Encouraging children to grow or pick their own food is a great way to get them to eat it
Becky Dickinson reveals the smartest ways to get your little ones to eat their vegetables
It?s an age-old struggle and a familiar source of angst to anyone who has ever uttered the words ?eat your veg, or there won?t be any pudding?. Getting children to eat healthy food, especially vegetables, can feel like a never-ending battle.
But according to registered dietician and spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association Lucy Jones, fussy eating is a normal stage of development. ?It is thought to be an evolutionary safety precaution against eating poisonous berries, for example,? she says. ?One study found that 50% of parents labelled their 19-24 month olds as ?picky?.? Fussy eating is by no means restricted to the toddler years, causing many parents to resort to measures such as ?hidden vegetable? sauces, or using dessert as a reward.
But while bribery and subterfuge may sometimes seem like the only options, there are other more palatable ways to help your child enjoy food. So here are some tried, tested and tasty ways to encourage them to eat something new.
Grow it
Helping children to grow their own food is a great way to get them to eat it. While living the good life may not always be feasible, especially in London, there is still plenty you can do: salad leaves on a windowsill, a small raised bed in the garden, a few pots on the patio. Pick-your-own farms are also a brilliant day ou...