Jun 24, 2015
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Need a way to help your family eat more vegetables? These veggie cups are a fun option for kids and make getting your daily dose of vegetables easy!
Pack them with your favorite dipping sauce and watch them disappear from the fridge.
A little backstory on this snack recipe: at the age of 2, my daughter decided that all things veggies were no longer an option. No matter how hard I tried to make veggies appealing, she refused to eat them.
A few years later, these veggie cups made an appearance at a birthday party, and with some encouragement from her friend, Casey, she grabbed a veggie, took a bite, and liked ‘colorful’ foods again.
For a while, she called these snack cups “Casey’s cups” and asked for them frequently.
Veggie Snack Cups
Veggie cups are a great snack that’s fun and convenient to eat. You can prep them with an assortment of vegetables and stash them in the fridge for school lunches or veggie snacks to munch on while at the office.
If your kids (or you) aren’t a fan of raw vegetables, try giving them a quick steam in the microwave before assembling the cups. This works great with carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower and can even enhance their flavor with the dip.
What to Put in a Veggie Cup
Usually, I prep this snack with ranch dressing, baby carrots, and celery, but you can customize these veggie cups with any of your favorite dips and vegetables. Grab a few ideas in the list below:
- homemade ranch dressing
- homemade hummus
- red pepper hummus
- baby carrots
- celery sticks
- cherry/grape tomatoes
- broccoli
- sliced bell peppers
- sugar snap peas
- asparagus
Want more delicious recipes to include in your snack routine? Check out the Best Homemade Kids’ Snacks on the Planet.
It’s filled with creative and tasty snacks you’ll want to make again and again!
How to Assemble Veggie Cups
Here’s how to assemble your own veggie cups step-by-step:
- Add the dip
Add your choice of dip or sauce to the bottom of a 6 to 8-ounce storage cup; 2 tablespoons should do the trick. - Add the veggies
Place the veggies, standing up, into the dip. - Seal
Top with lid and seal. - Save for later
Once prepped, these veggie cups will stay good for up to 3 days.
You can also watch how to put these snack cups together in the video below:
More Ways to Get Kids to Eat Veggies
I have plenty of healthy meals ideas your picky eater will eat and ask you to make on repeat! Each recipe is a kid-favorite option recreated with better ingredients and hidden veggies to bump up the nutrition.
- Blueberry Smoothie – with invisible spinach!
- Hidden Veggie Pasta Sauce
- Zucchini Pizzas
- All Meat & Veggie Chili
- Broccoli Nuggets
Easy Veggie Cups with Ranch Dressing
Ingredients
- 4 ribs celery sliced into sticks
- 4 ribs carrots peeled and sliced into sticks
- ½ – 1 cup ranch dressing
Instructions
- Place 1-2 tablespoons of ranch dressing at the bottom of each cup, and fill each container with 1 cup of sliced veggies.
- Close the lid and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Karen
Great after-school snack
Jayne
Searing them in olive oil till crispy makes green beans yummy! When asked “what is your favorite food ” my little one says “green beans!”
Lynann
My son is much better about eating veggies than my daughter. She is nine and still hates all veggies unless she has ranch or cheese dip.
Donna Whitehead
Getting my kids to eat veggies is hard!!!
Kamie Spain
Now that my daughter is almost three, she is getting more selective about what she wants to eat. She will still eat vegetables. However, she’d rather hold out for pancakes or ice cream. We have to stay strong.
Shea
My kiddos are veggie eaters with hummus. My daughter also loves them with Trader Joe’s balsamic glaze.
Jennifer
My kids will eat some veggies but not all. I found that if I put a little bit of grass fed butter and some sea salt on them when they’re steamed it helps. Still it’s a challenge to add variety.
Michelle Farnam
Getting my kids to eat their veggies can sometimes be difficult. I have found that adding a dip, ranch, hummus, or greek yogurt makes the veggies more appealing. Plus it’s always fun to dip things and sometimes get a little dirty in the process.
Lisa Marz
Yes. I have one that is a struggling eater who eats no veggies. Another, who loves veggies and dip and this is a great way to pack it in his lunch. I also like to sauté veggies, or add bacon or some butter and sour cream. Happy 4th!
Ellen
My kids love veggies dipped in hummus! They list it as a top 3 favorite food along with pizza and mac n cheese. I can’t wait to try veggies and ranch with this recipe.
Teresa
My 4 yr old doesn’t object to veggies so much as to chewing (think kale and skin of sweet peppers) — he’s lazy. My 8 yr old just makes a face to most veggies but eats them diligently for nutrition. So, I skin tomatoes before cooking, choose soft leafy greens like spinach, cook napa cabbage and broccoli that much longer, pull the thick fiber strings from the celery for the younger one, and leave all but the most tender watercress for the adults. When the younger came home one day looking for carrot sticks (short-lived), I rushed to get them to him. He also likes the zucchini more tender while the older one likes them less cooked. So, I cut them into two different thicknesses so that I can saute them in the same pot while satisfying both preferences. I assume this is just a phase. Haha
The ranch veggie sounds like a definite possibility. The older child likes celery, from “Wonder Pets” days, while the younger shy away from it (chew factor). The dressing dip might be just the thing to get him to eat it. I already know the older child will love it. What a great idea, and so simple and portable.
Donna Jacobs
I do not have to fight my girls to eat veggies. They LOVE them. Both have a dairy allergy so they know eating veggies are safe and won’t hurt them!!
Bari
maybe my toddler will eat this…
Shanna Chambers
I get my son to eat them by buying cute little cups or containers and let him put what kind of art work he likes.
Leah Holt
It has been a challenge to get my daughter to eat anything green. However, we started a small garden in the backyard and planted lettuce. To my surprise my daughter eagerly picked the lettuce and ate a huge handful for dinner with a touch of ranch dressing for dipping. Now she requests lettuce be included in her lunch.
Nicole
To get my kids to eat more veggies I use a few tactics. I made a game of who can crunch a carrot bite the loudest. I include them in menu planning and ask them what veggies we should buy for the week. For dinners, I slather green beans, asparagus, etc. in good grass-fed butter and sprinkle with sea salt. And we can’t forget the smoothies and muffins. The perfect way to add greens & veggies without any extra effort to get the kiddos to eat them!
Shani
I agree that seeing other household members enjoying veggies seems to pique the interest of my kids. I also like to add fun things like dried cranberries and sliced strawberries to their salads, for color and flavor. My youngest will often try anything that her older brother loves, haha, so “kid peer pressure”, as you mentioned in your post, DOES indeed work too!
Carin
Seeing mom and dad eat veggies as part of a balanced diet!
Mihaela
I do struggle with veggies and what I try to do is cook them in a different way or present them in a new form later on if I’m not successful the first time around. Also, hiding some in smoothies or in combination with fruit helps out too.
