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Original poster

To make my five year old eat his vegetables with his birthday tea?

63 replies

Pregnantabroad · 07/04/2017 12:12

He's having macaroni cheese and chocolate cake (his request). Veg is always a bit of a battle and I'm going to do peas tonight. Do I let him off or not?

OP posts:
SingingSilver · 07/04/2017 12:50

I wouldn't exclude the veg if it's an ongoing issue, I think it gives the message "Yes vegetables are yucky, so you don't have to eat them on special days."

How about putting his peas in a separate bowl next to the rest of his dinner - or on the plate not touching the rest of the food, tricky with peas though - and then saying nothing. So he has the option to eat them or ignore?

SingingSilver · 07/04/2017 13:03

*Actually I've changed my mind! Maybe the whole family could skip veg tonight so that it doesn't look like he gets an exemption?

OR put the peas in a serving bowl on the counter for people to help themselves? (I think I've got too much time on my hands today...)

Trifleorbust · 07/04/2017 13:04

Serve them but don't force him to eat them. Eat them all yourself! Put a bit of butter and mint with them to make them 'special'.

Lambzig · 07/04/2017 13:05

I would love to know how to 'make' a child eat vegetables. DS who is four eats all veg, DD who is 7 has never knowingly eaten fruit or a vegetable. I cook things that hide them or whizz them up in sauces so that she does eat some. Also she gets them visible on her plate and gets asked to try them, but I don't want to get into a pitch battle where veg become a punishment. It really limits mealtimes though.

I would let him have his choice of veg if he has one.

Lynnm63 · 07/04/2017 14:03

I'm hoping to learn how to make them eat veg too. Ds1(17) looks at veg as though it's polonium. As a baby and toddler he'd eat anything. I may have been smug now carrots, cauli, sweet corn and cucumber fruit is apples, grapes and pomegranate seeds. That's it. As for five a day only if Jaffa cakes and chocolate orange counts!

It's his birthday though everyone gets to choose whatever they want on their birthday in our house.

PinkHeart59156816 · 07/04/2017 14:06

I'd put them on his plate, but I don't ever make a huge fuss of you must eat this/that

r0tringLover · 07/04/2017 14:15

Let him off. Veg isn't a punishment but eating 'only what he wants' is a treat: couch it that way.

DH had a pizza delivery for breakfast for his brithday. He loves veg and is a triathlete but shit food is lovely once in a while.

Sunnydaysrock · 07/04/2017 14:22

Definitely just let him eat what he wants, it's hardly going to make him even worse with veg! Happy birthday to him by the way! It's my DS birthday today too, he had pancakes with squirty cream and nutella for breakfast, and i wont be insisting he eats any of the carrot sticks I'm putting out for his tea with his friends... He'll go back to moaning about veg once his weekend of celebrations is over, but i know he'll eat it.

Ev1lEdna · 07/04/2017 14:40

#vegbystealth

Like Florene above I am a big fan of stealth veg. I mash broccoli and cauliflower into macaroni cheese and make a big pot of veg sauce (any veg I have and tomatoes, spoon of pesto and half tsp of sugar to take the edge off the tinned tomatoes). I freeze it in pots and use it with pasta, rice, cous cous, and as the base for pizza. I have added more chunky veg as they got older and I do serve them raw veg with sandwiches etc and veg with dinner. On their birthday however, I give them a pass Wink even now they are older Grin.

One of my kids eats it all no problem, one of them really dislikes veg but thankfully is a fan of homemade soup - the stealth veg helps enormously with him.

PickAChew · 07/04/2017 14:44

If you want to turn his birthday tea into a battleground, then knock yourself out.

I often leave my peas if they're too round, too shelly or smell too much like peas.

EB123 · 07/04/2017 14:47

I would pop them there but not make a fuss if they don't get eaten same as I do every night here. I try not to make food a battle after being a very fussy child.

Original poster
Pregnantabroad · 07/04/2017 17:23

Thanks all. Id normally put some sort of veg puree in the sauce but have done it authentically today. Going to put peas on his plate but not force it. Chocolate cake for pudding! He is a reluctant veg eater. We are following Tiny Tastes to encourage him and his sister to eat veg. I read about it in the paper. You introduce a veg over 14 days. Have done it with green beans and carrots so far with some success.

OP posts:
FerdinandsRevenge · 07/04/2017 17:25

I'm normally a stickler for no dessert until you've eaten your veg but today I'd leave it out.

StereophonicallyChallenged · 07/04/2017 19:23

Awww I'd love to be doing a five year old favourite birthday tea again, mine are both off to nandos with their mates this year. Birthday tea's are no more

I'd have put the peas on but not force it too!!

Cleanermaidcook · 08/04/2017 18:06

Birthday rules here, eat what you want on your birthday. One chose coleslaw and jelly once yes together on same plate

voddiekeepsmesane · 08/04/2017 18:39

Eat your favourite foods on your birthday in our house. Even our almost all veg loving child has always chosen spag bol, burgers and chips, pizza and garlic bread etc etc we are coming up to his 13th birthday and only 2 of those did I have a say in ...his 1st and 2nd Smile

Billben · 08/04/2017 18:49

Can't believe how many people saying leave it out. Serve the peas. Vegetables are not a punishment.

They are to those who don't like them. It's his birthday for heaven's sake. Let the child choose what he wants to eat one day a year.

Instasista · 08/04/2017 19:25

I can't imagine even thinking about this. It's really weird to ask

SandyDenny · 08/04/2017 19:38

Do people force their children to eat things they don't like? Why ?

I agree with instatista, very odd way to behave

ragdoll700 · 08/04/2017 20:26

Its his birthday leave the peas I tried all sorts of veg till I found veg my two would eat bit on state ocassions they may be found having Ice- cream for dinner they wont remember all the veg I encouraged them to have but they will remember the rear times they were allowed to have Ice-cream for dinner :)

Redglitter · 08/04/2017 20:31

Can you mix the peas into the macaroni? Not specifically for his birthday tonight, but just generally if he won't eat them separately?

Oh no don't do this. My mum tried that kind of thing when I was a child and all that happened was my food got cold while I picked all the veg out

motherofdaemons · 08/04/2017 20:34

I would purée some cauliflower into the cheese sauce. Yum!

Instasista · 08/04/2017 22:07

I know loads of people liquidise veg into their children's meals but surely it's not really worth it? Vegetables are good for vitamins for fibre and my understanding is most of this is lost through liquidising as the art of chewing is important. Which is why smoothies are a bit crap despite being liquidised fruit

Userone1 · 08/04/2017 22:10

I find mine always ate veg or fruit, it's hard for developing taste buds to do both. As long as they ate from one category!

Yika · 08/04/2017 22:14

Agree with the others, don't make him eat the peas on his birthday!

Give him peas for breakfast the next day though.

(just kidding)