Most parents struggle to get their children to eat fruits and vegetables. Research has shown that the majority of children in the U.S. do not meet the recommended intake of fruits and vegetables. The recommended daily intake is 2 ½ cups of vegetables and 1 ½ cups pf fruit. A study in the Journal of the Academy of child and Adolescent Psychiatry stated that children that are picker eaters tend to avoid vegetables.
How can we as parent encourage our children to eat the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables? Plan a trip to a farmers market or a grocery store. Farmers Markets are open and promote healthy eating by providing access to fresh fruits and vegetables. A few creative activities to try with your children when selecting produce include:
- While shopping, allow them to pick out the produce they like to eat or try for the first time.
- Encourage children to take advantage of food samples at grocery stores and farmers markets
- Encourage children to help prepare and cook produce at home.
- Try growing your own produce; children enjoy eating foods they grow themselves.
Remember by choosing health-promoting foods, you and establish good nutritional habits in your child that will last for the rest of his or her life.
Resource:
Fontenot, B. (2019, May 23). Explore Produce with Kids. Retrieved from: https://www.eatright.org/food/nutrition/dietary-guidelines-and-myplate/explore-produce-with-kids.