Theresa O
My daughter loves veggies in all forms, but my son is more picky. Dip, any dressing, especially ranch, is what gets him to try and eat just about any foods if he’s not interested. We just saw a similar idea to this post in Laura’s new cookbook-which is awesome- and he wanted to try it right away!
MiWon Park
I try to add veggies into whatever I’m cooking. I add veggies to fruit smoothies and puree veggies (carrots, peppers, onions) into tomato sauce or into meatballs. I add chopped spinach into lasagna–with all the cheese and sauce, the kids still love it.
Ginger
We’ve been making these for years…though poppyseed dressing is the favorite here. Otherwise, my kids love kale chips fresh from the oven. They could eat them all the time if I let them!
Kristin
It all depends on the veggies. There are some that my children will eat easily, either served with dinner or as a snack. They’re more likely to eat something if they’ve helped prepare it—they like to slice cucumber, for instance. It can be harder to convince them to try something new. The good news is that we have a great farmers’ market, and they’re often curious about new foods they see. If they pick it out, they’ll almost always try it. Sometimes, they’ll reject a food the first few times only to discover that they do like it on the fourth or fifth try.
grace
yes .. no green in my son’s plate but we have tried for him to encourage to eat 1 greens everyday. sometimes i have to put mix some spinach in spaghetti sauces and we’ll do green juices that helps a little.
Wendy
My boys each have different veggies that they like and will eat roasted or steamed or even raw. I hide extra veggies in the main meal. A layer of zucchini in lasagna, cauliflower mashed up in with the potatoes, black beans inside the taco meat etc.
Leah
My son sees my husband and I eating vegetables all the time, so he is often curious and willing to try them. If there’s something he didn’t like the first time, I try to find a new way to present it to him and sometimes he ends up liking it. If all else fails, ranch dip is great for encouraging tasting raw veggies. We also do a lot of smoothies so he gets his greens.
Sofia
My 3 year old daughter loves veggies and fruit. We never really struggled with this. however she is picky on the way we serve them. She does not like them mixed, she does not like dips and dressings, and she is very picky on how they are cooked; e.g. for peppers, she will eat only raw red peppers. If they are cooked she demands that I remove them from her food.
Melanie
We struggle with raw veggies. But amazingly I just started putting them out there, so at least I eat them, and slowly they are beginning to eat a few. Which at this point is a big success.
Stephanie L
My 2yo LOVES fruits and veggies. We always keep them around, out on the counter or front and center (and low where he can see them) in the fridge. My husband and I eat a lot of veggies, and it’s just part of “what we eat” – not a special thing you’re supposed to eat. I prepare them lots of different ways – raw, grilled, steamed, roasted, pureed into a sauce, and with all kinds of different seasonings. My son doesn’t like everything every day, and he doesn’t like everything the first time, but by continuing to offer him a variety of vegetable flavors and just working under the assumption that he’ll come around to like most things eventually, the subject of vegetables stays pretty low stress at our house.
Amanda P
I def struggle with getting my kid to eat veggies! I have to hide them in sauces or blend in smoothies. Can be frustrating at times, but it’s better than him not getting them at all.
Jody M
My daughter’s had no choice but to love veggies since going gluten free. We don’t eat any of the gluten free pre-packaged foods because the ingredients are so bad, so fruits and veggies it is! We use dips and hummus and of course I put them in smoothies and sauces!
Virginia N
we do struggle with veggies but one way he eats veggies is in muffins like our zucchini muffins
Karlie
My 5 year old is very difficult to feed because of issues with texture. I try to make him a fruit/vegetable smoothie daily because that is the only way he will eat his fruits and vegetables (at least for now), with the exception of very smooth applesauce. I still make and offer other prepared fruits and vegetables, but, for now, he’s not ready to eat them.
abby l
My older child will eat most veggies and always has since she was a baby. My younger one eats everything but the veggies! I sneak veggies into things like meatloaf and potstickers and they disappear.
Stephanie
We always have salad for dinner (first course) a couple of bites need to be taken before the main meal. Sometimes my daughter will eat the salad along with the main meal but I’ve found that as it’s just a habit they haven’t complained too much. I also discovered that soups are an awesome way to get then to eat veggies
Faith M
My kids love most veggies, and ranch always helps!!
Rachel
I make carrot ribbons for my child with sensory issues. I use the vegetable peeler to peel the entire carrot into thin strips. She thinks they are pretty!
Jennifer Silva
I too struggle to get my kids and myself to eat veggies. I use Ranch a lot and then I include them in my nightly dinners chopped up fine.
Julie
I just try repetition. I just keep making veggies all different ways and expecting my kiddos to at least try what I’ve made. You never know what will float their boat!
Laurie
I sneak them into their smoothies.
Dena
My son will only eat wet carrots (literally they have to come out of water) and bumpy pickles (they have to have bumps on them because if they don’t he says they are not ripe). One trick my younger daughter (who eats so many more veggies than my son) suggested was to put cucumbers in the pickle juice. I know, it’s basically the same thing as eating a pickle but now he will eat pickles and cucumbers.
Tracy Harrell
I’ve never struggled with getting my daughter to eat veggies. I think two things have helped with this. One is we require at least one portion of fruits and/or veggies with every meal. Second is I created a chart when she turned 3 that lets her know what produce we have in our fridge. I have pictures labeled with the corresponding name attached by Velcro. We pull off the pictures as we finish the fruit or vegetable. When creating my grocery list for the next week, I have her go through the bag of pictures to pick out what she would like for the next week. This concept has helped tremendously!
Meredith
My older daughter loves veggies, but it’s more of a struggle with the younger one! Snack cups, cutting them into shapes, and making pictures out of veggies helps!
Anne
Yes, I Do struggle to get my kids to eat more veggies or any veggies at all.
What are some of the ways you make veggies more appealing, the veggie twister seems to be fun and tastier for my kids as I can get them to eat them by simply putting them on the plate.
Melanie
i have 1 that is a great eater and 1 that has a limited selection of veggies.
jennifer
My daughter is 8 – loves veggies and loves to dip them!
Jennifer
Still struggling to get my 4 year old to eat his veggies. Dipping it in ranch helps sometimes or I try to mix it in with other ingredients.
Jill
My older son will eat his veggies, but my young son will not. If I grill the veggies and add parmesan cheese he more willing to try the veggies. In my house it has always been a rule that you have to take a least one bite of everything.
Andrea
Veggies are “tolerated” by my boys, but the biggest struggle is trying to break out of the same-‘ol-same-‘ol safe veg routine. Letting them browse cookbooks, exposing them to different ways of preparing & consuming vegetables, has been a good way to push the envelope a bit more.
Lori
I’m told, compared to a lot of children, mine do relatively well eating their veggies. However, it is always a work in progress and I’d like them to eat more on their own initiative. It seems like they only eat them because I put them on their plate! I always make sure to have carrots, cucumbers and peppers washed , cut and stored in containers in the fridge for them to just grab. They also like cherry tomatoes. The best way that my kids have learned the value of eating fruits and veggies, however, is by watching their dad and I do it!
