Getting Kids to Eat More Vegetables

Getting Kids to Eat More Vegetables

Most parents understand that vegetables should be an important part of their child's diet because vegetables are a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Unfortunately, many parents have a very hard time getting their kids to eat a few if any vegetables on a regular basis.

The Amount of Vegetables Kids Should Eat

We all know that kids should eat their vegetables. But just how many vegetables should kids eat every day?

You may be familiar with the general rule of aiming for 3–5 servings of vegetables each day, but the Choose My Plate guidelines offer much more specific recommendations based on how old your child is.

USDA MyPlate Recommendations

Age

Recommended Daily Servings

2 to 3 years

1 to 1 1/2 cups

4 to 8 years

1 1/2 to 2 1/2 cups

9 to 13 years (girls)

2 to 4 cups

9 to 13 years (boys)

2 1/2 to 4 cups

14 to 18 years (girls)

2 1/2 to 4 cups

14 to 18 years (boys)

3 to 4 cups

Why such a big range at each age? Like most other foods, how many vegetables your kids should eat has a lot to do with your child's activity level. An active child who is burning more calories needs more vegetables and other foods than an inactive child.

The Choose MyPlate Daily Checklist can help you come up with a daily food plan, including how many vegetables your kids should eat, based on their calorie level.

Eating a Serving of Vegetables

But what counts as a cup of vegetables? According to the United States Department of Agriculture, "1 cup of raw or cooked vegetables or vegetable juice, or 2 cups of raw leafy greens can be considered as 1 serving from the vegetable group."

What's a Serving?

One serving is equal to:

  • 1/2 cup of raw or cooked vegetables
  • 1 cup raw, leafy vegetables
  • 1/2 cup cooked or canned peas or beans

And servings for younger children are even smaller, with a toddler serving being equal to about 1/2 of a regular adult serving size.

In addition to eating vegetables each day, your kids should try to eat a variety of dark green vegetables (broccoli, greens, spinach, romaine lettuce), orange vegetables (carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato, winter squash), dry beans and peas, starchy vegetables (corn, green peas, white potatoes), and other vegetables (cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini) each week.

How to Get Kids to Eat More Vegetables

The Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study once found that "by 15 months, French fries and other fried potatoes are the most commonly consumed vegetables." So how do you get your kids to eat more vegetables and avoid falling into the French fry habit? Most experts recommend starting early by offering your older infant and toddler a large variety of fruits and vegetables. It can also help to:

  • Set a good example by eating vegetables yourself.
  • Offer low-fat salad dressing and other dips as a side for vegetables.
  • Mix in vegetables with foods that your child already likes, such as a topping on pizza, extra in spaghetti sauce, or mix in a casserole or soup.
  • Let your kids grow their own vegetables or visit a farmer's market to buy fresh vegetables.
  • Provide raw vegetables, such as baby carrots, as a snack.
  • Offer a lot of choices, provide small servings at first, and keep in mind that some picky eaters won't try a new vegetable until they see it on their plate 10 or more times.

Source: https://www.verywellfamily.com

 

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