9 Interesting Ways to Get Your Picky Toddler to Eat Their Fruits & Veggies

Introducing different kinds of fruits and vegetables such as avocados and bananas, carrots, green peas, cucumber, and so on when your baby is weaned goes a long way in preventing fussy eating later on. If you didn’t do that and are now having issues getting your toddler to eat their fruits and veggies, try out these simple tips:

1. Making them available. Always keep a bowl of fresh fruits on the table. For easy snacking on the move, cut up fruits like apples, pears, pawpaw and vegetables like cucumber and celery, into small bags and refrigerate.

2. Variety is the spice of life. Provide a wide range of fruits and vegetables to your toddler. He will definitely develop a taste for certain favourites. A toddler will always choose his preferred veggies or fruits, but make sure he’s getting his required amount daily.

3. Be the good example. Toddlers desperately want to be like their mummy and daddy, imitating what they see their parents do. Therefore, set good examples by snacking on fruits and having vegetable soups or salads everyday.

4. Involve your toddler in the preparation process. Children enjoy helping out and getting their hands wet. So, get your toddler to help with washing carrots, tomatoes or bananas before snacking. Also get them to help in setting the table, ready for a meal.

5. Reward your toddler. Encourage your toddler to eat more fruits and vegetables with a reward. Reward him through praises, telling him how smart and healthy he has become for eating his veggies.

6. Become a master of disguise. Adopt various ways of hiding their veggies in foods that they enjoy. For example, you can grate carrots into cooked rice, blend spring onions, green beans into tomatoes to make pasta sauce.

7. Make it a lifestyle. Always serve favourite meals with generous portions of fruits and vegetables.

8. Make it a preferred snack. Offer fruits and vegetables to toddlers even when eating outside your home.

9. Never Give Up. Consistency is the key when you are trying to instill a habit into your child. Keep offering him vegetables and fruits repeatedly, even when he refuses, until he grows to love and enjoy eating them.