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If your kids are anything like mine, they started out eating veggies when they were young and it was a puree, but as they got older and I tried to introduce chunk veggies they slowly stopped eating them all together. I tried all sorts of tricks to get them to eat veggies. The only partial way I could get them to eat them is if I hid them in sauces or muffins. This worked for a bit until they became super picky. My son went for almost two years with only eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch and dinner. I think that is why I now detest the smell of PB.. haha
But as they are starting to get older they are beginning to branch out and actually want to try new foods. Grant it it is usually only one bite here and there, but it is a start in the right direction towards introducing good for them foods. One thing that has really helped is dips. Dips makes everything better 🙂
So I was on a mission this summer to reward my kids for eating veggies and trying new foods. I have dry erase boards that I have used for other things like my calendar so I took one that I wasn’t using anymore and turned it into a veggie eating reward chart. If you can find a calendar one that is not already filled in or a completely blank one then that is the best to use.
To make your own veggie reward chart:
- Put the child’s name beside one of the columns
- Make a column for each day of the week or at least 5 days that you want your child to try a new veggie
- If they eat a whole piece( or whatever amount that you want them to eat) they get a check mark for that day
- At the end of the week if they have completed each day they get a reward
The beauty of this is that it can be flexible. You can vary the veggie, the amount they have to eat, and the reward. You can start small say with one piece and by the end of the week they have to eat a whole cup or half cup full or it can be over time to increase the amount. For a reward you can either have it be a tangible object like a small toy or it can be staying up 10 minutes later at bed time. Another great reward can be having a whole day to control what you watch for tv  or choose outside activity for a day. It can also be adding money to their piggy banks so that they can buy their own toys.
Like I said dips can help this transition of trying new veggies. I picked up a couple at Walmart that are sure to please just about any kid or adult. Kraft has three flavors to choose from including my favorite French Onion. The kids were all over the Bacon and Cheddar, because hello BACON!! The new packaging on the Kraft dips helps my kids know what they are eating. It has been a slow going progress with using our chart, so I started with their favorite veggies first of carrots and plan on introducing a new one each week. My son actually likes raw broccoli which I know a lot of adults don’t even like!
Here is a quick recipe for making a veggie flower platter. So cute and I will do just about anything to get my kids to eat veggies! You gotta make it fun 🙂
- 1 head of broccoli
- 1 small bag mini carrots
- 2-3 stalks of celery
- 1 English cucumber
- Kraft Bacon and Cheddar Dip
- Cut or tear the broccoli into small florets to make the “ground” of your veggie flower
- Layer the mini carrots vertically to make the “grass”
- Take one celery stalk and trim into 2 inch pieces to form the leaves of the flower, then use one big one as the stem of the flower
- Slice the English cucumber into at a slight angle to make the petals of the flower, then arrange in a layered pattern.
- Spoon your favorite Kraft dip in the center of the flower. Our favorite is Bacon and Cheddar, but they also have French Onion and Green Onion.
What tips or tricks do you have for getting your kids to eat veggies or are they just born veggie eaters?
great idea my grand-daughter loves seeing achievement and reaching goals and art this would be perfect for her
I have totally lucked out with both my girls living veggies! They would live these dips though. Good suggestions, looks like I’m headed to the store!
I’m so grateful my kiddos have always been good veggie eaters! I would struggle with getting them to eat a good, healthy diet if not. I absolutely love your veggie flower. A great way to engage kiddos with foods that are less than favorites.
I tell you what, celery and french onion dip are alright by me. I love the way it tastes. Also, cucumbers and ranch dip. I am not feeling the carrots, though. Not my favorite veggie. I will eat that celery, though!
Oh I am so blessed to have kids who like to eat their veggies! I can’t image how frustrating it can be to get then to eat! We started with “no thank you” tastes when they were younger and now they will eat just about anything!
We are working slowly on getting them to eat more things. It doesn’t help that I am a rather picky eater too 🙂
My kids are crazy about rewards charts but I had never thought of making a veggie reward chart! You sure do know how to make eating veggies tasty and fun!
Reward charts are our life right now to be able to get my kids to do much of anything besides their faces in a screen!
It’s gorgeous! And great idea. I wish I could have tried them all – my Walmart only had the French Onion! I made my kids a ninja turtle platter.
I can see the Ninja Turtle being a huge hit too!
The cutest veggie tray ever! Love the idea of rewarding with staying up a little later, my kids live for that!
I have been lucky. It has always been a tradition to have veggies and dip. Even the grandkids love it.
It was so hard getting my kids to eat veggies. No matter how I disguised them, the kids refused to eat them.
i am not a huge fan of veggies. This dip sounds really good, I bet it would get me to eat more veggies!
I like the idea of this Reward system … the rewards are cool and the results are positive for the kids:-)
Is it sad that I totally need a veggie reward chart for myself? LOL My kids will eat them like crazy but it usually takes them calling me out before I finally touch them. Which is horrible, I know.
My kids have always love vegetables, so I guess I’m lucky. I even have one who LOVES brussels sprouts.
What a cute way to inspire the kids to eat veggies. I bet they’re even more inclined to help when they have a hand in creating it!
This is a great idea! I’m lucky! I have 6 kid and 5 out of 6 eat everything you could put in front of them including veggies. My oldest is almost 12 and is exactly the same as me when I was a kid regarding veggies. He will enjoy them in time!
Super cute idea. I bet your kids love it
I love the veggie flower! What a cute way to present veggies! The dips look yummy too!