Q&A
"My Child Won't Eat Vegetables"
Question:
My four-year-old son refuses to eat vegetables! I've tried cooking veggies in every way imaginable and 'disguising' them in his food, but he always spots them and picks them out. I'm concerned that he's missing out on important nutrients. How can I get him to eat his veggies?
It's not uncommon for children to refuse certain foods especially during the toddler and preschooler years. In your son's case, it's veggies. As frustrating as it can be, don't fuss or bribe your child to eat his greens. When so much importance is placed on not eating vegetables – disguising and hiding them in his food or making a big deal out of eating them – the child naturally acts up and rebels.
At this age, children quickly learn to use food as a means to gain attention and assert their independence, so if he refuses to eat his vegetables and receives extra attention from you, the behavior is actually reinforced.
The best strategy? Keep on serving veggies at the dinner table but get creative: Make it fun to eat vegetables by cutting them into interesting shapes and arranging them into fun patterns on a plate. Try serving with a dip he likes – mayonnaise, ketchup, sweet and sour sauce or even peanut butter.
When he does eat them, encourage and praise your child – positive reinforcement always works with children. But if he refuses, simply remove the vegetables from his plate. A child's taste changes often, so don't give up: He may not like broccoli the first time around, but he may just accept it the next time.
In the meantime, to ensure he's getting the nutrients he needs, let him have fruits. Many of the nutrients found in vegetables (e.g. vitamins A and C and fiber) are also found in fruits. Most children prefer fruits because they're sweeter and tastier, so offer a variety of fruits while continuing to serve vegetables.