Ann
This looks easy enough.. Just have to remember they are in the fridge!
Heidi
My kids enjoy eating veggies, but they each have a love/hate list. I’ve learned to put out an array of different veggies for each meal, which means each kid gets a few choices they like and, usually, by the end of the meal, ALL the veggies are gone!
Jessica
My kids go through phases of not wanting to eat vegetables and they rarely like the same vegetables at the same time. They both like cucumbers though and I have found that my 3yr old will eat most raw vegetables and salad if he can dip in ranch dressing. He also will eat about any vegetable if it’s on pizza. My 22 month old mostly prefers cooked veggies like sweet potatoes and broccoli.
Jessica McCartney
We have a “you must at least taste it” rule at the table. Sometimes they are surprised that they like something! I also find a sprinkle of cheese on most steamed veggies helps them go down a bit better for my 5 year old.
Melissa
I do struggle!! My youngest son has special needs and I can barely get him to eat anything but carrots!! I usually get him to choke down other veggies by drowning them in ranch or bribing him with dessert. =/
paula
Yes, it is a constant struggle for me. I find that cheese and/or dip helps a bit.
JoAnn
Yes, we have trouble. The only way to get our son to eat veggies is if he drinks them in a smoothie or if they are in a homemade frozen fruit bar. We’re hoping for a little social pressure from a farmer’s daughter someday. 8)
Araceli Kimberlin
My son is very leery of trying new veggies. He sticks to what he likes, broccoli, cucumbers and tomatoes. But using ranch sure helps. And also adding different spices helps as well.
Susan H
Dip always helps!!!!
sydney85
Finding the right dressing made all the difference to my daughter. She liked ranch dressing for carrots and celery but was not a big salad eater. We stopped at The Olive Garden for lunch and had the salad. My daughter loved their dressing. We are able to buy it from the restaurant so I make lots of salads now. We had a pool party with my daughter’s friends and her mother could not get over her eating the salad we had. I told her of our secret dressing and now her little one also eats lots of salad.
Jennifer H.
I signed up for Momables because I was looking for more real food ideas. These veggie cups are great and I have no problems with ranch dressing, but Hidden Valley Ranch does NOT fit the definition of real food. It contains MSG and artificial flavors and several other unpronounceable ingredients. There *are* better ranch alternatives (even easy homemade recipes). I’m a little disappointed.
Julie Williams
I am pretty lucky because my 4 kids (age 6, 5, 4, and 3) all eat veggies! I think it’s because I am always eating veggies and making salads.
I love this recipe idea because it’s something you can make in advance and keep some at arm reach for the kids to grab!
Laura Fuentes
Jennifer, the idea is to find something that will help your kids eat more veggies. My one son will only eat veggies with ranch. For me, the one tablespoon he uses to eat a whole cup of fresh veggies is not something I get hung up on. All the food I make and purchase for my house is fresh and with minimal ingredients. I am not advocating for people to buy HV ranch – the post is about finding something that will assist in the very difficult task of getting our kids to eat more veggies. I realize that many people will purchase an organic brand, a different brand, Hidden Valley, or even make their own.
Koreen piper
My son goes back and forth eating veggies. Sometimes he loves them and somtimes it is a struggle. Dip helps sometimes. I consistently make him try them and we talk about how our tastes change over time. The foods that we did not like a month ago are terrrific today.
Aubrey
I do struggle to get my kids to eat vegetables. My kids both really like their favorite color, so if I can puree veggies in that color and make whatever we are having that color (like green eggs made with spinach) then they will eat it!
Catherine
Getting my kids to eat veggies isn’t too much of a problem. But they really prefer them raw rather than cooked and won’t touch them if they’re mixed with other things like in a casserole.
Kristi
The best way I get my kids to eat more veggies, is using the spiralizer! They think it’s fun, and makes them more appealing! Mix in garlic with some spinach and they are good to go!
Gwen @ ButtercupsBabies.com
Our oldest has always been great about veggies, so we were shocked when it was a huge issue with our second (and now third child as well).
Smoothies would usually work, but I hate making them unless its hot (mommy-fail). I also make something we call “Choco-berry Juice” (greens powder, Ovaltine, Good Belly Juice, Berry flavored Kefir, and little bit of milk- mixed up with butter knife until all clumps are gone in glass). Even our youngest will ask for this one.
We finally realized our second had a killer sweet tooth, as does our third, and started leveraging it. For them to have any sort of dessert, they had to have at least 3 veggie bites (our standards for what consists as a “bite” grow with more success). Originally, our second child would even throw up TRYING to force himself to eat veggies. We told him it only counted if he kept it down… 🙁 We’ve gotten into a more frequent dessert habit than I would like, but I try to keep the options “healthier” as much as possible.
Our second is way better about veggies now. The other night at my in-laws, he was running around with his cousins and actually stopped to grab some roasted asparagus off a tray before continuing on! Warms a mama’s heart…
Know we just need to work on that third kid… 😉
A_Shoemaker
I struggle to feed my girls veggies, but only when they are not at home. If I put veggies (other than cucumber) in their lunch box they always come home at the end of the day untouched no matter the dipping sauce or the shape. To help with this I try to do more salads and wraps with a variety of veggies in small pieces. The girls like pasta salads so I make them with peppers, spinach carrots, tomato, etc. and I cut everything into small dice so it would take too much time to pick it out and they just eat it 🙂 I will also make quiche with veggies and “homemade ramen” with edamame, carrots, cabbage and celery to get added servings. For dinner we always have a cooked veggie choice or salad and they do not have a problem eating a serving or two when at the table with mom and dad.
Crystal
My daughter will usually eat most veggies. Those that she does not like, I put on her plate anyway and let her know that she just needs to try it. Most of the time she eats them. If there is a sauce, dressing or cheese on them, then it is easier for me to get her to eat them. I can usually chop them pretty small in a dish and she doesn’t notice.
Christy
I struggle with getting my kids to try NEW veggies. The usual suspects show up to the table and I nearly gag, so I try using different things like ranch dressing, lemon juice, butter, and garlic salt to entice my kids to try something different. Most of the time, this tactic works, but they’re not very tolerant of trying new things often so I have to space it out a bit.
Tracie M
My son loves to dip his veggies in ranch. My daughter likes cooked veggies with butter. Both like salads so I try to offer that option, especially when we go to a restaurant when french fries are the side option. I’d rather pay the extra money and know they are eating better. I try to incorporate lots of veggies in the meals that I make, so they are always expecting them. I also always try to have cut up peppers and cucumbers in the fridge so there is always a healthy choice for a snack.
Arlis P.
I am lucky that both my kids will eat veggies/fruit. I do try to introduce new things to give them more options.
Claudia B
Yes, eating veggies is always a struggle but if I provide some kind of dip or dressing it works sometimes!! Thanks for the chance!
