159 responses so far ↓

• 1 Shera // Apr 11, 2011 at 11:40 am

  Since my only kid is in-utero, I’m going to be naive and say that I plan on giving my kids fruit and veggies just like my husband and I eat them now: fresh (if possible) and mostly raw or steamed. I want to teach my kids to recognize, enjoy, and choose healthy foods instead of injecting it in their systems unbeknownst.

• 2 kelli // Apr 11, 2011 at 12:01 pm

  (I tried to read the official rules, but I get a 403 error)

  We planted a garden. It’s amazing how much kale and chard is picked when it’s in the garden. They’ll even eat things like spring onions and squash. Most favorite items include beans, peas, carrots, radishes, beets, raspberries, peaches, plums, oranges, apricots, corn, blueberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, and apples. (Why, yes, we live in California.)

• 3 wintor // Apr 11, 2011 at 12:14 pm

  My daughter is 18 but we still take turns deciding what veggie to have at dinner. I’ve been supah dupah lucky that she never found a veggie or a fruit that she didn’t like.

• 4 Stephanie // Apr 11, 2011 at 12:30 pm

  We have a kid with food texture issues (and by issues I mean that he didn’t chew food until he was almost 2 1/2, and I took him to a specialist a few times then decided he wasn’t fooled by her trickery and decided he’d eat when he was ready.) Until he started to chew, he had the Best Veggie Diet imaginable. He ate tons of them. All pureed. If there was a chunk of unpureed squash, he’d throw up.

  Now, he eats not a single veggie. Not a one. We try. He refuses, and we know not to press it because he throws up. He has decided that fruit is OK though so we load him up with those. We count applesauce as a fruit, but other than that, berries, pineapple, apple slices, cut up grapes.

  He decided over the weekend that Mac and Cheese was OK to eat. He’ll be 3 on Saturday. Tell me this too shall pass (because I have a 1 month old now, and I can’t do this again…)

• 5 Megan // Apr 11, 2011 at 12:35 pm

  My son is only 12 months old, and loves veggies. But we also mash up mixed veggies and mix them in with practically everything he eats–meatballs, mac and cheese, meatloaf, pasta, mashed potatoes, eggs–you name it, we put veggies in it!

• 6 elsimom // Apr 11, 2011 at 1:05 pm

  We are lucky that our kids eat lots of vegetables. The ones they’re less sure about, we allow them to dip (Ranch Dressing – we buy it in the BIG bottle). I have one child who will eat steamed green beans with salt and olive oil like they’re potato chips. I’ve actually had to suggest that putting a serving on one’s plate might be more polite than continually fishing individual beans out of the bowl (to which my husband said “They’re green beans – let’s not quibble.” He’s right.) As for fruit – I call them my little fruit bats – they will eat any fruit, in pretty much any form. We’ve had fights over the last berries, no kidding. The pickiest one actually went through a phase when fruit was about the only thing she’d eat – but I found solace in the fact that it was fruit, after all…..she’s grown into a very good eater (see green bean swiping, above).
  I don’t have any tips – neither my hubby nor I are picky eaters, and we prepare veggies many ways.
  Oh – wait – we do find that they will eat anything we grow ourselves. We have some big fun going out to “harvest” – and they get especially excited about adding herbs to things this way. They also get pretty excited about “Farmer Jim Vegetables” (aka our CSA share). Last year we discovered that everyone likes fresh steamed spinach! Kohlrabi slices! Cabbage (all but one….).
  So, yeah, we’re darn lucky, and we know it. Also pretty darn lucky to be able to afford fresh foods, year round – but that’s a comment for another day.

• 7 AshleyD // Apr 11, 2011 at 2:39 pm

  I guess I’m more like you in your pre-vegetarian days. I tend to make a main dish with some sort of meat (pasta or casserole or what have you) and then the veggies are either in the main dish itself or, more often than I would like to admit, served out of a can.
  The funny thing is that I actually really enjoy vegetables, but my husband is a “meatatarian.” Since I’m the one that does the cooking, though, I’ve started doing one or two meatless meals a week. Healthier, less expensive, and sometimes my husband doesn’t even notice the meat is missing!

• 8 beyond // Apr 12, 2011 at 4:06 am

  since i’m gestating, my kid is getting vegetables and fruit that i eat through the umbilical cord…

• 9 Mami2jcn // Apr 12, 2011 at 6:33 pm

  Fruits are easy because my kids love them in any form. With veggies we have to be a little more creative and use dips.

• 10 Mami2jcn // Apr 12, 2011 at 6:33 pm

  tweet-http://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/57949238688096257

• 11 Kerri Stewart // Apr 12, 2011 at 7:04 pm

  My kids like fruits & vegetables, however they LOVE pasta. To increase their vegetable intake, I add vegetables like broccoli to their pasta and serve a salad with dinner. My girls love salad!

  gab UNDERSCORE lyn AT msn DOT com

  @Naya2000 on Twitter

• 12 Kerri Stewart // Apr 12, 2011 at 7:10 pm

  Fingers crossed. Hope I win from this tweet!

  @Naya2000

  gab UNDERSCORE lyn AT msn DOT com

  http://twitter.com/#!/Naya2000/status/57958425551831040

• 13 Janssen // Apr 12, 2011 at 7:37 pm

  Carrot brownies! I love that idea :)

  I just started subscribing to a CSA and having plenty of vegetables around and really fresh makes a huge difference.

• 14 Bart // Apr 12, 2011 at 7:49 pm

  We started subscribing to a CSA and that does a lot to help us eat more veggies. My wife is awesome about adding them to practically every dish without ruining the dish (or the veggies).

