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2yo refusing veg...

8 replies

ladybug2020 · 22/02/2020 18:21

So basically we served up the attached photo and he wouldn't eat the veg. In the end I had to chop the veg up a little and cover it in ketchup and then he ate it fine

Is that normal for his age that I'm having to disguise veg but he will easily eat other things such as pasta nuggets chips etc

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
ladybug2020 · 22/02/2020 18:49

Anyone

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 22/02/2020 20:05

Can't see the photo OP. Does he usually eat veg? Is he used to it?

ladybug2020 · 22/02/2020 20:28

Hi sorry forgot to add photo, here it is now

My main question really was is it normal to disguise veg at this age

2yo refusing veg...
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ladybug2020 · 23/02/2020 20:24

Can anyone help here Cos I'm worrying my child is gonna become a fussy eater but maybe that's normal aged 2. ?

We do as I say sometimes have to disguise food with pasta sauce or ketchup etc

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April45 · 23/02/2020 22:29

Have you tried a bigger plate so he has space to see what's what?

irecitethegruffaloinmydreams · 23/02/2020 23:21

I think the issue is that unseasoned plain vegetables (particular broccoli, spinach etc) are just not particularly tasty on their own. Adults usually prefer them seasoned (whether with salt, stir-fried with soy and chilli, with garlic butter, lemon juice, vinaigrette, cheese, etc). And we know that they're good for us and we should be eating them - so imagine how much less motivation a toddler, with no real sense of delayed gratification, has. Chips and chicken nuggets, on the other hand, set off all kinds of pleasure receptors in our brains. Salt ! Fat! Potato! All delicious.

So if you serve plain vegetables as a side dish to nuggets, he is more likely to eat the latter and the veg will seem even plainer by comparison.

I don't think you should always hide vegetables but you might get him to eat more of them if they are intrinsic to a tasty dish rather than a plain side dish. So, for example, I make this stew cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019772-spiced-chickpea-stew-with-coconut-and-turmeric (minus the salt and easy on the chilli) for my daughter and now she loves the kale in it (she already loved chickpeas). Or I make chicken stew with onions, peppers, carrots and tinned tomatoes (plus lots of garlic and smoked paprika) or Thai curry with baby sweetcorn and peppers, or risotto with prawns, leeks and peas. Or you could add mushrooms and kale if you make macaroni cheese, for example. I add finely chopped kale and fennel to my fish pie (as well as peas).

I'm sure purists would say that it's better to get kids to enjoy plain vegetables, but I would honestly rather that she eats them in a healthy format without me having to hide them.

Another idea is to get him to help a bit with cooking, e. g. washing the vegetables.

Hope that helps.

Rainallnight · 24/02/2020 12:35

Welcome to having a two year old!

The Jamie Oliver seven veg pasta sauce is great for getting veg in.

My two will eat peas and carrots (sweet veg!) but have gone right off other kinds. So I hide them where I can. It’s not ideal but I’d rather that than them not eating veg at all.

ladybug2020 · 24/02/2020 17:30

My problem today has been that in general I have no patience and when he doesn't eat what I cook I shout at him then feel terrible after

Should I just let him eat what he wants?

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