Never eats greens

[Greenosaurus]

With an otherwise varied diet is this something to be bothered about? 3 and a half year old eats no greens whatsoever. I'm not counting cucumber as he only eats those cut into half circles and leaves the skins.

He eats all sorts of things like eggs, curry, tuna, spaghetti bolognese, sausages, cheese, chicken, humous, yoghurts, porridge, nut butters, cucumber, corn, carrots, all sorts of fruit. He has a multivitamin every day and likes to drink kefir some days too.

I think his diet is good for his age but just won't touch greens of any kind. Just keep putting them on his plate and don't bother about it? Start blending spinach into bolognese? 🤷🏻‍♀️

His diet looks healthy as it is to be honest. Tastes change as we grow older. I used to hate scrambled eggs as a child. Now I love them. You don't want you child to start thinking greens are some sort of punishment

Punishment?

Yes, I do think he has a good diet. I just feel like he's lacking something from greens specifically as they're so good for us but maybe he's fine and covered by the multivitamin. Just wondered if anyone thought it was a concern and greens should be hidden in other foods to get them into his diet, or just keep offering and wait it out.

Sounds fine. Has he tried things like raw peas and sugar snaps? Ours loved them, still do as adults.

If not, really wouldn’t be worried. Our 66 year old neighbour told me just the other day that she doesn’t eat anything green! Family of doctors. She’s fit as a fiddle.

If you’re worried, give him a good supplement .

I'd keep offering it and exposing him to it on the plate and also mix/blend in to other foods too. Does he like marvel? We make spinach pancakes sometimes for my 3.5 year old and call them hulk pancakes 😅. I'd keep doing what you're doing - exposing him to his greens with no pressure and he may start to give it a try. And in the meantime, like you said, no harm blitzing some in to sauces and other meals 😊

As long as they're having food from all food groups I wouldn't worry

My dad is the same. Barely eats any veg at all and very fit.

He has food that he doesn't like and I don't worry about it as he seems to have every food group covered with decent variety. It's just the greens. He won't even eat peas which are such a staple kid food.

Think I'll try blending into sauces bolognese or lasagne and also keep offering. He isn't interested in superheroes but I'll bear that in mind for when that phase starts! 😄

@Greenosaurus sorry just jumping on a previous comment - does he like pesto pasta? Pesto is a great one to get greens in! I blend kale, spinach, cooked peas etc any green veg really in to it with the usual basil/oil/garlic/pine nut mix! Always goes down a treat (if he's a pesto fan 🙏🏼)

I can try this he's never had pesto pasta before. Usually tuna mayonnaise/macaroni cheese or spaghetti with bolognese. Do you make your own pesto from scratch or add extra things to jars of pesto?

I make my own but I don't see why it wouldn't work with a jar either, just cook the green veg you want (or chuck in spinach) and give a quick blitz to mix it in before mixing in to pasta!

@TeainanIV

Thanks will definitely try this

I agree with blending them in for now and just keep trying different varieties of veg and sauce combinations with no pressure. Maybe try growing some microgreens together and sprinkle on something tasty.

I know that the important thing about eating greens is chlorophyll. Can’t remember why 😁 Again, supplements are available.

Many years ago I read a food psychologist's advice on how often people unwittingly put healthy foods as an inferior option. "Eat your greens then you get the pudding " . As I result of reading that article, I would simply leave carrot and cucumber sticks everywhere around our house and never said a word.

My children caused amazement at parties as they were the only children who would pick up veg pieces from the party table.

My children are teens now and often buy junk food with their pocket money. I do try to reason on health grounds but it's tough.

Ultra-Processed People author described an experiment where children were allowed to eat whatever they liked out of range of healthy foods. One boy had rickets. He instinctively went for vitamin D rich food until his rickets was cured. Then he never touched that food again (I think it was fish oil). The doctor running the experiment concluded the children will instinctively know what their bodies need

@Kosenrufugirl

"Eat your greens then you get the pudding "

But where have I said I ever do this?

I didn't think she was talking about/accusing you, just sharing her experience.

OP, I'm in the same boat. I fear I myself am creating "a thing": it started casually, when I commented with other mums "the one thing she doesn't eat is green vegs", you know, as banal chit chat. Now she says it herself, almost with pride 😅🥴 I'm so bad at this... I love reading others' experiences, like @Kosenrufugirl 's, because it inspires me... Love the concept of intuitive eating.

Fwiw, OP, I think we just need to insist on keeping greens as normal daily part of our menus, and then pray one day they will eat them.

Im 51 and have barely eaten "greens" my entire life. Im completely fine

@NameChangedOfc

Yes, will definitely keep them on the table. We eat a lot of broccoli, spinach and kale particularly. I get that it's not appetising looking to a 3 year old though 😅 I loved broccoli and peas as a child though

I certainly don't feel as good if I'm not eating enough green veg but maybe that's placebo. I always thought they were such a powerhouse food. I will start blending some into sauces and so on just to appease my conscience at least.

i often just mix greens into the dish themselves, usually in the form of spinach as it doesn't really have a taste, add it to curries, spag bol, anything saucy really. DS is only 16 months though so alot younger. But i also think to myself would i want to sit and eat a pile of greens on their own (not really, but I'm an adult and know i should) so why should i expect DS to if he doesn't like the taste. so we mix it in. tastes change, he might like it in the future, but I'm happy enough he gets it mixed in.

I would keep offering and hopefully they will eventually eat some.

I can give you some hope - my 3yo recently randomly started eating raw celery, which he never has done before. He does eat quite a lot other green veg happily already (peas, broccoli, sugar snaps, mange tout, green beans, cucumber).

My 6yo has always been a much fussier eater. At 3yo off the above list she'd only reliably eat cucumber. Now she will also eat peas thankfully, she will also eat broccoli now but only the stalks and only with mint sauce on! And that's it for green veg for her sadly but it's still an improvement from when she was 3!

Both of mine like pesto on pasta though. They will also eat spinach and ricotta tortellini too actually but neither will eat spinach otherwise.

I don't know whether this is any reassurance-but my DS last ate fruit of any sort when he was less than a year old. He is 24 now, ridiculously fit, healthy and robust...

Agree with the pesto pasta! My little boy LOVES pesto. I put some broccoli into boil with the pasta and mash it up then add it back into the pasta with the jarred pesto!

Also cheesy broccoli pasta maybe?

I wouldn't worry too much!

How do people do this? If I don't eat a good amount of fruit and veg I catch everything going and feel really run down

@Greenosaurus "How do people do this? If I don't eat a good amount of fruit and veg I catch everything going and feel really run down"

I agree! He does eat plenty of vegetables through. But I have NEVER been able to understand the no fruit thing. We ate loads as a family-and so did he for 6 months. And then, overnight, he just stopped. He tries every now and then but says it all tastes horrible.

Just keep putting it on the plate and don't comment on it one way or another. It took several months of presenting broccoli to my toddler, and now as a 4 year old it's often the first thing he eats from his meal.