Tips for getting kids to eat veg!

At Glebe Hill Family Practice and GHFP Nurture we're passionate about lifestyle medicine and empowering people to improve their self-care and wellbeing through nutrition and physical activity.

Healthy eating habits start at home. We asked the people who work with us for their tips for getting kids to eat veg! Here's some of the responses:

Dr Marita Jones:

• Lead by example and enjoy your fruit and vegetables! The dinner table should be a safe and fun place, leave pressure at the door and allow your kids to take their time with new flavours.

Ali Rose, Nurse Team Leader:

• If your kids won't eat cooked veggies, try some raw options. Popular options in my house include frozen peas, carrot sticks, cucumber and cherry tomatoes.

Rowie Luttrell, Senior Receptionist:

• Fried rice is great for disguising heaps of veggies!

Dr Sarah Edwards:

• Add a tin of legumes to bolognese
• Add veggies to home made sausage rolls
• Roast chickpeas and have them as a crunchy snack
• Roast veggies and make them into a delicious blended soup
• Have a veggie garden

Dr Alison Thurstans:

• If your kids are hungry before dinner serve raw veggies (like carrot sticks, snow peas, cubumber, beans and tomatoes) as a pre-dinner snack.

Dr Tim Jones:

• Kids need 20 exposures to a food to decide if they like it or not, so don't give up!

Khya Calvert, Assistant Practice Manager:

• Lead by example at dinner time.
• Eating a wide range of vegetables yourself will provide encouragement for children.
• Continue to offer vegetables at every meal without making a fuss whether they are eaten or not.

Dr Frances Rose:

• Use fun shapes or creative plating to make the meal more enjoyable.

Alice and Kieran Frampton:

• Get kids involved in growing and preparing their own food.
• Encourage creativity with cooking and presentation - kids are more likely to try something that they've helped create.

Dr Boris Tan:

• Don't bother with kids, just get more cats instead!