re struggling with picky eaters, the products we supply at Fussy Food Plates could be the key to enjoyable mealtimes. Our children’s dinner plates and crinkle cutters are the perfect Christmas presents, and they can turn mealtime into playtime. You can create an environment of joy and fun around food, and encourage them to eat a more varied diet. Find out more about our products on our website and feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.