“NO!”
If you’re the parent of a toddler, you probably hear that phrase a lot! Toddlers are finding their voice – they’re developing (strong) opinions and learning how to express them too!
One of the things my toddler has decided is that she will only eat certain foods. Basically, she won’t eat vegetables. It’s as if she has a “veggie radar” and can sense them from a mile away, which can make it tricky to get her to eat a balanced diet.
When your child refuses to eat the “healthy stuff,” it can be worrisome as a parent. You might wonder: is my child getting enough nutrition?
Having an older child who LOVES vegetables, but didn’t when she was younger, I reassure myself that this is likely just a phase. With a family of food adventurers, my toddler probably will be a good eater someday, too.
But in the meantime, I’ve found a few strategies to make sure that my picky toddler eats her veggies.
4 Things You Can Do When Your Toddler Won’t Eat Vegetables:
Make it fun: Try creating festive animal-themed snacks with fruits and veggies, like these strawberry ladybugs. Even better, have your kids help make them – not only will your kids get to enjoy a nutritious snack, but creating them together is an awesome boredom-buster!
Get sneaky: I’m all about honesty as a family policy, but I think it’s ok to sneak some veggies to your kids! For example, my girls drink water almost all of the time – juice is reserved for special occasions. Simple Truth Organic Fruit & Veg Puree pouches look like a juice pouch, so my toddler was very excited to try them. She loved being able to carry around her squeeze pouch and eat it as she pleased. My toddler was happy because she thought she was getting a treat, and I was happy because she was actually enjoying an organic blend of real fruits and veggies! (With no added sugar)!
Add variety: If your toddler has decided that broccoli (or carrots, etc.) is the enemy, try something else at the next meal. Experiment with vegetables in a variety of colors. My daughter turns her nose at green veggies, but will usually eat fruits and vegetables that aren’t green: potatoes, sweet potatoes, sweet red peppers, corn. Simple Truth Organic pouches come in different colors and flavor combinations, so there’s sure to be one that your toddler will love!
Bonus – Simple Truth Organic Fruit & Veg Puree pouches are portable, so they’re perfect to pack on car rides or trips to the park!
Be firm: Mom and Dad aren’t short order cooks, so we don’t make separate meals if our girls say they want something else. If kids are hungry, they will eat. Creating (and sticking to) firm boundaries will help keep kids from learning bad habits and unintentionally enabling picky eating.
If your toddler won’t eat vegetables, don’t worry – instead, get creative! With new ideas and a little bit of patience, you might be surprised that your toddler actually will eat and LOVE their veggies!
See all of the fun flavors of Simple Truth Organic Fruit & Veg Puree pouches and find nutrition information HERE.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Kroger. The opinions and text are all mine.
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