When do you get really strict about LO's eating their veggies ... or do you?

[Millie1]

DSs are 6.5 and 4.5. Neither will eat any vegetables bar baby corn (they get veg hidden in dishes such as pies, bolognese etc) and neither will eat potatoes (except for DS1 who will eat chips - but only gets them every now and again).

I'm at the end of my tether. DS2 ate pots & veg until he was old enough to understand DS1's protestations that everything is disgusting. We have newborn twins and in future I don't want them being influenced by two big brothers telling them that veg are vile.

So ... I'm thinking about putting my foot down but how. Reward charts/bribes/threats haven't worked thus far but we have the summer ahead of us and it's time to act. The boys are old enough now to understand. I don't want to force them to eat what they genuinely dislike but they must try new foods and give them a chance.

So ... suggestions please wise mumsnetters

[meemar]

Do they eat the veg that is hidden in pies and bolognaise or do you mean that they pick it out? If they are eating it then I would leave things as they are tbh - no point trying to make them eat vegetables separately for the sake of it.

If they really don't like potatoes (like my two)try making mash mixed with sweet potatoe? DS1&2 love it.

Do put your foot down about any 'yuk' noises though. They are old enough to know that it's rude to make comments about what other people are eating. Hopefully if veg stops becoming an issue at mealtimes then your younger twins won't even pick up on it.

[OverMyDeadBody]

I'd say don't make any sort of deal over it, no bribing, rewards, stickers etc, just serve them up on their plates every single meal time.

What I do with DS (and have always done) is serve the veg first and call it a starter, he's always hungry so pretty much always eats it, whereas if it's all on the plate together he often leaves it as he wants the other stuff first.

Some veg he doesn't like though, so I don't expect him to eat much of it. The only rule we have in this house is to try a bit of everything, but I also emphasise that he never has to eat anything he doesn't like. However there is never a substitute

DS doesn't like potatoes, he never has, so I accept this and don't really cook with potatoes.

I would say just don't rise to the bait of them saying they are vile etc., ignore that and just keep offering them. Try it giving them the veg first. DS particularly likes honey glazed carrots and broccoli, something like that might entice tehm?

I've also always included salad in any sandwiches he ever has, right from the start, so he always eats sandwiches with veg in, I think the trick is to start right at the begining, and always have veg there.

Good luck. It's tricky.

[OverMyDeadBody]

Like meemar, I make mash with sweet potoat and potaot, about 50:50, and DS will eat that, but only as part of fish pie or shepherd's pie, try that?

Also, there is nothing wrong with 'hiding' veg in things like bolognese, pasta sauce and other things if the will eat it like this.

[Morloth]

We do the old "you can eat it or go hungry" arrangement and also "no pudding until you have eaten enough of your dinner" trick.

Sometimes he would rather go hungry than eat it and sometimes he will skip pudding in order to avoid the broccoli. But we don't encourage or insist or make a big deal either way.

Seems to work, he will eat most veg and even asked me for a carrot stick the other day when he saw me chopping!

[bellavita]

DS1 will only eat carrots and courgettes, but will eat all salad.

Tbh, baby corn is better than nothing so I would not worry. Just try every couple of weeks to introduce something else. If they don't like it, move on to the next thing.

How about getting them to cut raw veg up into sticks and have with some dips - something that they have helped with?

[Millie1]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. When they were being weaned and until they were old enough to express an opinion (and refuse food) they got a wide variety of meat and veg ... now as I say they'll only eat baby corn and trying to get them to eat meat (ie. roast dinner, casseroles etc) is mission impossible. Sometimes I wonder exactly what they do live on

Okay, so I'll keep hiding the veg and try to hide a wider variety. It has to be well and truly hidden ... DS1 can spy a tiny piece of veg a mile off and will pick it out. And I'll start offering something new every couple of weeks and asking them to try a little. Sweet potato mixed with ordinary is a great idea ... hadn't thought of that combination so will give it a go.

Thanks for the ideas