How to Get Preschoolers to Eat Their Vegetables

Much to many a parent's dismay, you can't force your kids to eat their vegetables any more than you can force them to go to sleep or use the potty. What you can do, however, is increase their chances of choosing to eat vegetables by making the process of eating vegetables normal, fun and logical.

Instructions

    • 1

      Be a role model. If your kids see you go through the day living off of carbs and junk food, they're not going to ask for a salad for lunch. Make sure your kids see you eating and enjoying different vegetables on a regular basis.

    • 2

      Keep junk food out of the house as much as possible. Kids who fill up on junk food won't be hungry when you offer them vegetables a while later. At the same time, don't deprive them completely; let them have non-healthy foods occasionally so that they don't treat them like forbidden fruits.

    • 3

      Grow your own vegetables. Many preschoolers love gardening, and they'll be excited when the food that they grew is finally ready to be picked and eaten -- maybe even excited enough to try it themselves.

    • 4

      Get your kids involved in preparing the vegetables you want them to eat. That might mean giving them choices about which vegetables you'll be including in your meals, bringing them with you when you go vegetable shopping or letting them help cook dinner with you.

    • 5

      Add vegetables to their favorite dishes. For example, you might pop some red peppers or even broccoli on top of pizza, mix diced carrots into macaroni and cheese, layer some spinach into lasagna or add some frozen blended squash to hamburgers. They might balk at first, but with time, they might accept these "new versions" of their favorite foods.

    • 6

      Be silly with vegetables. Preschoolers love being "silly," so calling broccoli "trees" or making a smiley face out of rice cakes, hummus and some chopped up vegetables can bring a smile to your child's face and the vegetables to her lips.

    • 7

      Add a dip. Even kids who turn up their nose at most vegetables may have a change of heart once they're allowed to dip them in something yummy. Dips might include yogurt, salad dressing or guacamole.

    • 8

      Teach your preschooler about nutrition. Research from Stanford University scientists Sarah Gripshover and Ellen Markman shows that preschoolers are more likely to make healthy food choices when they understand how nutrition works, such as how the body breaks down foods, what different nutrients do and what would happen if your body lacked certain nutrients. Teaching your preschooler about nutrition means he'll be making his choices for more of a reason than "because Mom said so."

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