This is how kids love fruit and vegetables

This is how kids love fruit and vegetables

Happy campers instead of grouchy kids’ faces when it’s time for stew

As we all know here at SanLucar, fruits and vegetables contain essential substances. Therefore, fresh fruits and vegetables should also play a central role in children’s diet.

Meanwhile, on the food pyramid, the Department of Fruit and Vegetables has taken priority over the Department of Cereal Products. This means, that for a healthy diet, fruit and vegetables should be the largest share of food in relation to other food groups. This is the best way to prevent food-related diseases.

It is well known that humans are creatures of habit. That is why it is especially important that children learn to love plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and to integrate them into their everyday life. However, in my opinion, children shouldn’t be forced – i.e.: “If you don’t eat finish your plate – or your vegetables, it’ll rain.” This is an old trick that doesn’t work and has not made any vegetables popular, but rather promoted rejection. Fresh, colourful fruits, fruit snacks, vegetables with dip and children’s rights are much more effective and up-to-date.

In order to make these valuable foods as tasty as possible to children, there are simple tricks help to make eating more fun for children. Sometimes it’s certain shapes or odours of fruits and vegetables that put off children. In order for kids to enjoy the delicious SanLucar fruits and their quality, there are a few tricks to convince children of the good flavour and the versatility of fruits and vegetables.

Our simple tips for the vegetable kitchen for kids with flavour and effectiveness:

  • Include your children when selecting products at the supermarket. It motivates them to choose from the varied range colourful fruits or vegetable varieties.
  • Let the kids participate in simple preparation so that they are proud of the food they’ve made. In the early elementary school age, children can often do simple “chopping” themselves with their parents’ help.
  • Cut the fruits and the vegetables into small pieces and arrange them in an appealing manner. Mouth-sized pieces, served with a dip, can be resisted by few. Even funny fruit faces can be motivating.
  • Always offers the children different varieties, even if they were previously rejected. The children’s taste is still developing.
  • If this still doesn’t help and your child rejects vegetables too often, then hide the fruit and vegetables dishes. Finely cut fruit and put it in yoghurt or curd: this can be a miracle. Or cook up a nice batch of Bolognese sauce, for example, in which you can include plenty of carrots, celery and tomatoes in very small cubes or even grated.
  • Also freshly pressed juice, pure or as a spritzer, counts as a portion for a daily healthy nutrition.
  • Playfully, new varieties of fruits and vegetables can be discovered. Guessing fruit and vegetables in taste or shape is fun and instructive.
  • Be role models for your children yourself and show them that healthy eating is fun. Reach for fruits and vegetables and offer them on the table in-between meals as snacks – instead of sweets.

Last but not least: Try to associate fruit and vegetables with positive experiences. This can’t hurt, even in the case of some adults who don’t care for fruit. Have fun and we look forward to hearing about your experiences.

For more delicious recipes, which not only taste good to your children, take a look at our Recipes Corner.

Thanks to Lisa from our Quality Department for this article.

At the moment, she is working on a SanLucar concept for a fruit and vegetable obstacle course for children and wanted you to get the valuable tips now.

Lisa is a graduate in Nutritional Science and works as a Quality Trainee at SanLucar.