Do Kids Really Have to Eat Vegetables?

From a really young age, we’re strongly encouraged to learn to love the green stuff. Actually, not just the green stuff—the merits of a diet stuffed with a rainbow of colour is applauded by everyone, and it feels as though fretting about whether or not your child is eating enough fresh veggies is just a standard rung on a parents’ worry ladder. 

We know they’re good for us and we know they’re an important feature of a balanced diet, but are veggies the be-all and end-all of our kids’ diets? Here’s the deal.

Phases Are Normal

Any parent will attest to their child going through phases at various points when it comes to food. Maybe they will only eat one type of vegetable, or become averse to foods of a particular colour, or insist on their food being cut up in a certain way. Rest assured that this is a completely natural part of little ones learning to assert their control, and these phases often finish as quickly as they start. 

Taste Buds Change

You know how we didn’t exactly grow up with a taste for red wine and coffee, but now you couldn’t live without it? (Guilty!) That’s because taste buds are ever-evolving, and just because your child doesn’t like something for a while, or in a particular context, it doesn’t mean it’s a lost cause. Keep offering—research shows that a child can take eight to 15 exposures to a new food just to enhance acceptance of that food, yet most parents offer a new food to a child just three to five times before giving up on presenting it. 

Keep the faith, or try incorporating the veggie in a new context…

Think Outside The Box

If you’re struggling to up your child’s vegetable intake, it’s time to try something new. Enter: Go! Kidz. Their health-focused, ready-to-eat children’s meals are delicious, fast, affordable, all-natural and a huge hit with fussy eaters. Every recipe has been created by dietitian Skye Swaney, and each meal boasts at least 1-3 servings of veg, making them a fun way to sneak in some of the green stuff. For instance their Cottage Pie (see above) contains eight different vegetables! 

Often, the exciting nature of trying something new—e.g. a brand-new meal service, will entice fussy eaters to taste things they’ve been avoiding; especially if they’re presented in a different format, or in the context of existing food favourites. We're talking Veggie Loaded Mac n Cheese, Fish Nuggets, Moussaka, Coconut Chicken Curry and a whole lot more. Drool!

Go! Kidz meals are snap frozen from fresh to ensure maximum nutrient preservation, so you can rest assured that your child will be lapping up a whole heap of goodness with each meal.

Other Nutrients Are Important Too

Yup—newsflash! Focusing on vegetables as a barometer of a healthy diet ignores the plethora of other foods you can offer to ensure your kids are receiving a whole host of nutrients. 

For example, fish is an excellent source of protein that's low in saturated fat; a great option for building, maintaining and repairing muscles and other tissues. Skye Swaney, Go! Kidz Dietitian explains, ”fish is the richest source of omega-3 fatty acids, a type of fat which is essential for healthy brain development and eye function in kids.”

High-fibre pasta is another Go! Kidz favourite—they write here that “there is significant evidence that higher fibre intake is associated with reduced chronic disease risk and longer life. Recent studies also suggest that higher fibre intake is linked with better mental health…for these reasons, all our Go! Kidz pasta-based meals use high fibre pasta."

Find out more and get yours at gokidz.com.au

BONUS OFFER! Simply enter partner code 'ELLASLIST' during checkout to receive a bonus Apple Crumble dessert with your order. No need to add the apple crumble to the cart – it will arrive as a bonus with your delivery. One redemption per customer.

 

ellaslist is proud to partner with Go! Kidz. Stay tuned for more on their mission to get Aussie kids eating better.

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