Healthy Eating

By FCM

August 31, 2007 8:10 AM | Link to this

Nope, never had a problem with getting them to eat veggies, double helping of salad for both last night. Veggies on a tray are a favorite snack.

I disagree with what is proposed. I have found that those who start the babies on sweet foods….bananas, applesauce, peaches, etc..(which the Amer. Pediatric Assoc. recommends) have a harder time getting kids to their green and root veggies (unless it is french fries). According to my Pediatric Practioner they recommend these foods as 1st foods because they TASTE GOOD…..to who? Babies have been drinking formula or breast milk! They don’t know TASTE!!!!

Anyway, I started mine all green beans, peas, spinach, squash, and other vegetable stuff….the did not get fruit until last. They loved the spinach! When I told other new parents what I did, they tried it…..guess what!!!! These kids eat their veggies.

By FCM

August 31, 2007 8:14 AM | Link to this

Oh, I hate broccoli while my children often choose it as their green veg at dinner—no butter, no salt, no cheese, just broccoli (cooked or raw)

By Kerry

August 31, 2007 8:40 AM | Link to this

Anyone have suggestions for a two year old that won’t any veggies? Her only fruit is raisins (does that even count?) She won’t eat meat either. We give her vitamins to try and make up for her lack of nutrition, but I’m worried about what she eats (or doesn’t). She won’t even try new foods. We’ve tried making her go without eating, but she’s pretty stubborn and would rather starve then eat a real meal. But it’s not just us. She refuses to eat at daycare also (maybe it’s all the snacks they get).

By Katie

August 31, 2007 9:47 AM | Link to this

I HAVE A FOUR YEAR OLD AND AN EIGHT YEAR OLD. I DON’T HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE FOUR YEAR OLD EATING HER VEGGIES AT ALL. SHE PREFERS VEGGIES OVER MEAT. BUT THE EIGHT YEAR ALL HE WANTS TO DO IS EAT MEAT. THEY ARE TOTAL OPPOSITE. I DON’T UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE I HAVE ALWAYS GIVEN THEM VEGGIES SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EAT TABLE FOOD. AND AS A MATTER OF FACT MY LITTLE GIRLS FAVORITE VEGGIE IS BROCCOLI. BUT THE MY LITTLE MAN IS GETTING A LOT BETTER ON EATING SINCE WE PUT HIM ON PEDIASURE.

By southern hope

August 31, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this

I 100% agree with the poster who said that its best to start babies on pureed vegetables rather than fruits. That’s what we did and we have two kids (11 & 8) who fight over who gets the last aspargus or broccoli stalk or slice of eggplant. Other moms can’t believe it! (I also shop wth my kids at the Morningside market every saturday morning and they’re allow to choose any vegetable they want to buy…we’ve gotten introduced to a lot of new foods that way).

By FCM

August 31, 2007 12:00 PM | Link to this

Katie, have you had his blood tested for iron? Meat is one craving for iron poor blood…NOT saying he has it.

Another thought is that at 8 he may be starting to get his muscle mass for growth. My two little people tend to want a lot of meat in a growth spurt.

Kerry, does she drink a lot of fluids? It could be the fluids are filling her up….I mean, I like juice more than an apple but the apple is a better choice. If she were just not eating her dinner after day-care I would agree on the snacks. Also if she is 2 and ‘grazing’ all day…then she is probably eating enough during the day…..just make sure her ‘graze fodder’ is healthy….we did yougurt, cheerios, bites of melon and so forth as our graze fodder.

I also do a veggie tray….the cheap plastic party trivet at Wally World was great for this….put different things in the spaces and let her have a ‘party’ where she gets a small plate and buffets the table.

I use the same tray for make your own sundae, pizza, taco, etc now. Plus, my two made their own veggie tray when I was ill a few weeks ago…so it is something they still like. They were so proud of themselves for helping Mommy and getting it all together (I buy the pre-cut fruit and veggies).

By lgb

August 31, 2007 12:08 PM | Link to this

I have a two year old who likes veggies!! I’m thrilled when I give her new vegetables and she smiles at the site of a new color or how it’s shaped. She loves brocolli, cauliflower, okra, spinach, carrots, etc. I encourage others to give kids vegetables and fresh fruits and to stay away from the sweets and they’ll learn to love what you give them.

By Becky

August 31, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this

My grandbabies love veggies..You name it, they eat it..I’ve always been lucky with them eating pretty much anything that I give them..Katie, I would try telling the eight year old that, that he has to eat at least one veggie at each dinner..I have a neice that her Mom won’t make her eat any “real” food..She’s four, so I sat her at the table with me & I fed her (yes fed her) & she ate evrything thing that I gave her..Sometimes this is the best way to get little ones to try stuff..

By Momof@

August 31, 2007 4:12 PM | Link to this

I have an 8 year old and 6 year old. Who loves veggies. Instead of starting on sweet baby foods, I too started them on vegetable baby foods. Fruits and juices were the last things we tried. When we did start on juice, I would add water. So now I have two little ones that I don’t have to force to eat their vegetables.

By Momof2

August 31, 2007 4:12 PM | Link to this

I have an 8 year old and 6 year old. Who loves veggies. Instead of starting on sweet baby foods, I too started them on vegetable baby foods. Fruits and juices were the last things we tried. When we did start on juice, I would add water. So now I have two little ones that I don’t have to force to eat their vegetables.