Getting the family to eat their 5 a day can be really hard work. The kids are always hungry but never want to eat fruit and vegetables. Here are five fun ways to get them to eat more fruit and vegetables and have fun at the same time.
Juice
The quickest and easiest way to get children to have more fruit and vegetables is with juice. You can use juicers uk to disguise vegetables they normally wouldn’t eat and make them more palatable. Juice looks fun and colourful and children won’t realise they are drinking something healthy. Juice is also great in the Summer as you can freeze it to make healthy ice lollies or simply add ice cubes for a cool refreshing drink.
Self Serve
The only food my children can help themselves to is fruit and vegetables. I make this self-service and they can eat as much as they want. They particularly like eating celery and cucumber chopped in slices and dipped in hummus. This is a good snack when they are waiting for dinner as it doesn’t fill you up. I make sure to buy lots of fruits they enjoy so there is always something in the fridge or fruit bowl for when hunger strikes. My children really love berries so there is always strawberries and blueberries available when they are feeling peckish.
Grow Your Own
One of the best ways to encourage an interest in fruit and vegetables is to grow your own. You don’t need to have a big garden for this, you can grow a few tomatoes in a grow bag, have cress in a pot on your windowsill or grow strawberries and herbs on the patio. Children will also learn a lot tending for their plant and will become more responsible as they have to remember to keep it watered. The look of pride on their faces when you serve the runner beans they have grown from a seed or take a basket of ripe tomatoes to give to a relative is wonderful. Even the fussiest of eaters will be tempted to try their own produce.
Get Cooking
Most children love to help in the kitchen and it is a great way to get them to try new foods. Choose a recipe together, make a shopping list and then get cooking. Children learn so many skills in the kitchen and will love the time spent together. The best thing is they will chop and prepare new fruit and vegetables and will want to try the finished meal. It is a good way to find new favourite foods.
Eat Together
Children learn through mimicry so if they see their favourite grown-ups enjoying fruit and vegetables then they will want to try it as well. I’ve never got over my childish dislike of Brussel sprouts but I try to eat at least one and show them that you have to keep trying new things. Encourage older children to be positive about fruit and vegetable. As soon as someone says something is disgusting they are less likely to want to try it. It’s also important not to make vegetables sound like a punishment if you are forced to eat something you will never enjoy it. Food should be fun and