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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Getting toddlers to eat fruit and veg

22 replies

verybusyspider · 02/01/2010 23:36

ds1 is 3.5yr, ds2 just 2yrs ad ds3 6months (just started weaning)
On the whole they are good eaters but the frui nd veg thing is bugging me. d1 will eat carrotts and now brocoli, sometimes sweet potato, anything in a smoothie, dried fruit (ie dates, apricots and humzingers) and bananas but not fresh fruit. ds2 won't touch veg unless its puree'd in a sauce ie for pasta, dried fruit, bananas and smoothies- so its not a taste thing buthow did I fail to get them to eat fresh fruit??

I love fruit have a bowl full at all times, offer fruit and veg with every meal but never force them to eat it, they usually put it in their mouths, then realise what it is and spit it out

My mum has been commenting about it, I'd like to get it 'right' with ds3 - any ideas?

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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MrsFogi · 02/01/2010 23:41

Bumping as I'd love to know "the answer" to this one.....

SazzlesA · 02/01/2010 23:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

dearprudence · 02/01/2010 23:46

Sounds like a reasonable variety, although I can see why you want them to eat more.

I think you just have to keep offering it, without making too big a deal if they leave it.

dearprudence · 02/01/2010 23:48

Meant to say... what are humzingers, please?

Jamieandhismagictorch · 03/01/2010 09:37

I think some people like fruit and some don't. I don't really like it much myself.

DS2 is a fruit bat. DS1 will have fruit juice, apples and bananas at a push.

Your DCs are eating a pretty good variety of things. Ok it's a bit repetitive, but toddlers are like that! They eat veg, so they are getting some good vitamins.

You could try getting them to help you make a fruit salad. Chop up some apple yourself, and get then to slice a banana with you.

Otherwise, I wouldn't do any different to what you are doing.

Jamieandhismagictorch · 03/01/2010 09:39

how did I fail to get them to eat fresh fruit??

This statement makes me think you are worrying way too much. It's not totally your responsibility - they have their own preferences, and there's one thing you can't make a child do, and that's eat what you think they should.

Ignore your mother

seeker · 03/01/2010 09:43

I'm not sure how helpful this is, by my ds has not touched fruit since his 1st birthday. He is now 8, and will eat every vegetable put in front of him except turnips and spinach (including sprouts - his favourite!) Doesn't like smoothies or even jam. Regularly tries different fruit but really really doesn't like it.

It used to worry me - and I still feel irrationally sad that he's missing out on such delicious things (we're otherwise a fruit-bat family) but I don't worry about it now. If they are getting a good healthy diet with some vegetables - even if it seems very limited - I would just leave it. Have you tried peas, by the way? Most children seem to like them.

ImSoNotTelling · 03/01/2010 09:46

"carrotts and now brocoli, sometimes sweet potato, anything in a smoothie, dried fruit (ie dates, apricots and humzingers) and bananas but not fresh fruit."

Sounds like you're doing really well to me! I wouldn't be worried if I were you.

And yes ignore your mum. Yesterday my mum barged in and shouted "DD1 hasn't got a vest on! No wonder she's cold!". I asked DD1 if she was cold "No". She was dressed in many layers/ It just makes me so and upset that she thinks I'm not doing it right, and that she has the lack of tact to actually tell me so ie really upset me. Grrr.

Original poster

verybusyspider · 03/01/2010 21:19

thanks

seeker - peas used to be a stable part of the evening meal, ds1 hasn't touched the since he was 2 even when I offer them and will sift them out of any pasta dish. ds2 has never eaten them.

dearprudence - humzingers are in snack fruit part of supermarket, they are dried fruit sticks - these

Like fruit salad idea, just got ds1 cooking, today we made banoffee pie, the usual staple of banana! but will try apple and pear I think...

OP posts:

Original poster

verybusyspider · 03/01/2010 21:21

oh yes and will try and ignore my mum! (its hard because I do respect her advice but she has a really really bad habit of comparing ds's to other children which I hate)

OP posts:

threetimemummy · 03/01/2010 21:33

If you are worried from a nutritional perspective, google "deceptively delicious".

There are heaps of ways of "hiding" food in other food?

If it is a case of just wanting them to pick up and snack from the fruit bow though, I have no idea!! Sorry!!

Good luck!!

Original poster

verybusyspider · 03/01/2010 22:25

I'm becoming a master at hiding fruit and veg in stuff so they do get loads of stuff they don't even realise - this week I discovered the joy of avcardo and mayo and ds2 even ate lettce without realising, off to check google for more info!

OP posts:

Laquitar · 04/01/2010 11:54

It seems to me that they eat very well.

