For this month on For the Love of Blank we have a a gust post from Noor Najam. She has written a wonderful post on 5 Tips to get your kids to eat veggies. As a parent I know how bad that struggle is! Do you have any tips to add? Comment below and let me know!
For a brief bio on Noor skip down to the bottom on this post, but first we asked her a few questions to introduce herself.
What is your favorite veggie?
I love all green vegetables but cucumber is my personal favorite.
What was your inspiration to start writing?
I love cooking and trying out new dishes at different eateries. I felt like I need to share my experience with all the foodies out there and that is what inspired me to start writing.
What is your best piece of advice to anyone trying to start their own blog?
I would suggest the new bloggers to keep their blog active and share their honest reviews almost every week. Use visuals in the blog posts. Linked social media handles are essential.
What is your favorite vacation spot and why?
My favorite vacation spot is Maldives and I am sure everybody knows why. I had the most refreshing trip there last year and the blue waters, rain and dolphins made it a magical and unforgettable experience for me.
What is your favorite family recipe?
My favorite family recipe is the sour potatoes (we call them khattay aloo). They are easy to prepare and can be eaten as a snack. All you need to do is hard-boil 3 to 4 potatoes. Take them out and peel them when they are boiled. Then, cut them in to pieces and shift them in a frying pan. Add two drops of oil, cumin powder, chili pepper, tamarind juice, chaat masala. Mix them well and take them out in a dish. Serve them with a dip or ketchup.
Where is your next vacation destination?
My next vacation spot is to the Northern Areas in Pakistan.
5 Tips to Get Kids to Eat Veggies
In today’s world where McDonald’s is just a short drive away, nobody including both adults and kids like to give vegetables even a thought. However, amidst all the inclination towards fast food, there are parents struggling to make their kids like the taste of veggies.
Their struggle mostly goes down the drain because they either choose the wrong approach by putting pressure on kids or not giving them the right motivation to eat.
If you are a parent and reading this, try a few of the following methods which have worked for many out there and I am sure you will succeed too!
No Supervision When Eating
Most of the parents out there closely notice their little ones when they are eating. They keep correcting them or paying too much attention which draws out the interest of the kids. Therefore, it is better to act like they don’t need supervision and they are good on their own. This approach will make them feel more responsible and eat with full attention.
Reward Their Good Eating Habits
Rewarding and bribing are two completely different approaches and the latter is not a good one. Many parents believe in putting conditions to get their kids to eat properly which is not a good approach. It develops another bad habit in kids which is to take bribe.
In order to encourage the kids to repeat their good eating habits, give them a reward whenever you feel an improvement. Small rewards like ice-cream treat, taking to the park and buying a small toy is enough.
Sneak Some Veggies in Their Fruit Salad
Kids usually love fruit salads and they enjoy having them. In order to succeed in taking a few necessary veggies down their system, add them to their bowl of fruit salad. Cut the vegetables and fruit in the same size so that the kids are not able to differentiate. However, if they inquire whether there are some vegetables inside, be honest with them and be casual about it.
Involve Them in Preparation
Kids love things when they get exciting. If you want your kid to eat their veggies with more interest and excitement, involve them in the process of getting and cooking them. Take them to the market with you and ask them to pick a few of their choice. Then, get home and ask for their help in the preparation of the meal. All this involvement will get them excited to taste what they have contributed in.
Be the Role-Model
Kids follow the steps of their parents and greatly look up to them. If they see that you are so committed to eating healthy and including vegetables in your meal each day, they will definitely be more inclined towards giving them a try. This way they won’t have many options on the dinner table either as the whole family eats a single meal that includes veggies.
About the author
Noor Najam is a 22-year old student who loves to explore food delights and ever-growing new tastes of different regions. She likes to stay fit and make healthier food choices. She thinks she should have studied a culinary related bachelor’s degree instead of her current bachelors in Social Sciences. She regularly posts on this site here.