Tessa
My daughter will try anything. My son, not so much. The 3 best ways to get him to try a veggie: 1. Have him grow his own in the garden. 2. Blend them up in a smoothie. 3. Remind him how good he is at trying new things. We’re making progress! Going to try ranch dressing now, too.
Corinne B
My son has always been a great eater, vegetables included. My daughter, however, came along and threw us for a loop! She’s very attached to her carbs, and very unwilling to try new foods. We’ve found repetition is key, along with a relatively laid-back attitude (i.e., not forcing her to try something). Laura, your advice on this topic has actually helped me a lot – I’ve learned to look back and celebrate any success, even if it’s just the fact that she ate around something as opposed to pushing the entire plate away in disgust! She’ll occasionally use dressing as a dip, but cutting veggies in new ways also helps (e.g., carrot coins instead of sticks, and letting her play pretend store with them!).
Andrea
I struggle more with one daughter than the other. My second daughter was a natural-born veggie eater. She prefers fruits and veggies to crackers and sweets half the time. With my older one, I have also found that offering dips is a great way to get her to try new things. She is picky about dips as well, but we have a few favorites such as red pepper hummus and Annie’s Cowgirl ranch dressing. I find the key to getting good eaters is consistency (always offering healthy options), modelling (eating veggies yourself), and realistic expectations (they are kids, it takes time)
Amber Whitman
I definitely struggle with getting my 4y and 1y to eat veggies. I have recently incorporated kale and spinach in their fruit smoothies and they love them. They know it’s in there, but because I’ve made it a ‘no big deal’ to them, they don’t care either. My son will ask for the Blueberry Banana Kale smoothie now. But eating veggies raw and cooked is still a challenge. My 1y will try new foods willingly, but my 4y doesn’t. I usually give them peppers, broccoli, or carrots with Ranch dip, but for now at least, they use the veggies as the utensil to get the dip.
Krystal Watson
As my daughter has become more aware of what her food looks like, it is difficult to get her to eat a variety of veggies. I chop them up tiny if we are already cooking a recipe that includes veggies. I don’t change my recipes, just try to make them more toddler-palatable. Now, carrots and ranch? She would eat that all day.
Cassandra
We have never struggled with veggies, except for the few that we some people don’t like.
We used to have a garden and would love to each fresh picked veggies, but we also like ranch dip with our veggies. YUM!
Debbie Hausher
My grandaughter truly enjoys most veggies but I have found that dip definitely helps her to try something new.
Gwendolyn
My kids are all over the place with Veges. They will eat broccoli and corn (ok, not a super vege) with out much coercion. I can get my girls to eat dip and cucumbers and an occasional carrot… They will eat lettuce (but again, just iceberg) and call it salad. My son loves edamame and will eat them hot or cold. Anything else leafy and green – not a chance. I add mushrooms and red and green peppers to a lot of dishes as “filler” and that seems to go over well. Any other ideas… Would love them!
Trisia
My teen lived veggies when younger, but recently has become finicky about veggies, so I’ve been making smoothies and adding them so they are disguised. He has no idea they are choked with kale or chard and carrots.
Lisa
Patience and repetition. I serve them at every meal. Eventually, my 4 year old will do more than taste them. When she sees that they are not going away, she just accepts them and starts to eat them. Sometimes it’s not a texture or taste issue. It’s a power struggle. If she thinks I’m making her eat them, she won’t touch them. But if the veggies are just a part of the meal and the mealtime routine and we don’t discuss the “eating” of the veggies, she’ll just start eating them on her own. She has to think it’s her idea before she’ll do it!
Laura Fuentes
Lisa, I completely understand the power struggle! Good for you for continuing to serve them at every meal.
Nicole
I do struggle to get my kids to eat more veggies. I try to hide them in smoothies mostly but I fear they will not learn to like them that way so I also try to offer them raw with a dip.
Jen
My kids do pretty well with veggies. I have followed a piece of advice that I have seen often, and I continue to serve them something even if they didn’t eat it the first few times, and it has worked! Zucchini, summer squash and mushrooms were recent “wins” via this method. One way that I sometimes do get the kids to eat more veggies is to offer them frozen veggies. I often buy bags of frozen carrots, peas, green beans and mixed vegetables as a time saver, and they like these all both frozen as well as cooked. They are a fun treat, especially on hot days.
Beth
My kids will dunk veggies in hummous and tzaticki (sp?).
In the summer we grill vegetables and participate in our community garden. Cherry tomatos and sugar snap peas right off plant are great.
Joan
Can kids ever eat too many vegetables? My sure haven’t reached their stride in getting all that they need daily! I agree that if fresh vegetables need a little ranch or hummus to make them more attractive I am all for it and a little butter on the steamed vegetables still means they are getting the benefit of the vegetables! If I take the time to work them in, they try them and always get mixed results with my 4 kids. I always keep trying! Some day their palate will appreciate them!
summer
My son is not a big fan of veggies, but can sometimes be persuaded by fresh squeezed lemon juice or cheese sauce on top. I thought he would love a “Hulk” green smoothie- but that didn’t fly!
Courtney
I have one child who loves a salad. She prefers a salad over a lot of other good foods. The other is still pretty young, but we encourage them to eat some of everything on their plate. I did try to make broccoli more enticing by putting a cheese sauce on it and neither of my kids would touch it, but a few days later I made steamed broccoli and they ate it up. Who knows! Next week it will be reversed!
Jennifer N.
Not too bad. My kids have a better time eating veggies if they are still raw. The problem can become trying to get them to eat roasted or steamed veggies.
Jacqueline
Ranch dressing with veggies is the best dipping sauce!!!
Laura B
I do struggle to get my kids to eat more veggies, especially a bigger variety of them. One thing I do is have the kids help with picking out new ones to try at the grocery store, and help prepare them at home
Rehana khan
I use to struggle with getting my more to eat more vegetables but not so much anymore. I remember while she was 3 years old I would talk to her about the benefits of eating a vegetable that I was offering. For example- if you eat lots of carrots it’ll help your eyesight and your skin become beautiful. I would even say, “it’ll make your hair nice and long”- which works. My latest selling point is, “if you eat beets daily, it’ll help you have beautiful skin and help you digest food easily.” After having the beets, she mentions how her skin and tummy start feeling better.
Jamie
I struggle with one of my kids, the other two will eat them no problem. with my daughter, I find if I have something she can use to dip them in – usually ranch dressing – then she will eat them.
Candy
My girls go through spurts. Some days my 3 year old begs for a bowl of broccoli and hummus and other days they won’t touch any vegetable. They really like frozen peas and I learned to add seasonings to the veggies to make them more appealing. For example, on taco night I add cumin and other seasonings to the vegetables while I cook them and then the kids really like them. Truthfully, the struggle is more mine than theirs. I’m not a good or creative cook and working full time leaves little room to work on this skill. Not giving up though! Thanks for all your great ideas!
