10 Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat Fruits and Veggies

About the writer: Hi all! My name is Dana, and I've been a Chester Township resident for 15+ years. I love it here. In May 2013 I will be graduating with a B.S. in Nutrition & Food Science from Montclair State University. I am a health enthusiast but I have reported on a broad range of topics and plan on continuing to do so! 

We all know getting the little ones to munch on the green stuff is a less-than-glorious experience. Check out ten tips to help your kids ease into the process of eating nature’s best source of vitamins and minerals!

 1. Mash it up! Cauliflower is high in Vitamin C and contains Phosphorous and Potassium. Blend into mashed potatoes and you’ve just packed your starch with some extra nutrients!

2. Ditch the cans! Canned veggies may be high in sodium and lack flavor. Fresh vegetables tend to be naturally sweeter and crisper…much more enjoyable to eat.

3. Freeze ‘Em! Stick a bunch of grapes in the freezer and watch the new version of hard-candy slowly disappear.

4. Chef Need an Assistant? Children especially love being involved. Let them familiarize themselves with the greens before plated and they may have an easier time trying it.

5. Juice it! Juicing is a great way to reap all of the nutritional benefits of fresh greens, while drinking something that tastes like sweet apples. Fruit flavors will overpower any bitter vegetable taste. Green monster juice anyone?

6. Color Curiosity Get rid of competition with the more desirable-looking foods by serving vegetables centered on a separate plate. Surround the farm-fresh pile with different dressings or sauces to try. The kiddos will be so consumed with trying different flavors the pile will be gone before you know it!

7. Put it in a Pop! Purchase some ice-pop molds and fill with yogurt and fresh fruits. Serve for a yummy vitamin and mineral packed dessert!

8. Sunshine Salad Add chopped carrots and lemon zest to orange Jello mix. Serve chilled.

9. Roll It Up! Serve bowls of taco-night-fixin’s sans the taco shells. Instead, offer a plate of large romaine lettuce leaves. Roll the standard taco ingredients into a healthier alternative.

10. Chips Anyone? Instead of ripping open a bag of greasy store-bought potato chips, make your own. Try kale chips by lightly salting and drizzling olive oil over fresh kale and bake at a low temperature until crispy. 

For more on health, visit the Health Blog at: www.danaelisebaardsen.com