But if you still want ideas, my dcs will eat a variety of veg if served with a dip (youghurt or hummus). Red pepper is yum and sweet and packed in vit c.
Also mashed avocado on toast.
Cherry tomatoes and vegetable kebabs.

Jamieandhismagictorch · 04/01/2010 14:03

A lot of food preferences at this age are to do with texture, as much as taste, so I really don't think there is harm in "hiding" fruit and veg.

My (fussy) DS1 used to not eat any fruit/veg that was mushy, so he started off with raw carrots, then moved on to cooked later.

I also whizz tuna into tomato sauce for pasta/pizza, and they have no idea !

Another thing that worked for me for other foods (eg sandwiches), was to cut it into very small pieces - somehow made it more fun and less likely to be rejected.

I think that as long as your DCs are trying stuff, that's a good sign.

Original poster

verybusyspider · 05/01/2010 19:35

we have the other issue that mushy is better than crunchy, I can wizz anything up, soups this week seem to be going down ok, would be nice they could recogise the veg they are eating tho. I guess I'm not worried about it from a nutrutional point of view as if I don't think they have had enough fruit one day I'll jut wizz them up a smoothie for pudding, but it would be nice if they just ate it like everyone else without the faffing, just don't have time for it really!

OP posts:

Maria2007loveshersleep · 05/01/2010 20:06

Sigh...

DS also has similar problems. He eats all fruit (which is great) but NO vegetables, in any form (except potatoes but that doesn't really count for a veg does it).

I really don't know what to suggest- as they others have said, forcing them doesn't work & is not a good idea anyway. I would just keep offering tbh in the hope that at some point they'll change their mind. The main thing is not to fall into a rut of offering the same things over & over and not offering things you know they don't eat, because that way you miss the chance of them changing their minds. (I should follow this advice myself).

maxybrown · 06/01/2010 00:57

maria my DS is the same. NO veg, and I gave him everything when he was Sigh....

Jamieandhismagictorch · 06/01/2010 13:25

I am not a nutritionist, but presumably, from a health point of view, as long as they eat fruit OR veg, then that's pretty good, as far as vitamins and fibre go ...

Anyway, it's not set in stone - it's just that what they eat (or refuse to eat) is pretty much the only thing that toddlers have control over - something they will exploit

BiscuitStuffer · 06/01/2010 21:23

Snacks in our house consist of cut up veggies and fruit and if they're hungry they eat it and if they're not they don't. They give in eventually as they are actually hungry. I'll also hand bits over while I'm chopping while cooking. E.g. a bit of mushroom / pepper etc.

I introduce a 'new one' and then keep it on the menu for one meal a day for a few days and find that by 3 they eat it without fuss.

maxybrown · 07/01/2010 08:18

I do that biscuit, have always done that with him and he will always try everything but he will not eat it. It is not unusual for my son to not eat at all to be honest. It's not as if he likes chocolate and things either, I usuallly end up throwing chocolate away that people have bought him or we eat it. His dad and I will eat ANYTHING and both brought up with if you don't eat it there's nothing else, but it is hard when they eat NOTHING. He does seem very healthy though and does love fruit - one of his favourite things. Raw carrot now will occasionally be eaten, nut a couple of mouthfuls max!

mybabywakesupsinging · 08/01/2010 00:41

if only I knew what makes them decide what is "nice"!
Ds2 will eat only carrots and broccoli (likes fruit, though). Has ignored/chucked/spat out all our offer of peas/sweetcorn/peppers/beans etc.
But yesterday he ate all the leaves off the fennel plant. Was caught mucky-handed.
WHY?

ellokitty · 08/01/2010 10:24

I think your child is doing okay, and wouldn't be worried if I were you.

However, the things we do in our house to encourage a wider range of foods is the following...

New food is put on plate. They are not compelled to eat it. There is always something else they do like on the plate, so they won't go hungry. But no other food will be offerred. If they try a new food then they get a piece of pasta as a reward (old MN tip, they save them up and trade them in for days out etc). If they don't like the food, then they are given a little bowl which they can pick out the food they don't like and put in the bowl (for some reason it is important to them that it is not on their plate), but they are expected to eat the rest.

For us, this seems to work and slowly using this method we have managed to get our DDs (6 and 3) to actually like and eat onions and leeks amongst other foods.

It may not work for you, as my girls are relatively good with food.

Also, on the fruit thing, if they are hungry before lunch then fruit is all they are allowed. We don't do crisps or things like that as snacks anyway - they have them regaularly as part of a meal but never as a snack. Snacks are usually fruit / veg / healthy stuff. The unhealthy treats are given as a small part of a healthy meal.

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