• 15 Susan C. // Apr 12, 2011 at 7:50 pm

  I’m trying to eat a salad before every dinner to get extra fresh veggies.

• 16 Steph // Apr 12, 2011 at 10:02 pm

  i put them in smoothies and in baked goods!@

• 17 Steph // Apr 12, 2011 at 10:03 pm

  http://twitter.com/#!/DesMoinesDealin/status/58002132602863617

• 18 Jessie C. // Apr 13, 2011 at 12:24 am

  We love smoothies, so I put all veggies and fruit in, kids love it too much to care what’s in there. This trick works great with my picky eaters.

• 19 Jessie C. // Apr 13, 2011 at 12:24 am

  tweet.http://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/58037602816761856

• 20 Karen // Apr 13, 2011 at 2:53 am

  I add in veggies in my casseroles and throw fruit in with other favorite treats. It keeps everyone happy.

• 21 Karen // Apr 13, 2011 at 2:54 am

  http://twitter.com/#!/SCMOMOF2BOYS/status/58075526186799104

• 22 patois // Apr 13, 2011 at 9:40 am

  My two oldest ones need no subterfuge to get them to eat fruit, although the 12-year-old daughter is semi-vegetable-phobic. My biggest problem lies with the 8-year-old boy. He’ll go for very few fruits but almost no vegetables. I’m going to have to steal the ideas above and try them out on him.

• 23 patois // Apr 13, 2011 at 9:43 am

  Le tweet.

  http://twitter.com/#!/patois42/status/58177951321169920

• 24 Milissa // Apr 13, 2011 at 9:47 am

  I make my kids smoothies every morning. They think they are fruity and yummy, but I usually sneak some veggies in them too!

• 25 kelley wood // Apr 13, 2011 at 10:32 am

  My kids love veggies and fruits! They are pretty much vegeterians too. So I dont have too bad of a time. They do however like the sweets too so its tough on my dieting!

• 26 kelley wood // Apr 13, 2011 at 10:33 am

  http://twitter.com/mysweetcarolina/status/58185995551649792

• 27 Pamela S. // Apr 13, 2011 at 1:00 pm

  No kids so here is what I do for myself. Protein shakes every morning with orange juice, fresh fruit or veggies, protein powder, and ice. Sometimes I’ll throw in a few spoonfuls of yogurt. Yummy.

• 28 tammigirl // Apr 13, 2011 at 5:05 pm

  I don’t have to trick my kids into veggies. They’ve always appreciated good food. We do what we can think of to give things a good veggie punch where we can. Like, we use V-8 juice a lot where most people would use tomato sauce.

  We love the smoothies at our house. And my kids love to add extra fruits and substitute orange juice for the milk.

• 29 tammigirl // Apr 13, 2011 at 5:06 pm

  I tweeted:
  http://twitter.com/#!/tammigirl/status/58289836901146624

• 30 One Crusty Mom-E // Apr 13, 2011 at 8:52 pm

  There are easy ways to “trick health” into my sons lives, and there are not so easy ways.

  It’s all on the presentation and the wording. So, I take whatever health push I’m promoting and I pronounce it backwards. It’s easy to do when it’s an item fresh or not with any labels on it. For those with the labels, I just remove the labels and have a universal stick that is applied to the label: TREATS ages 4 and up. It’s funny, when you have a houseguest over and they have a 2year old–suddenly you’ll find them saying, “MOM!! They can’t HAVE!! that, it’s for ages 4 and up.” I call it the rollarcoaster rejection syndrome. Nobody ever likes to be told you’re not old or tall enough to ride a fun roller….and, aside from our visits to the farms that surround our home, this is another very unusual way for them to eat well.
  WARNING: they learn to read quicker it seems-so plan on tweaking–but by then, their palate is convinced it’s comfortable with it, and, well..that’s another story for another time. Btw, tropicana mandarin OJ, with rasberries and lemon juice blended in a frothy manner–is to die for–if you add any nontoxic coloring–the kids call it their rainbow or mood drink. :)O

• 31 One Crusty Mom-E // Apr 13, 2011 at 9:05 pm

  http://twitter.com/#!/CrustyMomE/status/58348096266047488

• 32 Susan Smith // Apr 14, 2011 at 8:49 am

  I always have fresh fruits and vegetables around for snacking. We always have orange juice for breakfast and I serve vegetables with meals on the side or in dishes like cassaroles and stir frys. I also keep junk foods out of the house.

• 33 Susan Smith // Apr 14, 2011 at 8:49 am

  http://twitter.com/#!/susan1215/status/58526626530590720

• 34 Chris C. // Apr 14, 2011 at 12:54 pm

  Well, I don’t have kids yet, but I definitely want to keep me and my boyfriend healthy. We started getting a weekly CSA box from a local farm a few months ago, and that has done WONDERS for getting more fruit and veggies into our diets. There’s no excuse to have a veggie-less meal when you’ve got a fridge full of fresh, organic, delicious stuff to choose from. :-)

• 35 Maria // Apr 14, 2011 at 2:04 pm

  By offering them healthy fruits and vegetables they like.
  MCantu1019 at aol dot com

• 36 Sarah L // Apr 15, 2011 at 2:12 am

  I eat lots of salads and smoothies.
  Thanks for the contest.

