Jul. 16, 2009 - How to get children to eat veggies.
How to encourage Children to Eat Their Veggies:
1. Whatever types of foods children are introduced to when they are young, they will develop a taste. If they are introduced to raw veggies then they will like raw veggies (except for those things they might have allergies). Of course they might not like it at first, but reintroduce it several times later. Sometimes they make faces at things they have never tasted, but if reintroduced a couple of times, they develop a liking for it, especially if mom likes it.
2. Have you ever noticed that children like to eat whatever is on your plate? Children enjoy the foods you enjoy. When they hear or see you enjoy something you enjoy, they will want to enjoy it with you. If you eat raw carrots or fresh green peppers and say, "mmmmm, this is sooo good", they will learn to enjoy it. Doing this several times really helps them enjoy what you enjoy. I have experienced this with my children. My son's favorite veggie is tomatoes. My daughters is fresh green peppers. They all have their favorites, but they will happily enjoy any fresh veggies.
3. While your children eat, discuss what makes the food so healthy for them. Talk about broccoli with all the calcium it has in it when it is raw. It is loaded with green chlorophyll. That is so good for you. Talk about all the vitamin C in carrots. When you talk about this get excited about what you are sharing. Get really animated and into it-wow, this is sooo exciting because it is so good for you. When they understand that certain foods like avacado or nuts are full of great oils for your brain to develop and be smart, they will feel encouraged to eat it.
4. Plant a garden. Veggies or fruits taste a lot better when they don't have the bitter pesticides on it or when they are rippened by the sun. Children will also enjoy feeling like they are eating from the work of their own hands. It gives them a new perspective on veggies and fruit. By the way, did you ever notice that navy beans from the health food store taste drastically different than from the grocery store? You can't sprout the ones from the grocery store becaus of the chemicals applied to prevent growth. However, you can easily sprout the ones from the health food store. The taste between the two is remarkable. One is bitter and the other is sweet.
5. Encourage your children to cook with you. Use lots of fresh veggies in making a salad together. My children love our fruit salad. Just carmelized some great fresh pecans (taste a lot better from health food store than grocery store) with some brown sugar and butter. Put that aside. Cut up some green or red leaf lettuce. Top with blueberries, strawberries, and pecans on top. My children especially love Balsamic vinegar on this salad. You can top with parmesan cheese. The children and I made this salad up ourselves. I think they especially love it because they created it.
6. Shop together for groceries- I really have fun trying out samples of fresh fruits or veggies at the store. If the children put it in their minicarts and purchase with me, they really feel like it is theirs to eat. I especially love to shop at the local farmer's market, especially the organic ones. It is fun to come home and whip up a great fruit salad together.
7. Use fresh herbs together on your veggies and Fruits- I have the children go out and pick the basil or cilantro. We cut it up together and put it in the mix of things. Fresh Basil is especially good on veggies, and cilantro on fruits (we think). Oh, and don't forget the best olive oil (don't buy the cheap stuff-look for basil olive oil). The better the oil, the better the taste. Vegtable oil gives a yucky greasy taste while a good tasting olive oil will add to the flavor and health benefits (olive oil is great for the brain).
8. Use Sea Salt and fresh Ground Pepper on your veggies or meals- The difference in Sea Salt and grocery table salt is drastic. Study it for the health difference. One is bleached and the other is not. One has all the minerals your body needs and the other is stripped. You can really taste the difference. It really makes a difference on the foods. Also, fresh ground black pepper from your local farmer's market or from the health food store (you can buy in bulk). It is also drastically different. One has additives and is aged from sitting long on the shelves and the other is without the additives. I especially noticed this when I was hosting a Korean student (they use a lot of black pepper in their foods).
9. Use Good sweetners in your meals or cooked veggies-I especially like to use healthy natural maple syrup. Be sure to get the one without fermaldahyde. I also like to use local honey (yummy). I have heard that using local hunny from local bees it helps to fight against allergens in your area. Creams are great swetners. I have not found a local farmer to help me with this, but I like to buy the good stuff. Lastly, Jams (no sugar-love the Amish ones at our stores), andSucanat (natural sugar without the bleaching). All these different sweetners are so much better for your children than bleached white sugar. By eliminating or cutting back on white sugar, your children will much better concentrate on their school work.
10. Check your attitude towards veggies and fruits. Children pick up on our attitudes. If you are strugglign with this from your own negative experiences, try and create some fun with it. Work on some lapbooks together. Here is a link for lapbooking, Stone Soup http://www.homeschoolshare.com/stone_soup.php Here is another great one for cooking http://www.homeschoolshare.com/cooking.php Or, create your own cookbook together, one that is started but added to through your journey of trying foods. Try this great lapbook http:////www.homeschoolshare.com/cookadoodledoo.php You could also venture out and sew your own aprons with your children to be used with your cooking time together. Check out this fun video clip: http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-Make-DIY-Aprons-38347474
Comments
Jul. 25, 2009 - pirate doll
Posted by belindaletchford
Just thought I'd drop in and tell you that I have posted pictures now of Daniel's pirate doll. Not sure if you would have read my answer to your comment either and at the time I was too pushed for time to pop over here and comment as well. My kids make lots of fabric dolls and use craft magazines such as "Homespun" and "Threads" for their patterns. Daniel's pirate was from a Homespun magazine.
