How to encourage your child to eat vegetables

Meal time conflicts are a common scene at the dining table when children refuse to eat certain types of food items specially vegetables. According to Nutritionist, Huda Sheikh, for younger children, one can serve vegetables in different forms such as soups,  or incorporating them in other dishes such as idlis, dosas,uttapams, cheelas, paranthas, frankies. Huda also recommends talking to your child about the health benefits of that particular vegetable. She also emphasises on the importance of modeling the right behavior in front of the children in terms of eating habits. According to her, parents need to ensure that they themselves show a readiness to eat whatever is served, to set as an example for their child. She also recommends meal time to be a family time where the entire family sits for a meal together. This can further reinforce the readiness to eat vegetables when the child sees the others eating them. She also recommends creating a vegetable chart with a list of vegetables and their benefits that the child can look at and understand their importance. This can help parents to ensure proper nutrition for their children and help them develop healthy eating habits.