• 37 Sarah L // Apr 15, 2011 at 2:13 am

  blogged http://slehan.blogspot.com/2011/04/win-100-from-blogher-and-tropicana-part.html

• 38 Effie // Apr 15, 2011 at 11:01 am

  Hmm, well, my eldest loves green veggies: broccoli, asparagus, brussel sprouts, green beans, etc. That said, I do have to kind of trick her sister into eating veggies. Often my meat dishes will be loaded with chopped up veggies, lots of stir fries in my house. Also, I make a mean zucchini chocolate cake. Homemade soups are fabulous for adding in veggies–they become unrecognizable and will be eaten up! And if you add cheese to something, it instantly becomes edible in my house–french onion soup has a lot more veggies than just onions when I make it–but nobody notices, not even my picky husband. Also, if you put a salad as well as a warm veggie it works.
  With my second daughter though, she sometimes won’t eat at meals at all, so I’ve fooled her into thinking that the frozen mixed veggies are a treat and she gets to eat them (still frozen) by the handful. All my kids love this!

• 39 Melissa // Apr 15, 2011 at 11:47 am

  Since my immediate family is made up of two adults, there is no trickery involved. We do disagree on the desirability of a couple of vegetables, but our tastes are pretty similar. Our favorite dish that is mostly vegetable, but doesn’t taste like is a carrot/cauliflower/cheese soup. I do not like carrots, not even a little and cauliflower is something I’ll eat, but not something I crave or would request. In the soup, you can’t discern the flavor of either. It is just a rich, earthy, delicious cheese soup.

• 40 kilowatthour // Apr 15, 2011 at 4:24 pm

  my little guy is surprisingly into vegetables. i’m sure, now that i have written those words, he will cease to eat anything green for the next fifteen years. but for now… he’s okay with a little greenery.

• 41 Lisa // Apr 16, 2011 at 2:40 pm

  To get kids to eat fruits and vegetables, allow them to help with the shopping and picking out what they like. Also, sneaking in vegetables in things like sandwiches and meatloaf helps.

• 42 Leah // Apr 17, 2011 at 12:12 pm

  We just joined a produce coop and I’m looking forward to incorporating more fruitsand veggies into my famiky’s diets.

• 43 Leslie // Apr 17, 2011 at 12:14 pm

  I participate in a fruit/veggie coop http://www.bountifulbaskets.org and incorporate the goodies into my weekly meals. Sometimes it takes creativity but somehow I make it work. I also try mixing in my fresh fruits with oatmeal and yogurt.

• 44 Leah // Apr 17, 2011 at 12:17 pm

  maytwt Win a $100 Visa GC from Fluid Pudding!http://fluidpudding.com/reviews/the-puddings-get-fruity-and-then-we-vegetate/
  less than a minute ago

• 45 elizabeth // Apr 17, 2011 at 12:53 pm

  My kid goes through periods of rejecting food – like, ALL food, he’s not produce-specific. I make smoothies with fruit, juice, and a scoop of Whole Foods soy protein powder with spirulina, which has a ton of blue-green veggie nutrition, and it’s surprising how often “Look, if you drink this Mommy won’t have to worry so much about what you’re eating all day” works.

• 46 Mary // Apr 17, 2011 at 6:21 pm

  Well my family consists of just myself and I’d have to say my diet is lacking in veggies. But I do love some fresh veggies with hummus and eat that for lunch a few times a week.

• 47 Mitzi // Apr 17, 2011 at 7:20 pm

  Does my child eat as many fruits and veggies that I would like him to? No. He used to, when he was a toddler then he became super sensitive to textures and would only eat a handful of vegetables. Luckily, his tastes are changing and he realizes the need for fruits and vegetables in his diet (thanks to his biology class too). Growing our own vegetables also makes a difference.

  I think they (I don’t know who “they” are at the moment) say that a new food has to be introduced around 10 times before you can tell if your child will like it or not? Anyway, I never stop trying to get him to eat more fruits and vegetables, because that’s my job!

• 48 Kathy G // Apr 17, 2011 at 9:02 pm

  My three boys are all grown and out of the house, but when they were young I’d put a variety of vegetables on the dinner table and they had to choose a serving of two of them.

• 49 Katie // Apr 17, 2011 at 9:27 pm

  We include them in every meal and they’re just normal food, no exceptions! We also grow a huge garden so they’re involved in the whole process and they love it.

• 50 Missi // Apr 17, 2011 at 11:51 pm

  I’ve kept my nephew during the day for almost 2 years now. I’ve found the best way to get him to eat his veggies is to sit down and eat together. And now he’s old enough to stand on a chair at the counter and help me prepare them.

• 51 elizabeth atkins // Apr 18, 2011 at 8:19 am

  SHe gets fruit instead of chips in her lunchbox, and we traded milkshakes for smoothies

• 52 Kizz // Apr 18, 2011 at 9:51 am

  I’m just feeding me. Well, and the pets. The cats have no use for veggies but the dog enjoys carrots, cauliflower or broccoli ends and even the occasional green bean. I’m not going to try him with brussels sprouts. He’s gaseous enough. I am going through a period where it’s hard to make myself eat fruits and veggies. I’ve got cauliflower in my work lunches for the week. I’ve got raisins in my trail mix. I have canned pineapple on hand but nothing else is striking my fancy. Not sure how to trick myself into eating more but I know that carrots in the brownies is not the right answer!

• 53 Teri // Apr 18, 2011 at 1:38 pm

  This comes under “teaching old dogs new tricks.” I was frustrated and critical because my grandaughter Abby (age 8 now, but for the past 5 years) wouldn’t eat vegetables. And her mother didn’t make her. Finally Amy explained that Abby eats vegetables, just not the ones we serve. Aha. What will she eat? Peppers! (About the only vegetable besides raw onions that we don’t eat.) So now when they come over we have a vegetable tray with ranch dressing, and she goes through almost a whole green pepper. And she eats salad–romaine, tomatoes, and celery. So it’s all good.

