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A diet rich in fruits and vegetables is well known to be healthier and protects against a lot of diseases.

Vegetables contain a lot of vitamins, minerals, fibres, and other very important nutrients. No vegetables are better than others, variety is the key.

Some tips to help your child eat more vegetables:¹

1. Get kids in the kitchen: Take them to the market and have them pick out a veggie. Let them wash, peel and slice it, and help choose how to cook and flavor it. Kids will be more likely to eat what they helped to make.
2. Offer veggies with fave foods: For example, if your child already likes plain pizza, see if they'll try adding a single veggie topping. Maybe he/she will be willing to experiment. Set up bowls of veggies for pizza night, taco night, or salad night and let the family go wild.
3. Make veggies fun: For a young child, making faces with cut-up veggies may help get them from their plate to their mouth. Calling broccoli "trees" or cauliflower "brains" can make them much less intimidating. Making food mini-sized also can make it more kid-friendly.
4. Offer one new vegetable plus a familiar one: Ask your child to try one new vegetable at a time. Make the first serving small. Also make sure you serve other familiar foods they already like, hopefully including at least one veggie.
5. Don't give up: If you've offered broccoli or spinach to your child several times and they've refused, don't give up. Kids' tastes change as they grow. They might have to try a new food a dozen times before they like it.
6. Set a good example: Eat veggies yourself and make sure your child is watching, toddlers learn by example.

Dr. Julien LTEIF

Pediatrician

^{1-https://www.webmd.com/parenting/ss/slideshow-kids-eat-veggies}