Amy
Honestly, one of them set ways that I have found to present vegetables is to simply treat them as I do every other food…not trying to make them all cutesy sounding but to simply say, “Look, we’re having sandwiches, melon, and peppers.” If I don’t try to make them sound different or “exciting,” then they’re just a standard part of our meals. Generally, we don’t struggle getting the kids to eat vegetables. They don’t eat everything, but they eat enough, so we work in some new ones and some less favored ones about equally with the favorite ones, and it all just evens out.
Kristina
My kids each have a favorite veggie and are somewhat leery of others. Surprisingly, my oldest daughter is actually the hardest to get to eat veggies. Having her help me cook helps a little, but the best thing is actually having veggie-eating friends around to encourage her
Kate
Thankfully my daughter isn’t a terribly picky eater (for now) but on days when she needs encouragement to try something different, dip always helps. I use marinara sauce for hot cooked veggies often instead of the usual go to ranch.
Dawn Strelow
My kids eat veggies best when served with ranch dressing, melted cheese, salt and butter, or ketchup.
Kim
I don’t know what we would do without hidden valley ranch. It is definitely our go to dip for veggies. My daughter requests dip with any veggie that I send to school. Dip just seems to add more to the veggie. Some veggies in our house need that added little something.
Kristy
My girls are 1 and 3. I have one kid that won’t eat fruit and the other that loves it and not as keen on veggies. I try to hide it things like muffins, pancakes, etc while at the same time offering it. I may put broccoli in cheesy rice or mix it with a pasta and sauce. I figure they will eventually come around. Just keep trying.
kelia
i’ve got one who won’t eat anything green or vegetable related I mean will literally gag. what kid doesn’t like corn on the cob? my kid buckets of tears! we’ve tried ranch cheese brown sugar cinnamon nothing he is just not a fan.
Jenny R.
My two year old eats almost everything, so for him it’s not a struggle at all, but my husband and my 9 year old are not veggie fans. My 9 year old loves mixed veggies though, so anytime I have the chance, I’ll go with that option, otherwise, I can usually sneak some into food if I chop it up very finely. Also, there’s no spinach in that pasta, it’s just basil! *wink wink*
Polly
Talk about struggles! My tween just informed me he no longer likes carrot sticks OR tomatoes, the only veg I could stuff in his lunch!! But one day I was eating a store bought wrap filled w/ lettuce and other meat. He wanted to try it. Since he was GF I told him I’d make him one just like it at home… So now at least I can sneak in spinach and lettuce! But when I tried peppers, he immediately pulled them out! Too bad! He loves ranch dressing and mustard too
Jeri R
Using veggies to make funny faces or designs helps encourage my son but the best thing that makes my son eat them (at least for the time being) is telling him how strong eating them will make him! My husband will arm wrestle him before he eats his veggies and of course husband wins; they will arm wrestle again after eating veggies and son wins! My daughter is a different story – very limited in the variety of veggies she eats and she’s stubborn so isn’t easily convinced.
Ambery
We have some core veggies that get eaten on a regular basis. However, branching out is hard, especially since my husband rarely eats a veggie that is not a white potato. My favorite strategy is saying “this is Granny’s favorite way to eat these” or “I got this recipe from Grandma, Grandpa likes them this way.” Note: this is one of the few lies I tell my child. Granny may or may not like the veggie and I sometimes ask Grandma about recipes.
Rachel
Veggies are definitely a struggle here. Peas, corn, and raw carrots are the only ones we cam count on more than a bite from our 4&7 year olds. Everything else is usually tough to get youngest to eat even one bite. We put shredded carrots in Mac and cheese and more and usually lots of veggies that have gone through the food processor in pasta/pizza sauce and lots of other dishes too. We also do lots of green smoothies. Unfortunately having a garden and allowing him to help choose from the grocery or farmers market doesn’t help. Dips do sometimes help though.
Heather
Eating veggies in our house has never really been an issue. When our eldest was still very young, I read somewhere that if you don’t want your kids to eat it, don’t have it in the house! This has been a great rule because if all you have in your house is real food, you don’t need to keep track or worry about whether or not they had something that will “ruin” their appetite.
Alicia
For me, letting my kids pick out their own veggies seems to help. At the store tehy help pick something otu and they are more likely to help me use it for lunches or snacks. They like to say it is “their veggie” and I play it up when they help me prepare it and let them choose how to eat it, although some weeks we end up eating a lot of carrot sticks
Lindsay
I usually put veggies in a pasta sauce. My daughter loves pasta so she usually cleans her plate if I blend in the veggies in the sauce and serve it over pasta.
Jennifer
My 3 year old is willing to try any veggie. My 5 year old will eat broccoli and asparagus only. I’ve tried dips, roasting, steaming and raw but she refuses it all. So I’m still struggling with her on this and I guess its hard to compete when every time she goes to school she can either eat her veggies in her lunch or cupcakes, cookies, candy, etc that is provided by either another parent or teacher.
sandra
My kids aren’t huge fans of veggies unless it’s corn and one likes broccoli. I usually run them through the food processor until there’s not much left and add it to spups and sauces. (I call it pulverizing!) They don’t even realize they are eating carrots, zucchini, onion, and celery! 🙂
Kim Ingersoll
I am lucky I do not have that struggle. My kids love fruits and veggies. The easiest way for me to get them to eat them is to cut them up small. The prefer pieces rather than whole. I also make homemade ranch for raw veggies.
Deidre
My kids are good about eating vegetables but not good about trying new vegetables. Great idea!
Ruth
Our youngest eats cooked veggies but have a hard time getting him to eat raw veggies. Love this idea!
Kim
This idea is simple yet GENIOUS. I’ve always packed the veggies and ranch separately. I am going to look for these containers immediately. I do struggle with my kids to eat different veggies, although I do my best to offer them and it’s so frustrating and I feel like a failure when they don’t eat them.
Lianne L.
It’s a struggle in our household to get 3 kids to eat their veggies. We pretty much force them to eat as many by their age. ie eldest is 6 will have to est 6 pieces of veggies.
Christina
What works for my kids is to put a bowl full of various greens on the table such as carrots romaine parsley celery radishes etc. when we are busy playing a family game or when the kids are doing homework or having their free computer time. It is at these times that they will gladly snack on lots of veggies if I make them readily available. They are not as willing to eat them at dinner.
Bryce Breton
Veggies have been a struggle for my son. But now he regularly eats raw baby carrots (no dip), raw spinach (stems trimmed, no dressing), and KALE chips (which he loves!).
gayla allen
My son loves most veggies! My grown daughter, well I have no idea how to get her to eat them! I can hide all I want and she can spot veggies and pick them out like a pro.
mari
i don’t actually struggle to get my kids to eat their veggies. one reason i think is because i never really gave them any other options (!). another is getting fresh, pretty vegetables, having them help me shop at the farmers market, and having them help in the garden.