• 54 Kara // Apr 18, 2011 at 2:48 pm

  No kids, and the cats don’t really need vegetables. I, however, do need more of them in my diet.

  Ever since I had the flu in December, I have been an orange juice girl. I generally keep some in the fridge & on days I have been really lax in the fruit & veg department, I swig down some OJ. Or, if I’m feeling creative, I toss some frozen fruit & milk into the blender and whip up a smoothie. Yay, fruit! :)

• 55 Libby's Library // Apr 18, 2011 at 3:34 pm

  I very fortunate that my family enjoys fruits and veggies. We eat them for snacks, and have fruit for dessert.

  Thanks for the giveaway.

• 56 Ane // Apr 19, 2011 at 1:07 am

  I think it definitely starts from the womb. I am a huge veggie/fruit lover! My kids are too!
  We have a fruit bar or a veggie bar from time to time with various healthy dips. We also make a lot of soups, stir frys and incorporate them into every meal or snack. We also love smoothies and real juices like Tropicana! :)

• 57 Nichole // Apr 19, 2011 at 9:31 am

  My son eats fruits and veggies with great enthusiasm. That’s a huge relief and novelty, because my daughter won’t touch fruits or vegetables. Literally. She’ll eat applesauce and fruit leathers, but she doesn’t even want to be in the room if an actual apple is being consumed. Because she doesn’t like the smell. (That didn’t really answer the question, did it? I hope I win anyway.)

• 58 Maura // Apr 19, 2011 at 9:49 am

  My only “kid” in the house is 35. He didn’t grow up with a veggie lover mom like me, so I’m introducing him to some new things. He’s so easy going, though, that he’ll try anything. Otherwise, I just make what he likes! Green beans, asaparagus, corn (starch! starch! doesn’t count), squash, zucchini and cauliflower.

• 59 Sunshyn V // Apr 19, 2011 at 2:39 pm

  I love keeping fruit around for snacks rather than sugary treats.

• 60 Sunshyn V // Apr 19, 2011 at 2:42 pm

  I tweeted
  http://twitter.com/#!/The_Sunshyn/status/60427934992842752

• 61 Ashley S. // Apr 19, 2011 at 6:09 pm

  We make smoothies and add veggies to pasta sauce, but the kids LOVE fruits and vegetables and being outside and active, so keeping them healthy is easy!

• 62 Ashley S. // Apr 19, 2011 at 6:10 pm

  I tweeted it http://twitter.com/smash906/status/60480318913785856

• 63 Kendra // Apr 19, 2011 at 7:31 pm

  I love spinach to the point that my partner had to sit me down and explain that spinach doesn’t go in everything. I still don’t understand why not.

  Although I am a vegetarian, I am ambivalent about most veggies (other than spinach)… but I LOVE fruits. In fact, my favorite meal right now is a fruit quesadilla (fruit, almond cream cheese and a raspberry drizzle)… YUM!

• 64 Gail // Apr 19, 2011 at 10:16 pm

  My kids are grown and good vegetable eaters so I don’t have to do anything anymore but we used to resort to the method of making them eat a piece of the vegetable for each year of their age. Meaning, you’re 6 so you will eat six green beens. It worked.

  Kendra… you’re right. Spinach CAN go in everything.

• 65 April G. // Apr 19, 2011 at 10:21 pm

  I am a family of one (plus two cats!) so I’m responsible for all the veggie eating in the house. I recently started buying bagged romaine hearts, and have gone from 0 salads a week to at least 5. I always thought they were more expensive than lettuce heads, but they really aren’t. I chop a heart, salad spin it, add toppings, and eat. It’s a great, filling dinner.

• 66 Neena // Apr 19, 2011 at 10:34 pm

  My 9 month old devours pureed fruits and veggies. No complaints, no rejections, no squishy faces. The 3 year old, on the other hand, requires some stealth. We recently bought an “informercial blender” and I’ve taken to blending up “special smoothies” for her, which she loves. The primary ingredient list often includes Hershey’s chocolate syrup, but I have gone to great lengths to throw in spinach and carrots on the sly. So far, so good.

• 67 Meandering Matt // Apr 20, 2011 at 10:38 am

  I find that by having my son help me in the garden, he’s much more willing to try the things we’ve grown ourselves. He’s pretty good about eating almost anything you give him anyway, but he likes to quick-rinse stuff from the garden and eat it raw!

  mattschmunk at gmail dot com

• 68 LAMusing // Apr 20, 2011 at 10:42 pm

  We love fruits and most veggies. And I make veggies interesting – like Parmesan roasted asparagus and gingered carrots

• 69 LAMusing // Apr 20, 2011 at 10:53 pm

  tweet! http://twitter.com/LAMusing/status/60913718044790785

• 70 Norma // Apr 20, 2011 at 10:55 pm

  My daughter loved all fruits – she thought they were dessert. I just let her eat the veggies she liked (peas, corn, carrots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes & Cukes) and didn’t push her to eat ones she didn’t like :)

• 71 Kelly Massman // Apr 21, 2011 at 5:19 pm

  My son is a teenager, so I have very little influence over what he eats. If I make him a “healthy” meal, he just buys his own out! He loves orange juice though, so that wouldn’t be a problem!
  thanks!
  kmassmanATgmailDOTcom

• 72 Sharon // Apr 21, 2011 at 5:59 pm

  Smoothies are a wonderful way to “hide” healthy fruits and veggies so little ones will eat them. I always include a banana in mine; it seems to cover up the taste of any veggies I might have thrown in!

