I have three children ages 19, 9 and 3. The first two have always eaten their veggies with out any issues. Green beans, broccoli, salad, you name it, they will eat it. I thought I had the veggie thing down until 2016 when I had my youngest child. I made all of his baby food and he ate it without a problem. I started with the green veggies, just like all the parenting magazines suggest before I moved to the sweeter ones and he ate them like a champ. I thought I smelled the sweet smell of victory until he turned two and dinner time became a stand off where the best man (two-year-old boy) would always win!
I tried fussing, I tried begging, pleading, threatening and even bargaining with dessert but I could never outwit him. The most he would eat was a small bite and the look on his face showed that he thought I was poisoning him!
Here we are a year later and he still isn’t’ a good veggie eater but I think I’ve gotten smarter (for now). I’ve begun using veggie and plant-based chicken nuggets instead of regular ones. He also still thinks the baby food pouches are applesauce, so I can always sneak some veggies in that way. I also look for ways to sneak extra veggies in when I make things like spaghetti and meatloaf. Although the last time I made meatloaf he picked out anything green which tells me that I need to cut it up smaller.
Helpful Recipe
One recipe that I make that oddly enough he doesn’t’ complain about and quickly gobbles up are egg muffins. I typically make these on the weekend and they are quick and easy for my kiddos to heat up in the mornings during the week. I’ve provided a recipe below but I can tell you that I typically use a dozen eggs, shredded cheese, Jimmy Dean turkey sausage crumbles and spinach (fresh or frozen). Ironically enough, my anti-veggie three-year-old always says “Don’t forget the spinach Mommy!”
Breakfast Egg Muffins 3 Ways
https://cafedelites.com/breakfast-egg-muffins-3-ways/
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 35 mins
Ingredients
BASE:
- 12 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion, (red, white or yellow/brown)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
TOMATO SPINACH MOZZARELLA:
- 1/4 cup fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- 8 grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
BACON CHEDDAR:
- 1/4 cup cooked bacon, chopped
- 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
GARLIC MUSHROOM PEPPER:
- 1/4 cup sliced brown mushrooms
- 1/4 cup red bell pepper, (capsicum), diced
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder or 1/3 teaspoon minced garlic
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350°F | 180°C. Lightly spray a 12-cup capacity muffin tin with nonstick oil spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and onion. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Add egg mixture halfway up into each tin of a greased muffin tin.
- Divide the three topping combinations into 4 muffin cups each.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Serve OR store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and reheat when ready to serve.
- Enjoy!
Now, I can’t explain why he will eat egg muffins with spinach but would balk if I even thought about putting regular spinach on his plate, but for right now, I count it as a win! I don’t know if egg muffins will work for your picky eater, but one thing I do know is that you have to keep trying. Even if they don’t eat it all, always put a small number of veggies on their plate. And when they ask for seconds of their favorite part of the meal, have them eat one bit or a certain number of veggies first.
Tips to increase their veggie intake
1. Make smoothies for a snack. Include their favorite fruits, carrots, spinach, and some milk or a milk alternative.
2. Add pureed veggies. You can add pureed pumpkin to pancakes, pureed zucchini to spaghetti and even pureed black beans to brownies.
3. Pizza for the win! Most children love pizza so add a few veggies to their pizza and they may not even notice. Spinach adds texture and crunch, but doesn’t take away taste so it may be a safe start.
4. The greatest way to teach our children anything is by setting an example. Make sure you are eating vegetables. They learn more from what they see us do than from what they hear us say.
5. Teach them the importance of veggies. Have a nutritional lesson on how the body uses vegetables and why they are important to our bodies. Have a devotional lesson too. The Bible is full of scriptures on the importance of fruits and veggies (Genesis 1:29).
6. Let them help. Give tasks depending on age and ability. Measuring is always a safe choice and is fun for kids.
6. Ask God to lead and guide you as to what will work best for your child. Children go through phases, especially where food is concerned. Let God lead you into finding ways to encourage your child to eat their veggies.
Remember that the Bible says to cast ALL your cares upon Him because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). “All your cares” means even something as small as your child not eating their veggies. Ask God for direction and He will help you find ways to get those veggies in!
