How to Make Fruit and Vegetables Fun for Your Kids

We’ve all had (or been) that kid who’d rather skip straight to the chicken nuggets or better yet – the dessert at the end of the meal. Even with the USDA Food Plate as a guide, it’s difficult to translate these ideas into mealtime success. So here are four of the best and most creative ideas available to tempt your child’s palate.

Smoothie Time!

One of the most common complaints levied against fruits and vegetables is their texture. For instance, peaches are one of the most confusing fruits for children because of their soft exterior (which many will refuse to eat) and their often grainy interior (especially if the fruit is not very ripe). Kids will often get worked up over imperfections in a fruit or vegetable as well – “that strawberry is shaped weird!” The simple solution? Put it in the blender! Studies have shown that puréed vegetables are an effective strategy of getting children to eat more veggies (and the same can easily be applied to fruit). The increasing popularity of mixing fruits with a vegetable such as spinach has opened the possibilities wider than ever before.

Fruit and Veggie Art

Your child is more likely to eat something that he or she helped to create. Turn your kitchen into a creative workshop allowing your kid to pick from a selection of vegetables in different colors, shapes, and sizes. This will not only develop the creative side of your child but also him or her to own the process from start to finish. Pinterest is full of great ideas to get you started. You could also check out recipes such as Fruit and Vegetable Bug Snacks and Kiwi Cactus Yogurt Parfaits from Nature’s Path if you want to get fancy.

Hidden Vegetables

It turns out that maybe your child can eat their favorite dish first after all! When veggies are part of the recipe, it’s hard to go wrong. Brilliant moms with a flair for creativity in the kitchen have begun introducing hidden vegetables into classic dishes such as macaroni and cheese. Ingredients such as onion, cauliflower, and zucchini can easily disappear into a familiar recipe, filling it with nutrition. It’s a win-win.

Personal Shopper

Involving your child in the grocery shopping process is a great way to introduce healthy food as an exciting and fun part of the menu. Try taking some of the easy-to-find items from your shopping list and creating a short list for your child to find herself. Many stores will even provide small kid-sized grocery carts. Or give your child a budget and let him spend it on a vegetable or fruit he has never tried before. Encouraging children’s natural curiosity with a challenge will not only encourage healthy eating, but will distract children from misbehaving at the grocery store, making shopping a breeze!

Some of these ideas are so delish, you may even be tempted to try them yourself. It turns out that trying new things in front of your kids is one of the best ways to encourage them to do the same. Have you tried any of these tasty and healthy methods?