• 73 Sharon // Apr 21, 2011 at 6:00 pm

  Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/sharonjo2/status/61202528112607232

• 74 Judy Laquidara // Apr 21, 2011 at 7:05 pm

  Generally we all eat a variety of fruits and veggies though when my son was younger, it was a struggle. He would eat raw carrots, cauliflower, etc. more so than he would eat them cooked.

• 75 Tina M // Apr 21, 2011 at 9:42 pm

  We have a garden and I tried let my kids eat a variety of fruits and veggies. I put fruits and veggies in smoothies.

• 76 Tina M // Apr 21, 2011 at 9:42 pm

  http://twitter.com/#!/HappyTina0115/status/61258627423543296

• 77 Johannah // Apr 22, 2011 at 9:08 am

  My kids love vegetables and fruit – my husband won’t touch the stuff — I incorporate it for him ! He can see it in something, and eat it, but no way plain, uncooked, etc.
  As for OJ I love it in butter cookies, and pie crusts! (and some frostings!)

• 78 Deb K // Apr 22, 2011 at 11:25 pm

  I sneak veggies in the casseroles that I make and the grandchildren love it :-)

  deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com

• 79 Jess Howland // Apr 23, 2011 at 10:56 am

  I don’t have kids, but my husband and I sometimes fall into a rut of eating the same vegetables over and over. Last year, we joined a CSA and that forced me to get creative with veggies. There’s only so much roasted squash that a person can take… I spent a lot of time looking up interesting and exotic things to do with the pounds and pounds of veggies that we got each week and have managed to expand vegetable repertoire quite a bit!

• 80 Val // Apr 23, 2011 at 1:12 pm

  Smoothies are the best way!

• 81 Val // Apr 23, 2011 at 1:13 pm

  http://twitter.com/#!/EverydayVibrant/status/61854914040696832

• 82 Laur // Apr 24, 2011 at 9:38 pm

  My DS almost always eats the fruit I put in his lunch; he’s eat veggies if he’s not thinking about it. Or he’ll like cooked carrot for a while, then go back to raw (keeping up with him is tough sometimes!). We’ve tried sauces and sprinklings, but prefer plain an unaccessorized mostly.

• 83 Karenth // Apr 24, 2011 at 9:42 pm

  Kids love artichokes! Blend some fresh lemon juice into butter-flavor spray to guarantee it!

• 84 susitravl // Apr 25, 2011 at 9:08 am

  Our kids love fruit and vegetables. The trick is getting them to eat that instead of fast food. They are always in a hurry to get to school, work or sports. We have a lot of “ready to eat” fruit peeled, in bags or containers so they can grab & go.

• 85 PBPD // Apr 26, 2011 at 12:02 am

  All in my family enjoy eating fruits & vegetables. Fruits are great in snacks or breakfast. Vegetables are always nice at dinnertime, especially when cooked up tastily.

• 86 Liz // Apr 26, 2011 at 12:29 pm

  Fruit isn’t too big of an issue, but tolerated vegetables are limited to peas (sometimes) and Veggie Bootie. I’m all about the smoothies with hidden vegetables ;-)

• 87 Betsy // Apr 26, 2011 at 1:59 pm

  We’ve made them (7 and 5) take courtesy bites of everything being served for as long as we’ve been eating family dinners. Sometimes they like veggies, sometimes they don’t, and I’ve given up trying to predict who will like what, but, for sure, they need to try it without making a face.

  For snacks, just a few months ago, we got one of those acrylic condiment trays (the kind you’d put crushed ice underneath at a picnic.) Each morning I stock it with washed, cut, fruits and veggies, and then they’re free to eat whatever’s in there whenever they want. (I keep it on the bottom shelf of the fridge.)

  Right now we have carrots, apples, pineapple, grapes, and strawberries, but, depending on what’s around, I might also put in broccoli, edamame, pepper rings, or cucumber. The ranch dressing and hummus are on the same shelf, so they can get a cup of dip too, if they want. I really like having it available for packing lunches or for my snacks too!

• 88 joaaanna // Apr 26, 2011 at 5:25 pm

  I am very lucky. My husband will eat any veggie except turnips. I will eat any veggie but peas. My stepson (when he lived with us) would eat any veggie except hominy. The little one who has three more months of cooking to go gets any veggie but peas… but I’m hoping he/she will like them too. We are the weirdos who have brussels sprouts and asparagus weekly. I’m glad we are those weirdos. I am getting more vegetables and fruits in my diet because of my pregnancy. I’m hoping that I won’t have to hide the good stuff for my child to get them, but am prepared to do it.

  Now I’m hungry.

• 89 Tabathia B // Apr 27, 2011 at 1:53 pm

  My kids participated in a 4H camp where they made healthy snacks in a fun way and loved it so they continue to make them home (like ants on a log which is celery with peanut butter and raisins)
  tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

• 90 Tabathia B // Apr 27, 2011 at 1:55 pm

  tweet
  http://twitter.com/#!/ChelleB36/status/63315294403309568
  tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

• 91 Samantha Lee // Apr 27, 2011 at 2:55 pm

  I try to include a few different types of vegetables each time I have a meal so I do not get bored of what I am eating, and I also get different nutrients.

• 92 Andrea // Apr 27, 2011 at 5:03 pm

  Fruits are easy – they eat them non-stop. Veggies I just try to set a good example and enjoy mine to the fullest. (And make them try them at dinner.)

• 93 AR // Apr 27, 2011 at 7:11 pm

  Well, I don’t have any kids. My husband is an avowed vegetable hater, however, so we’ve been doing some experimenting. He likes peas when they’re involved in pasta (recent success: cheese tortellini with lemony peas) and carrots and other veg in stews and soups (dinner tomorrow: ham/corn chowder chockablock with things like carrots and celery and so on). I can get him to eat spinach salad with warm bacon dressing. I think what I’m saying is: he needs some fats involved to eat his veg, so we’re working on that.

