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Vegetable Tips for Kids

Kids eating fruit


While the headline say vegetable tips for kids, they are really for you, and I think we both know it...

There is no simple solution to get a picky eater to eat something that's good for them. Outlined below are a few strategies to try.

So now you've got all these wonderful fresh vegetables growing in your garden how do you get the kids to eat them?

We should be eating 5-9 servings of fruit and vegetables a day. Many adults don't get the full servings required and you know the kids are getting a fraction of that.

  • Start them young with a wide variety of tastes. If you get them between 2-4 years of age you're more likely to capture them for life.


  • Set a good example. If you snack on fruits and veggies, then your children are more likely to follow your lead.


  • Try to prepare interesting after school or between meal snacks. I used to prepare a selection of cut up fruit, dried fruit, raw vegetables and two squares of chocolate. Okay, the chocolate always went first, but then they moved on to the good stuff to fill up.


  • Keep mixing it up. Prepare new types of vegetables or prepare them in different ways. Let them try just a small bit. If they don't like it, fine. Just keep serving the stuff up.


    • Boy looking across empty table
  • Never make your dinner table a battle-ground. It's not worth it. If they are not forced to eat something they hate, they are more likely to continue trying different foods.


  • When all else fails, disguise it. Shred some carrot or zucchini into pancakes or hash brown potatoes. Blend vegetables into soups, pasta sauces or on pizza.


  • Involve them in the process. Take them shopping and let them pick out the veggies. Have them help plan and prepare the meals. Get them into their own gardening project!


  • And for something really left field, try the sweets recipe called Vegetable Fudge.

    There is a terrific website and ebook available around getting your kids to eat better. Check it out if you have picky eaters in the house.

    Comforting thought for the day? One day they will reminisce fondly about those great tasting, home grown vegetables.


    'Big and Juicy' courtesy of Chrissi Nerantzi. 'Child at table' courtesy of Al Mulford

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