EAT YOUR VEGGIES!
We have all heard it and for most parents we have most likely said this phrase over and over! I am a mom of 2 and my son has been since the very beginning... a very selective eater!
Anything remotely green in color or anything new was a big no! There was a time I was even struggling to feed him pasta (this is how low we sank…).
Being a personal trainer, yogi and health freak, I thought :
”This is my worse nightmare!”. I started thinking of all the precious nutrition my son’s growing little body would be missing, all the fiber, vitamins and minerals he could be lacking. So I came up with a plan! I had to find some sneaky way to make him eat his veggies without him realising, at least until he would appreciate their real flavour!
It takes time for your pallet to appreciate certain foods and to develop your taste buds. Some say, kids need to taste something up to 7 times before they can start appreciating it...
My mom always told me to eat the rainbow, and it has stuck with me.
So really why do we have to eat veggies, and that is valid for kids as well as adults!?
Let’s go back to our rainbow. A good way to look at fruits & veggies is to look at their colour. Each colour brings something to your body.
Reds like Tomatoes, Watermelons and peppers contain Lycopene which is a powerful antioxidant to fight off free radicals and support heart health.
Orange fruits and veggies like pumpkins, sweet potato and mangoes contain Beta carotene which support our immune system and prevent inflammation.
Yellows, such as lemons, peaches and oranges are high in Vit C. This is crucial to absorb daily as our body cannot store this precious vitamin, which helps to protect, repair, to grow and develop our bodies and to fortify our skin.
Greens such as kale, sprouts, broccoli contain Lutein and indoles which keeps bones and teeth strong and detoxifies our body.
Blues and purples contain anthocyanins and resveratrol which are also antioxidant and anti-ageing and protects the nervous system.
Finally, whites in onions and garlic contain an powerful antimicrobial to fight off all sorts of germs!
Have I gotten you excited about eating your daily veggies? Don’t run off to your fridge just yet!
One last important role of fruits and veggies is to keep you regular when it comes to going to the toilet... The fiber veggies contain is just as important as precious as their micronutrients. By explaining why veggies and fruits are important for their bodies, Kids become more willing to try (true for reluctant adults as well!)
Remember, Kids (just as we do) eat with their eyes so make sure to use colors and shapes, adding smileys and making veggies fun! Try purple potato fries, a green smoothie topped with some sprinkles and a straw, a broccoli omelet with with a healthy ketchup smiley face (I buy my ketchup from Connie’s Kitchen, purchase on Farmy.ch or some health stores. It is only made from fruits and veggies and doesn’t contain all the added sugars).
That being said you don’t want to create a drama at every meal. I know how stressful and frustrating it can be as a parent when a kid doesn’t want to eat... Even a spoon of veggies or soup or a sip on a green smoothie is a victory in the right direction!
Don’t beat yourself up, the key like most things in life is consistency.
And please share your victories with me! Let me/us know how you managed to motivate your kids to eat their greens?