  As for me, I’ll eat ‘em all, any way. I love vegetables.

• 94 Andrea // Apr 27, 2011 at 7:14 pm

  My 2 oldest were the pickiest eaters. They ate a total of like 5 things. For years. I felt like the worst mother because the things they would eat, I couldn’t even hide veggies in! They are both much better now.

  My youngest 2, will eat everything. I do mean absolutely everything. There are very few things that they do not like. Which means that I don’t even have to try to get them to eat veggies or fruits.

• 95 Alex N // Apr 28, 2011 at 12:02 am

  My kid can’t eat anything at any meal until she’s had a serving of protein and a serving of produce. She can have anything we have in the house. So she tries more, and then started asking for these things more. We also buy a lot of dried/freezedried fruit/veg at Trader Joe’s. Also, visit the field trip demo farm a mile away a lot, where she once nonchalantly ate raw broccoli. I almost fell over.

• 96 blackbird // Apr 28, 2011 at 5:42 am

  My kids are all grown up. When was the last time they even HAD a vegetable? Wait. Let me think.

• 97 Kristin // Apr 28, 2011 at 10:27 am

  I keep serving vegetables and making my kids eat them until they eventually claim to like them. There are some that they don’t love, but enough that they do to get us through.

• 98 lara // Apr 28, 2011 at 11:51 am

  We’re growing vegetables for the first time this year… looking forward to some fresh-off-the-vine goodness!

• 99 Rease // Apr 28, 2011 at 4:42 pm

  Grinding up carrots and other veggies and putting them into tomato sauce for spaghetti is a nice trick. Kids love spaghetti!

• 100 Wanda M // Apr 29, 2011 at 7:16 am

  We love all fruits and vegetables and actually enjoy them, so there isn’t a problem with trying to incorporate them into our daily diet!

• 101 Wanda M // Apr 29, 2011 at 7:19 am

  http://twitter.com/myfolly/status/63940304516030464

• 102 Meghan // Apr 29, 2011 at 5:02 pm

  I have to trick myself into eating veggies, something I am a bit ashamed of as a full fledged “grown up” (I turned 30 last month). I make a lot of stir fry dishes so there’s some kind of delicious sauce or seasoning that all of the veggie bits have to roll around in, making them more palatable. I also toss shredded carrot or zucchini into baked goods, they’re moist so the cakes turn out well, but also add a good amount of fiber I otherwise wouldn’t be getting.

• 103 Meghan // Apr 29, 2011 at 5:04 pm

  http://twitter.com/#!/CPHaurora/status/64087486778982400

• 104 Rebecca // Apr 29, 2011 at 6:01 pm

  I make soup. I always load it up with veggies. One version includes cannellini beans, kale, and fresh spinach tortellini. It’s actually one of my 4-year-old’s fave dinners.

• 105 Mary M. // Apr 29, 2011 at 6:19 pm

  My children now long gone and have their own families, were not picky eaters either. They actually loved fruits and veggies so I didn’t have to hide anything thank god! It was just kind of an easy thing for us. I always craved fruits and veggies as a kid too.

  marybug2@yahoo.com

• 106 Mary M. // Apr 29, 2011 at 6:20 pm

  Tweeted too

  http://twitter.com/#!/marybug2/status/64106699388235776

  marybug2 @ yahoo . com

• 107 Jayne // Apr 29, 2011 at 8:31 pm

  We have a veggie garden and the kids are always excited to eat what they’ve planted and watched grow.

• 108 Jayne // Apr 29, 2011 at 8:31 pm

  Tweeted.

  http://twitter.com/#!/Jayne_Martin/status/64139789795995648

• 109 Alli // Apr 30, 2011 at 9:35 am

  108 comments! Holy moly! My girls eat artichokes and call them leaves. That’s all I got.

• 110 Julie Goble // Apr 30, 2011 at 10:59 am

  My kids are in their 20′s now, and both are vegan…I don’t ever remember them not liking vegetables…must have started with the sweet potato and spinach pea patties I made for them as babies! We’ve had a vegetable garden for years and make a point to go to Fulton St. Farmer’s Market here in Grand Rapids Michigan. It’s a fantastic market and the best way to spend a Saturday morning!

• 111 Leslie // May 1, 2011 at 5:46 pm

  My kids LOVE fruit and I keep plenty on hand. It’s usually their first choice for a snack. Veggies are harder. It helps if I can serve them in some funky configuration, preferably something resembling an animal because, at the very least, I know they’ll eat the head.

• 112 kristy // May 2, 2011 at 2:47 pm

  I have them help make pizzas with lots of vegies

• 113 ria // May 2, 2011 at 9:43 pm

  weekly trips to the farmers market gets the kids excited about good choices. They get to see that not everything comes out of a can.
  rmartinclarke @ gmail.com

• 114 ria // May 2, 2011 at 9:44 pm

  http://twitter.com/#!/rsmc1/status/65245229091012608

• 115 Christine // May 2, 2011 at 9:57 pm

  I’ll eat any veggie, my husband is more selective and the kids got his taste buds. Broccoli is our most often eaten veggie and most fruits are appreciated. In a pinch, I serve the kids a fruit/ veggie drink when I’ve fought enough battles for one day.

• 116 LaraSuzy // May 2, 2011 at 10:30 pm

  My kids love vegetables, raw with ranch! And as long as I have some fruits and veggies sliced and ready to go, they’ll grab for those instead of chips 9 times out of 10. Hubby’s diet consists of cheeseburgers and fried crappie…I’m glad they took after me with a taste for the whole foods!