Becky
I find that when my daughter helps me wash and cut up veggies she’ll eat them more willingly. While we are prepping, I’ll see her popping them in her mouth before they make it into the storage container. I think involving your children in the prepping and preparing process helps encourage healthy eating habits. Smoothies, dip, make your own pizzas and making them into designs also always helps the veggies go down! 😉
Tricia
I have had a very difficult time getting my children to enjoy veggies. I usually steam and puree veggies and add them to muffins. My kids also enjoy veggies with creamy soups and pastas. Occasionally they will eat them grilled but it depends on the way they are seasoned. I add veggies to smoothies and juice as well. Daily I am searching for new ways to get my kids to enjoy eating veggies. My biggest challenge with 4 children is trying to make something that is appealing to all of their pallets, but I recently purchased the “best homemade kids snacks on the planet” and I am finding the recipes satisfy everyone, so I plan on purchasing “the best homemade kids lunches on the planet” to assist with more appealing school lunch ideas.
Nini
Will try the veggies dip. My son loves doing dipping. Usually I’ll cut small pieces and mix any veggies in his meals then he’ll eat them.
Joyce An
While I may not have kids yet………….. I do have to make it a habit to get more veggies into my diet! But the way I’ve really grown to love veggies and have them more appealing to me is by figuring out what kinds of different dips and sauces I can use with the different veggies. Mastering some stir fry dishes have been a good way to eat the many vegetables that go into the dishes and using oyster sauce has been a great way!
Carole S
It’s a struggle, but I try to teach them that they must have a vegetable with their meal so they can get bigger, stronger, and taller. I let them choose the veggie from what we have available. I also alternate with snacks. One healthy snack before a not so healthy one.
Rashelle
Adding Onions to my vegetables and sautéing them, makes all the vegetables sweeter.
The sautéing, with extra virgin olive oil, makes the veggies softer and the onions sweeter, and the kids don’t even know the onions are there and so they will eat them. Specifically, sautéing colorful peppers with onions, then adding shredded cheese to make a quesadilla is one option, or a second option is sautéing stir fry vegetables (broccoli, chestnuts, sweet peas etc) with onions, and adding chicken to it, for a fajita in a tortilla, is a favorite of ours (also including avocado as a base layer- either chopped into pieces or as a guacamole) plus chopped tomato sprinkled on the top of the fajita wrap. Both are colorful, sweet and very appealing. These options really fill the vegetable gap that they not only love to eat, but ask for … over and over.
Amanda
My kid loves veggies. I feel so lucky that we don’t have a picky eater!
Rachelle Myers
Veggies don’t appeal to kids the way other foods do. I chop veggies to put out while I am cooking….that way when they come into the kitchen with “I’m hungry” or “what’s for dinner?”, they will absentmindedly munch on the veggies without me saying a word. Also, roasting vegetables seems to make them more kid friendly…..even Brussels!!
Erin
My kids like carrots and salad and that’s about it for veggies (and grilled corn). It’s such a struggle. I’m like them though, and don’t eat a lot of veggies.
Chelsea
I am one of the lucky few who has a child who loves fruits and vegetables. For him, cooked is always more appealing, with few exceptions. For those veggies he will not eat raw (carrots are especially hard for him), we cook them, adding appealing seasonings. Easy way to make kid-friendly carrots is to toss baby carrots with some oil, salt, pepper, and a spoonful of brown sugar. Bake at around 350° for about 15-20 minutes. I often just throw a tray of them in with whatever else is in the oven, no matter the temperature. Just check after 10 minutes and keep an eye them. The softer they get, the sweeter they taste.
Elizabeth
I try to get my kids to eat veggies, but no matter what I do they come back on the plates or in the lunch boxes. Even when they are veggies that they love! I try to serve them with dips that they love, but one of my kids won’t go near dips! I just keep offering over and over, and not just the same ones every time, new veggies too!
Angie B
I love the idea of putting dipping sauces in the bottom of the veggie container 1 kid with ranch and other will use hummus wish I would have thought of this during the school year. During the summer I like to keep a tupperware veggie platter ready with alternating veggies and fruit during the week for variety. Currently the favorites are hummus, cucumber, sliced mini peppers and sugar snap peas with a spinach ranch dip. The fruit one usually has an assortment of melons and berries and occasionally some vanilla yogurt in the dip container.
Tara
We struggle with some veggies, but I just try to make them in a way that appeals to my daughter. We try new things and as long as she tries it I will not force her to eat it. She tried Brussel sprouts and didn’t really remember if she liked them, I made them again and now she raves about them. She won’t eat cooked carrots but she will eat them raw. Broccoli she will only eat cooked and not raw. I’ve just learned how she likes it and I go with that.
Christine
Certain veggies I know my kids will always eat and others they won’t. I focus on the ones they will and occasionally offer up new ones.
My husband likes to make up silly voices to get my boys to eat their veggies. Just tonight, I made stir fry. One of my twins was being difficult and dad put on a silly voice and began narrating our dinner. We were all laughing and my son ate all his veggies!
karyn
My son loves Cabot powdered cheddar cheese. When he entered his picky stage and began refusing his previously beloved broccoli I discovered that he would eat tons of it as long as he could add some cheddar powder. I even fell in love with the taste. He recently discovered ranch dressing. I am looking forward to expanding his veggie palate!
Tobi
I’m so grateful that my 4 y.o. daughter loves veggies and will try anything! Her favorite way to eat raw veg is dipped in hummus, or steamed with a pinch of salt (either plain or sprinkled with cheese).
Julie
Most of the time my kids eat their veggies well. Sometimes cutting veggies into shapes or serving them with a dip helps:)
Lisa
My kiddos love vegetables! Feed veggies to them when they are hungry (and/or with hummus)!
Lealia
I have not had a problem with my children eating veggies. One of the things that I do is I cut them smaller and I cut them so they look fancy like different shapes or a flower. If it is Bake tone’s day then most of the items in the lunch box will be red or pink. It makes it more fun.
Trish
I have one veggie lover and one who only lik es green beans. I’ve found shredding the veggies like carrots,zucchini, squash, spinach and kale work very well in meatloaf. It also helps wh n I do different veggi s like purple carrots or caiflower
Maureen
Yes, we struggle with veggies. Ranch dressing and putting in smoothies is what works for us.
Rachel
It helps when the veggies are cut up small and they have a dip they like to go with it. This is different for each child. I also will throw in a couple olives or pickle slices to make them happy.
Judi
We struggle to get our kids to eat veggies. Broccoli is the only clear winner. If I serve that, not problems. But I like to eat (and serve) a variety of veggies myself, so to make it more appealing, I cook veggies in leftover chicken broth from when I make soup. That makes it more palatable and I don’t have to nag them to eat.
Jane
My kids watch my husband and I eat vegetables. We put a small amount of each food item on the plate including vegetables. We are sure to only put a small amount of the foods they like but a reasonably larger portion of the vegetable. Our family rule is that you don’t have to finish but there is no other food you can eat until that first plate is finished. That includes fruit or other dinner food. Once you have finished your plate, you can get seconds of whatever else is for dinner.
