Veggie Power! Fun Ways to Get Kids to Eat Their Greens

Only 11% of kids ages 12 to 18 consume the recommended 2-3 daily cups of vegetables, according to a 2009 Ohio State University study.  Getting kids to try and enjoy brussel sprouts, broccoli and beets can be a challenge for parents and schools. Whether children push veggies away because of their taste,   texture, or smell, adults have a responsibility and opportunity to help kids develop a healthy love for delicious vegetables as part of their daily diet.

What makes vegetables so important? Here are some of the top health benefits of veggies, via MyPlate:

• Eating vegetables can protect against obesity, heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other chronic diseases.
• Veggies serve as a source of important nutrients like potassium, fiber, and vitamins A and C.
• Vegetables are low in fat and calories, making them excellent snacks in place of sugary, high-calorie junk foods. 

A recent CNN article rounded up some tips for how parents can boost kids’ excitement about eating their greens – and the ideas are applicable for school lunches too.

• Serve vegetables as an appetizer or first course when children are the hungriest. Schools can similarly try placing the vegetables near the start of the cafeteria line.
• Invite kids to pick out vegetables in the grocery store to get them more involved in what they eat. Schools can hold taste tests where students get to try and then pick a favorite vegetable-centric dish for the cafeteria menu.
• Stock the refrigerator with grab-and-go bags of sliced carrots or broccoli. Make snacking easy! Cafeteria staff can chop vegetables into smaller chunks so they are more inviting for students to eat.

Some schools have come up with even more creative and fun ways to encourage kids to try more vegetables:

Let students make their own salads in the cafeteria. Giving students an option to customize their salads can be a great way to encourage them to pile on the vegetables. Mississippi schools also offer turkey and ham as salad toppings, as well as a potato bar on certain days of the week. Read the Desoto Times Tribune article: http://bit.ly/1gm36Im

Grow a vegetable garden. A Pennsylvania school has been growing Swiss chard, zucchini and eggplant in their 500-square-foot garden. Students also use the garden as a classroom to learn about agriculture. Learn more in this Hatboro-Horsham Patch article: http://bit.ly/170f81F For tips on starting your own school garden, check out our past blog: http://bit.ly/13RpnUg

What are your secrets for getting kids to enjoy vegetables? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, or in the comments below.