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Following on from part one, Glen gives us 8 tips for getting your children to eat fruit and Veges …
Fruit and vegetables are packed full of essential vitamins, fibre and a host of beneficial plant compounds known as phytochemicals, exactly the sort of things that make for healthy, happy and slim children, and a world apart from the sweets, crisps and fizzy pop that have become synonymous with children’s eating habits.
Of course, not for a minute are we saying that there’s anything remotely straight forward when it comes to getting our children to tuck into their veggies. It’s a toughie, ask any parent. But as a parent myself, I also know a little bit of imagination goes a long way…
So below are my top tips for making 5-a-day more fact than fiction for your child.
8 Tips for scoring 5-a-day
- Include grilled mushrooms and/or tomatoes with an egg-based breakfast OR include a serving of baked beans (yes, baked beans do count!).
- Include a freshly made milk, banana and berry smoothie as part of breakfast.
- Add in some chopped dates and cinnamon when cooking porridge.
- When it comes to packed lunches, add salad to their sandwiches or pitta breads.
- Include carrot sticks, yellow & red pepper sticks, or cherry tomatoes as lunch box additions or snacks (hummus, nut butter, or cottage cheese make for good dips to accompany them).
- For fussy eaters, add in finely grated vegetables when cooking their favourite dishes like Bolognese sauces, chilli con carne, Shepherd’s pie, or even home-made burgers – onions, courgettes, peppers and carrots all work well (but try to avoid constantly reinforcing the idea that vegetables are unpleasant so always need to be hidden in food).
- Experiment with sweet potato wedges baked in the oven with a little olive oil. Or get adventurous with mashed potato by adding cooked cauliflower.
- And last but by no means least: set a good example! The eating patterns of us as parents are one of the biggest predictors of how our children will eat. If we don’t do it, how can we expect them to?
hint: don’t let Dad tell them he doesn’t like vegetables!
To read part 1 Click here
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