Erin
I don’t really struggle to get my 4 year old to eat veggies. He went through a long picky phase when he was 2 and suddenly refused to eat any veggies, and I realized at that time that I could plead, argue, beg, etc., or I could just continue to offer him veggies and let it go when they weren’t eaten. I chose the latter and it has worked out as he now eats them no problem, and is really willing to try any new foods. I think that constantly putting them on his plate even when I know they would go untouched, and also modeling good veggie-eating behavior myself is what worked in the long run.
Kristin O
Veggies are always a struggle! Summertime is slightly easier as the kids are more likely to eat the veggies from our garden or veggies they picked out at the farmers market. Try, try and try again!
Norma-Jean
I don’t have children, but I love this idea as a snack for myself! It also would be
great to take to school (I’m a teacher) as I pack a lunch every day.
DeniceJ
Ranch and cheese seem to make veggies more appealing. Also, hiding them within spaghetti sauce can be helpful.
Angela
My older sons have always loved veggies, but #3 has been a challenge. I just keep offering! We’ve planted a garden, and he helps tend it (and that makes him a *little* more interested). I have also taken him to the grocery store/farmer’s market to help pick out a veggie that looks good to him.
April
I find that arranging the veggies is fun patterns or shapes really helps my kiddos to actually give them a try. And truth be told a dip is always a bonus:).
Michelle
My kids fight veggies, but I can sneak some into soups and stews.
Nancy
I am very lucky not to have to struggle with my 3 kids to eat their veggies. They eat them raw, roasted, grilled, etc. The rule in our house is to have a “no-thank you ” helping. They can say no thank you after they have had a taste. After several attempts they usually like it. But there are always veggies that don’t pass muster because they wanted carrots instead of peas. Then they can dip them in ranch or ketchup.
Kyna
I actually have no problems with my boys eating veggies. I just wished my middle child liked salad. LOL 🙂
Vivian
Thankfully, our kids really like veggies. I think they tend to eat more of them if they are raw and they can pick them up with their fingers.
Cathy
I struggle with my son eating veggies. Letting him choose a fruit or vegetable when we are in the story helps alot
Abigail
Yes- I struggle to get my kiddos to eat enough veggies… But I struggle too. When I mix veggies with something- like meat or potatoes, it seems to help versus just free standing. Something our family needs to improve!
Debbie P
We seem to go in cycles with the veggies – sometimes they will eat them, some days it’s raw only, and sometimes we have to be creative. Two things have worked well – Dipping Days – when I would put small amounts of every condiment we had on little saucers and the kids would dip cooked and raw veggies in the different toppings to find the best and worst combinations. The second thing was watching cooking shows as a family and letting the kids cook things they saw on TV.
Iris Glanz
If I make little shish-kabobs by alternating tomatoes, olives, cheese cubes, broccoli,etc my granddaughters can’t wait to eat their veggies. Ranch dressing would be an added bonus.
Lauren
My kids will try things fairly easy. Steamed broccoli is a favorite in our house. We call them little trees. The kids especially love broccoli with a little bit of cheese sauce.
Christine
Love steamed brocolli
Christine
We struggled a little bit getting our kids to eat veggies but than decided to grow our own garden and the kids love to eat what we have grown.
kerry
I always have fresh veggies prepped and ready in the fridge. While I’m making dinner, the veggies ands dip are set on the table for the kids to snack on while they are waiting for dinner. I always set out carrots, cucumbers and peppers (their favorites) but also add a new vegetable once a week.
Rachael Barish
We are lucky, our son will eat veggies. We have salad most nights. There is one restaurant we go to that put out a veggie bowl with ranch instead of bread. Our son take the whole thing for himself. How can we get upset?
Jennie
My oldest and youngest eat veggies. Oldest is reluctant but will try. My youngest I cannot for the life of me get her to try them. She will not even drink smoothies. I have created a chart and over the summer we do cooking classes to show her how important veggies are. I eat veggies constantly to show them too how important they are. I am definitely at a loss with my middle child
Tracey
My oldest and youngest have similar eating patterns and it’s very hard to get them to try new veggies or eat a wide variety of color. My middle has loved all the food since he was little. He tries everything and likes nearly everything except potatoes. 🙂
We’ve tried dips with the kiddos and nothing really does it. Love reading new ideas and trying new recipes.
Kim
My daughter loves to take the veggie and use that as her spoon to eat the dip. The vegetables will be left uneaten. However, she will eat veggies if they have soy sauce on them or are cooked in soy sauce! She will also eat them in soup! And we are lucky in that she says her favorite food is steamed broccoli, so we always have broccoli at our meals!
Gwen
I struggle to get them to eat cooked veggies, by they will eat raw veggies and salad greens if they have dressing to dip in.
catherine
Yes I do struggle to get my kids to eat veggies especially the cooked ones. They will eat a couple of raw ones no problem. I try and tell them how good a certain veggie is for them when I make something and put it in there and that seems to make them want to eat it more.
Claire
I find that ranch dipping helps every time
Farah
I definitely steuggle to get my son to eat vegetables. But he will drink green smoothies (frog juice) and eat bell peppers. I would definitely love to get him eating other veggies too.
Chris Pannier
I struggle to get my kids to eat just about anything, other than the food of the day, which is whatever kick they are on.
One thing I do is hide vegetables in food with other flavors. One of my favorites is pumpkin. I add to chili, pasta sauce, sloppy joes, even taco meat. THe other flavors cover the pumpkin taste but it gives a sweetness and thickens up the sauce. I also shred carrots and celery and mix in with other items.
My favorite trick is so simple. If you cut foods in cute shapes, they will eat just about anything.
Christine
I can’t wait to make these for my 5 kids! Yum! Myself & fiancé too! Thanks for the idea.
SC
My kids will eat veggies if they have a hand in preparing them. They love peeling carrots or chopping celery with their kids tools.
Jessica
My 7 yr old will eat just about any veggie. I struggle with my 2 year old. The best way for me to get him to eat veggies is to have plenty of hummus on hand. A fresh scoop of guacamole also doe the trick. He loves ranch, but I try to limit that as much as I can.
Jenny
My youngest loves a lot of veggies, but my older daughter is the opposite. It is a struggle to find a vegetable she will eat. I hide spinach in muffins and rhubarb in smoothies to help.
Heather
I do struggle with offering a variety of veggies. I like to make meals like chicken pot pie where I can put 3-4 different veggies in one dish. I just started making green smoothies every day because my boys love smoothies! I use kale or spinach, and recently my 4 year old saw me putting the spinach in there and said, “I like eating leaves in my smoothie!” Ha!
kathleen kiley
My son is better than I am when it comes to eating veggies!
I think simple presentation is the way to go…bright color mixes!
Jennifer
Anything my kids can dip is a plus to getting them to eat their veggies! I like to take them grocery shopping with me so they can pick out their own vegetables. Also, making a game out of how many different colors we can chose is fun.
