While fruits and vegetables are an essential part of a healthy diet, it might be a struggle to get your child to eat them. They might prefer chips and candy to apples and oranges. However, with a little extra effort, you can encourage more healthy eating habits. Here are some different ways to get your child to eat fruits and vegetables so that they can have an easy-going appointment with their pediatrician.

4 Tips to Get Your Child to Eat Fruits and Veggies

1. Serve Fruit as a Dessert

Fruit is packed with essential vitamins and minerals and can help your little one have a better appointment the next time they visit their pediatrician. To help your child enjoy fruit and make healthier choices, serve it as dessert. Instead of giving your little one a piece of pie or cake, serve them some blueberries and strawberries with plain or vanilla yogurt.

2. Include Veggies in Their Foods

If your child doesn’t like eating vegetables by themselves, try adding them to the foods they already eat. For example, if you regularly make homemade pizzas for your child, try topping it with mushrooms, bell peppers, and onions. If your child loves mac n’ cheese, consider including puréed cauliflower or squash to add some fiber and vitamins. 

3. Grow a Fruit or Vegetable Garden

If you have the space for it in your yard, let your child grow their own garden. They can then learn where fruits and vegetables come from and develop a new appreciation for them. Your child will also learn some responsibility from tending to their garden and may be more curious to try food they worked hard to grow.

4. Offer Incentives for Eating Healthy

Children may be more eager to try fruits and vegetables if they know there’s a reward at the end. If your child has been finicky about eating their fruits and vegetables, try offering them an attractive incentive. For instance, if they finish all of their vegetables at dinner, read them an extra bedtime story at night or let them play outside with their friends a little longer the next day.

If you’re looking for a pediatrician for your child, turn to Leitchfield Pediatrics in Leitchfield, KY. The clinic has been providing quality pediatric care since 1976 and care for each patient like they would their own child. They are qualified to treat several acute and chronic illnesses, including asthma, juvenile diabetes, and ADHD, and are on-call to handle medical emergencies. For more information about their services, call (270) 259-5641 or visit their website.