• 117 ANGEL JACKLYN // May 2, 2011 at 11:19 pm

  I LIKE TO MIX THEM IN WITH OTHER MEALS LIKE PASTA SAUCE WHERE THEY REALLY CANNOT TELL THE DIFFERENCE kytah00@yahoo.com

• 118 ANGEL JACKLYN // May 2, 2011 at 11:19 pm

  2nd ENTRY TWEET @ http://twitter.com/#!/kytah00/status/65268821249900544 kytah00@yahoo.com

• 119 Sheila // May 3, 2011 at 9:13 am

  Fruits are no problem – we have for snacks and dessert most days (favorites are strawberries, grapes, and mangos). Veggies from our garden go over well if the kids pick them, but otherwise they tend to stick with corn on the cob and raw carrots and sweet peppers dipped in rivers of ranch (which kind of negates the point).

• 120 Dawn // May 3, 2011 at 9:47 pm

  My family eats most veggies raw dipped in ranch dressing.

• 121 Carole G // May 4, 2011 at 12:35 am

  Lately I’ve been on a kick of roasting cauliflower tossed lightly in olive oil, salt, pepper, and a dash of smoked paprika in 425 degree oven until tender and nutty in flavor. It’s so good!

• 122 Ami // May 4, 2011 at 8:34 am

  Well, my kids eat all kinds of fruit, and more veggies than I did at their age. I’m pleased to say they’ll both eat asparagus! (I told them if they ate enough it would make their pee smell funny and turn green. It worked like a charm!) Mind you, onions and peppers (my two faves) are off their list entirely, boo. Also, both my kids like spinach smoothies. B/C I’m feeling nice, here’s my recipe: 4-5 loose handfuls of spinach, about 3/4 cup low-cal orange juice, 1/2 to 3/4 cup lowfat vanilla or plain yogurt, 1 cup frozen blueberries. Place in blender in that order. Blend for 2-3 minutes on second highest setting. Add chunks of frozen banana as you near the end of your blending time. YUM.

• 123 pixie13 // May 4, 2011 at 10:52 am

  We drink a lot of fruit smoothies & eat a lot of fresh salads & stir fries.

• 124 pixie13 // May 4, 2011 at 10:52 am

  tweeted
  https://twitter.com/#!/pixie13sweeps/status/65805646704025601

• 125 BlueMoonArtistry/MicheleStitches // May 4, 2011 at 11:54 am

  My favorite is to make Green Monster Smoothies. My personal “recipe” is about a cup of juice plus lots of fruit (some of it frozen) and blend away until it is like a slushy. Then, I take hand-fulls of baby spinach and add to the mix. Blend again. Unless you add a massive amount, you don’t even taste the spinach! If your fruits are mostly light in color (bananas, peaches, pineapple, etc) your smoothie will be a beautiful shade of bright green.

  Oh, and if you use a lot of darker fruits like blueberries, etc., when you add the spinach it will turn an ugly shade of brown…I call that my “Swamp Monster Smoothie!” Works well with little boys…”Drink it! I DARE you!” ;-)

• 126 BlueMoonArtistry/MicheleStitches // May 4, 2011 at 11:58 am

  Hey, CampKIP buddy! I just tweeted it too! Hope I’m doing this correctly. I’m “MicheleStitches” on Twitter.

  http://twitter.com/#!/MicheleStitches/status/65822170340802560

  (Note: Protected tweet, but verified by FP)

• 127 Kerry // May 4, 2011 at 1:06 pm

  When my son was little and going through a picky phase, I had him choose the produce at the store. The rule was he could chose whatever he wanted, but with the understanding that he’d eat it. I tried to make it feel like an adventure, and he’d often choose things like jicama or star fruit because they were so unusual for the area (Central Maine). Now there’s almost nothing he won’t eat.

• 128 nan // May 4, 2011 at 1:18 pm

  my son refuses veggies so i grate carrots and put them in muffins and i buy fruit/veggie blend drinks to sneak them into him
  nannypanpan at gmail.com

• 129 Gina @ The Crave to Save // May 5, 2011 at 7:33 pm

  It’s all about presentation and finding recipes that your kids like that may have veggies in them. Stick to those and keep rotating them!

  gina.m.maddox (at) gmail (dot) com

• 130 Gina @ The Crave to Save // May 5, 2011 at 7:34 pm

  http://twitter.com/#!/CrazyItalian0/status/66299616655704064

  gina.m.maddox (at) gmail (dot) com

• 131 Rachael // May 6, 2011 at 12:21 am

  101cookbooks.com and Isa Chandra Moskowitz’s books inspire me to make my food from scratch. I avoided buying prepared meals this week, and made a ton of broccoli pesto over pasta and spinach. It’s better than it sounds. :-)

• 132 Erin from Long Island // May 6, 2011 at 5:13 am

  my family loves fruits and veggies so it’s not hard at all. just a matter of figuring out their preferences! i find grilling and roasting work best for us

• 133 Erin from Long Island // May 6, 2011 at 5:13 am

  tweeet
  http://twitter.com/#!/erunuevo/status/66445502169882626

• 134 Kerry // May 6, 2011 at 9:54 pm

  My kids like to dunk and dip their food. So ranch dressing or hummus with their veggies helps a lot!

