It is no secret that eating fruits and vegetables is important for kids. They provide essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are necessary for growth and development.
But what a lot of parents don’t know is that there are specific fruits and veggies that are especially beneficial for their kids.
In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of eating fruits and vegetables for kids, as well as some of the best options for each. So read on to learn more!
Why Do We Need Fruits and Vegetables for Kids?
Fruits and vegetables are important for kids for many reasons.
They are a great source of nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They can also help kids to avoid developing obesity and other chronic health conditions.
There are many ways that parents can incorporate fruits and vegetables into their kids’ diets.
For example, they can make sure to always have plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables on hand at home. And, they can encourage their kids to eat a variety or mix of different colored fruits and vegetables every day.
By doing so, parents can help their kids develop healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime!
How Can You Help Your Kids Eat More Fruits and Veggies?
Many parents want to know how they can get their kids to start eating the most nutritious things they can eat: fruits and veggies.
Here are a few tips on how you can get your children to eat more fruits and veggies next time you go shopping:
- Let your child choose a new fruit or veggie at the grocery store
- Ask your child to help place the fruits and veggies in the produce bags
- Point out the in-season fruits and vegetables to your children
When you prepare meals this week, here are a couple of cool tricks to get your kids eating more of the fruits and veggies you just purchased:
- Ask your child to help with a fruit or vegetable dish (rinse, tear, scoop, mix)
- Help your child make fun shapes from fruits and veggies! This is fun for both mom and dad!
During your family meals, it can also be fun to talk about how great these fruits and veggies taste, feel and look. It’s important to be a role model for your children and eat the same foods you are trying to get them to eat.
Below is a great educational tear pad that will help both parents and kids learn how to enjoy more fruits and veggies….together!
Fun Ways of Teaching Fruits and Veggies to Preschoolers
One of the best ways to get your kids to eat their fruits and veggies is to make it fun for them.
Here are ten great ideas to get your little ones excited about eating their greens:
- Hide vegetables in other foods: This is a great way to sneak in some extra nutrition without your kids even knowing it. Try adding grated carrots to pasta sauce, spinach leaves to smoothies, or shredded zucchini to muffin batter.
- Make funny faces with fruit and veggies: Let your kids create silly faces on their plates using different fruits and vegetables. This is a great way to get them involved in mealtime while also teaching them about healthy eating.
- Turn meals into a game: See who can eat the most veggies at dinner, or turn eating into a race. This will not only make mealtime more fun, but it will also encourage your kids to eat more of the good stuff.
- Make healthy snacks: Cut up some fruit and veg and put them out on a plate for your kids to munch on. They’ll love being able to graze throughout the day, and you’ll love knowing that they’re getting their daily dose of fruits and vegetables.
- Take them shopping: Bring your kids with you when you go grocery shopping and let them help pick out the fruits and vegetables. They’ll be more likely to eat something that they had a hand in choosing.
- Let them play with their food: This one might not be for everyone, but some kids just need to get their hands dirty. Let them play with their food and see how it feels. They may be more likely to eat it if they’ve had a chance to explore it first.
- Get them involved in cooking: Kids love to help out in the kitchen, so put them to work chopping up veggies or stirring the pot. Not only will they have fun, but they’ll also be more likely to eat what they’ve helped cook.
- Find fun recipes: There are tons of great recipes out there that are both healthy and delicious. Do a little research and find some that your kids will love. They’ll be excited to eat their fruits and vegetables if they’re in something they enjoy.
- Teach them about nutrition: Help your kids understand why it’s important to eat their fruits and vegetables. Explain how they help our bodies grow and stay healthy. The more they know, the more likely they are to make good choices.
- Lead by example: Kids mimic what they see, so if you want them to eat their veggies, you need to eat them too. Show them that you enjoy eating healthy foods and let them see you making good choices. They’ll be more likely to follow your lead.
These are just a few fun ways of teaching fruits and veggies to preschoolers. By getting creative, you can make healthy eating fun for your whole family.
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