How to get 15month old to try vegetables

[becca3210]

Hello,

My 15month old will eat veg hidden in sauces/savoury flapjacks muffins etc. However, if I just give him individual bits of veg he won't even try it he just chucks it. The same with fruit except for bananas which he loves, perhaps as they are a different texture.

Any tips or is it just a case of just keep putting it on the plate? We started with veg when introducing weaning to try and avoid this happening so it is a bit annoying!

Following as my 12 month old is just the same. Finger food he'll actually pick up and eat is mostly limited to bread & banana, and all veg needs to be mashed up as part of the meal or it won't get eaten at all, not even a taste.

DD is brilliant with fruit but awful with veg, but I can get her to eat Strong Roots frozen veg/beige things, they have apparently done a baby range now as well but I can't find it. Asda fish shapes have not very hidden peas and sweetcorn in them and they usually go in ok. We just keep trying with DD, she will occasionally surprise us by giving something a go when we put it on her plate with stuff she will eat.

There's no magic trick to this, it's just a matter of keep offering them different food. I'm a fan of finger foods, especially at this age. Don't make a fuss, let them join in family meals where everyone is eating veg etc. Kids love to copy, so seeing others eating is a great help. If you keep everything low key and enjoyable, they will join in with that.

What kind of vegetables? All of them? Are you cooking them? How are you cooking them?

Mushroom pate or avocado on toast
Crispy cabbage, crispy kale, popcorn.
Sweet potato/swede/carrot/celeriac/parsnip/butterbean mash
Sweetcorn fritters
Baked beans
Roasted broccoli or cauliflower
Dhal, falafel, Hummous, onion bhajis, pakora
Soups and dips
Vegetable pizzas

Just put them on your plate and tell him they are yours! And only for adults!

Don't worry about it. Keep offering them in various formats and he will eventually eat something. It's quite common for them to become fussier at this age, and isn't anything you've done. One theory is it's because they are starting to get mobile and it may mean they are less likely to accidentally poison themselves. I think the person who thought this up has never met a real toddler.

Anyway, the more you stress about it and try to force or encourage it the more they think it's a thing and fight it. So just act like you don't mind either way and they will just see it like any other kind of food :)

@LouNatics

What kind of vegetables? All of them? Are you cooking them? How are you cooking them?

Mushroom pate or avocado on toast
Crispy cabbage, crispy kale, popcorn.
Sweet potato/swede/carrot/celeriac/parsnip/butterbean mash
Sweetcorn fritters
Baked beans
Roasted broccoli or cauliflower
Dhal, falafel, Hummous, onion bhajis, pakora
Soups and dips
Vegetable pizzas

Thanks he likes avocado on toast. He does eat vegetables in things such as pasta sauce or in savoury muffins and flapjacks. I would just like to be able to give him some veg by itself - broccoli, carrot, cherry tomato, cucumber etc. and for him to actually try it. Thank you for the advice will keep on persisting. I try and eat with him but he does get distracted by my knife and fork which he wants to them have! His child size ones are of no interest..!

Watch the timing of any between meals snacks so he is coming to the table with an appetite and offer veg first. I used to arrange them into pictures/plate quarters by colour etc. Anything to make them visually appealing to pique their interest.
Try various formats, mine preferred veg on the crunchy side, maybe with a dab of butter on etc etc

This happens. DS1 would eat anything until 12 months. Started to get pickier and by 18 months it was dire, super fussy. This went on for a long time. Now, at 3.5yrs, he’s finally started to try foods again and is slowly expanding his range.

Apparently this is normal. When they start walking, they stick to familiar foods only. It’s a protective feature from caveman days to ensure they only eat safe foods and not poisoned berries etc. As they get older and can understand, they can start to eat a wider range of foods again.

Obviously not all children, but it’s so common for kids to be fussy around 12-18 months and then for some time after.

It’s frustrating as hell. So all you can do really is keep offering and hang in there.

I have heard they have to see it 7 times before they actually try it. And then need to try it a few times before they'll actually eat it. So you need oodles of patience and try not to show your frustration to avoid possible food issues, make it a non event in your head of you can. Eat the same way as him if you eat with him and let him see in a casual way you enjoying yours. Sometimes I would let him see I fancy one of his, and offer one of mine as a trade, increase the perceived value.

Also don't make dessert a routine thing. If they know the good stuff is coming next they'll hold out... They're not daft

Some great tips from everybody thank you!

Mine used to eat meat, potatoes and two veg with lots of lovely gravy. I doubt they'd have eaten veg on its own, though both liked peas.

Try giving a dip?

Crudités with a little pot of Hummous, guacamole?