• 135 Kerry // May 6, 2011 at 9:55 pm

  tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/KerryBishop/status/66697601583558656

• 136 Susan E. // May 7, 2011 at 10:17 am

  Smoothies and adding veggies to sauces is the quickest and easiest way I’ve found.

  rogsdock[at]gmail[dot]com

• 137 Debra F // May 7, 2011 at 5:34 pm

  I am very lucky. My kids love love love fruit. Never any problems getting them to eat fruit. They also like quite a few veggies, so I don’t push it and force them to eat what they don’t like. I do introduce and reintroduce new and seasonal veggies all the time and my oldest especially will try more and more.

• 138 Debra F // May 7, 2011 at 5:35 pm

  tweeted
  http://twitter.com/#!/fairydancer35/status/66994362885734400

• 139 Judith // May 7, 2011 at 8:59 pm

  We are a vegetable eating family so the kids and now the grandkids don’t know anything different.

• 140 JanPattersonRN // May 8, 2011 at 12:42 am

  We’ve always been a fruits and veg family, but I used to take the boys, when they were little, out to pick fresh fruit. It gave them a sense that every piece is unique, and it’s not something people make, but nature, God, makes. Was fun.

• 141 sy // May 8, 2011 at 3:43 am

  i try to buy sweeter fruits, and fry vegetables in meals with lots of seasoning. i also add supplements if we don’t have enough fruits and beggies in our diet.
  songyueyu at gmail

• 142 sy // May 8, 2011 at 3:43 am

  tweet:http://twitter.com/#!/syytta/status/67147056598360065

• 143 Donna B. // May 8, 2011 at 7:02 pm

  I make sure we eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables and I keep plenty of healthy snack options on hand. I also limit sweets, sodas, fried foods and other junk food. My son has always loved all fruits and veggies so getting him to eat a healthy, varied diet has never been an issue, but I will add veggies to spaghetti sauce, meatloaf and casseroles to boost the nutrition.

  (I never thought of adding carrots to brownies, I’ll have to try that!!)

• 144 Betty C // May 9, 2011 at 2:26 am

  My family are adventurous eaters. The few things they turn down are truly inedible, usually because I got a little too adventurous in the cooking department. I’ve never had to hide nutrition in a different food but if I had to hide carrots I would definitely make a carrot cake.

• 145 Betty C // May 9, 2011 at 2:27 am

  Tweet – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/67490728288321536

• 146 Sarah // May 9, 2011 at 7:13 am

  My daughter will eat many different vegetables with out cajoling, my son on the other hand wants nothing if it isn’t pasta, hot dog, or muffin formatted. (He used to eat everything happily until Celiac disease and when food makes you sick you suddenly aren’t so keen on it apparently.) So in comes the quinoa pasta, chicken, turkey and tofu hotdogs, and muffins with different squashes, sweet potatoes, carrots, corn, or just about any fruit in the craziest flours you have never heard of unless you are also gluten free. It stretches my patience, baking abilities and creativity, but at least he is healthy

• 147 Anne // May 9, 2011 at 9:19 am

  I just serve healthy foods and figure that sooner or later the kids will eat them. We keep little junk food in the house, which helps because they do get hungry. My oldest daughter commented just yesterday that she loves black beans now, and can’t believe it took her so long to try them. I found tricks and nagging didn’t work, so we go with persistance and lack of other options.

• 148 Anne // May 9, 2011 at 9:19 am

  I blogged
  http://lunaj14568.blogspot.com/2011/05/tropicana-giveaways.html

• 149 Lisa // May 9, 2011 at 11:29 am

  I can talk my 7 year old into at least trying anything. The sneaky ways come into play with my 10 year old who has entered the “Ionlylikechickennuggets,peanutbuttersandwichesandprocessedjunkfoodcrap” phase.

• 150 Mari // May 9, 2011 at 11:44 am

  I leave a veggie tray out with their favorite dips to snack on in between meals.

• 151 Mari // May 9, 2011 at 11:45 am

  http://twitter.com/LuckyDuckyToo/status/67630504991666177

  Tweeted

• 152 Francine // May 9, 2011 at 2:34 pm

  I feed my children fruits and vegetables every day. I get them to eat their Vegetables by seasoning them with good tasting seasonings and herbs. Sometimes I will add a light cheese sauce. As long as I season them or add a light cheese sauce, they don’t mind eating them. They LOVE Fruit, so it is never a problem to get them to eat it.

  Thank You! :)

• 153 Joanne Schultz // May 9, 2011 at 4:23 pm

  Sometimes it’s easier to serve foods in a different way if your family doesn’t like them the way they are normally prepared. Cooked spinach- yuk, cooked spinach in cream sauce – double yuk! But put spinach leaves in a salad and that’s ok!
  Thanks for the giveaway!

• 154 Joanne Schultz // May 9, 2011 at 4:23 pm

  tweet: http://twitter.com/js22222222/status/67701128271380480

• 155 Donna K // May 9, 2011 at 5:56 pm

  I try to hide the veggies in the sauce.

• 156 Tracie Trump // May 9, 2011 at 9:01 pm

  We have a contest for who try the most veggies and then rate our favs! tracietrump@yahoo.com

• 157 Jill H // May 10, 2011 at 1:18 am

  We love fruits and veggies so it’s not hard.

• 158 Jill H // May 10, 2011 at 1:19 am

  Tweet

  http://twitter.com/jillyrh/status/67836054371172352

• 159 Liz // Sep 27, 2012 at 1:11 pm

  I can get migraines if I eat: too much soy, strawberrries, avocados, raw onion

  beef and pork for me are super bad

  yeast seasonings, bad, try to relax your face as much as possible — headon migraine reliever can help a bit too…..I also picture each cell in my brain w/ a soothing cushion of healthy fluid around it…stay super hydrated…… best wishes, Angela

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