Julia
My daughter is a dipper, and will eat veggies dipped in ranch or ketchup. My son, however, hates to dip. Getting him to try new veggies is a whole different challenge! I have to keep the “baby steps” idea in mind in order not to get too frustrated. Tonight, he ate cucumbers at dinner, and it feels like a victory! I only ask him to take a taste, and even one bite of a new vegetable is good enough for me.
Linda Koenig
Do you struggle to get your kids to eat more veggies? Yes my granddaughters only like a few vegetables they won’t even try or taste.
-What are some of the ways you make veggies more appealing?
I really haven’t even thou I have purchased your menu I plan on trying some this summer.
Alissa nevin
Growing them in our garden has gotten my picky girl to eat peas!
Nancy
Shopping together at the farmer’s market each week encourages us to eat lots of the freshest produce.
Emily C
Both of my kids willingly eat veggies. I have offered a wide variety since they were small and I really think that helped. I also think veggies in foreign cuisines and more exotic flavors are easier to introduce (Indian, Thai, etc).
Kelly
My kids definitely don’t eat enough veggies. We always have ranch dressing and hummus on hand and they are willing to eat them with veggies when pressed to do so.
Laura L.
My kiddo tries most things and likes some, others she doesn’t . Some days she wants veggies, other days she doesn’t, but I think having the dip helps. I use the mix of the same brand used in the post above. However, I mix it with sour cream instead of mayonnaise.
Vanessa
Yes, mainly because I struggle with eating them, especially raw. Having something to dip them in help such as ranch or hummus.
Robin
Getting my son to eat veggies besides peas, is like trying get Santa to eat broccoli on Christmas while delivering toys. Not happening!
If I hide it and magically make it into some kind of mystery, I have a slim chance.
Kimberly
All 5 of my kids love veggies. Once a month we have a fruit and veggie night where I put out all the fruits and veggies I have on the counter and that’s dinner. They love it! On occasion they use dips (ranch or hummus), we’ve done smoothies, stir fry… But usually they just eat them raw or steamed. I started training them when they were one. One year old = one bite, two years = two bites etc… Pretty soon they just ate without question and have eaten them with no reservations since.
Morgan W
I hide veggies in chop salads, which are a great summer dinner and surprisingly filling. My kiddos are pretty good at eating their veggies, mainly because they aren’t given much of a choice in the matter! Also, buying a variety of colors helps- yellow peppers are more interesting to my 5y old than the green ones, for example. 🙂
Megan
My kid loves veggies most of the time, but on the days that are a struggle I can almost always get him to drink a green smoothie.
Dorothy Williams
My grandson is very picky about his veggies. What was acceptable to eat last week may not be an acceptable option this week. So smoothies to the rescue. Our households have tried a couple of the smoothie freezer options and they seem to be working in sneaking in a few “extras”.
Hilary
My six year old daughter can be 50/50. Some days she loves ’em all and others not so much. I do the best I can without forcing them. She loves pickles (do they count?) ;). She loves dip and hummus so I offer those as much as I can. I also try to alternate snacks. If her last snack was a cookie then the next one must be a healthy one. It doesn’t always work but it’s a starting point.
mechele
My 4 yr old nephew lives with me and he is a very picky eater however, he loves pancakes and strawberry banana smoothies. So, i puree veggies into his pancake batter and i add carrots to his strawberry banana smoothies…
Rachel
Dip. Dip. And more dip! That’s our go to for veggies! Our older kids will eat most veggies if they are raw, less likely with some minimal complaining if they are cooked. Our two year old is doing ok with some of them as long as there is dip! We still can’t get her to eat yummy peppers though.
Meredith C.
My preschooler has gone the way of peer pressure when it comes to her formerly healthy veggie eating habit we worked so hard to instill from weaning. Before: eating plates of pasta tossed with Mamma’s famous “spinach sauce” and now picking every fleck of green – even dried herbs out of everything. It’s been frustrating. One thing we’ve gotten through with is to make green smoothies and to have her help me make them. She likes the sweet taste and helping out. Another favorite is pesto -and you can really mix it up with pesto – I’ve made it with kale, spinach or chard instead of all basil! And my pesto pizza kick it up an extra notch by adding a layer of finely chopped greens under the cheese.
Cassie Webster
I’ve learned to embrace my kids’ love of Hidden Valley ranch. If they insist on dipping all veggies in it, and they’ll try new ones, I’m fine with dripping!
Mindy G.
My kids prefer roasted veggies with a little Parmesan cheese. Raw veggies are enjoyed more with dips like hummus. My kids’ favorite raw veggie is cucumber, but they have to have Tajin with it, Tajin is a Mexican spice that has lime, salt and chili. They sprinkle it all over and love it! Good on fruits too like watermelon, cantaloupe and pineapple.
Emma
As any parent I’ve struggled with getting my kids to eat veggies, but I just keep offering them- any kind of dip helps as well as all of the praise they get with trying new foods!
Lynn
My kids are grown, but I struggle to eat veggies! I like to hide them in a smoothie!
Kara VanSickle
My kids love veggies! I feel very fortunate that this is not a struggle we have faced.
Elisha
I have been offering my children veggie cups for a snack. I put a few different veggies in and keep repeating it. They eat some and like the dip at the bottom.
Kelly R.
My twenty one month old has just hit the picky eater phase, so veggies are not as welcome as they were a few months ago 🙁 He will still eat fruit, so I’ve been making green smoothies. He also LOVES to dip, so serving raw veggies with hummus or ranch sometimes works as well!
Brooke B.
Some days we struggle with it, but I have learned that my kids will eat almost any veggie if I put it in a crustless quiche! I made this for dinner last week with onions, mushrooms and broccoli, and we didn’t have any leftovers.
Priscilla Wright
Does the ranch make the veggies soggy? I love this idea for not only the kids but my work snack as well.
Rachael S
Sometimes we struggle, she goes back and forth. Making them cheesy veggies or mixed with rice, or sometimes hidden in a quesadilla helps.
LaTanya
I use ranch as a dipping sauce and sometimes my son will eat veggies if he sees other children eating their veggies.
Sara
My kids eat some veggies, but not enough, I find having something to dip them in helps.
YvonneB
What a great idea. Don’t know why I never thought of putting both veggies and the dip in the same container! While my oldest is great at eating his veggies my youngest is another story. I’ve learned to sneak greens into her smoothies. And I have found than better than any dip or sauce, steaming green veggies with salt and butter draws out the sweetness
Danielle Aguilar
Veggies appear to be the mortal enemies of my children! I can certainly coerce them to eat a few pieces of broccoli (dipped in mustard of all things) at dinner but I wish they greeted veggies the way they do a juicy hamburger! For now, the best way to make sure they meet their needs is to Smoothieize them! I make smoothies with berries and sneak in some spinach or kale or I make “leprechaun” muffins (no leprechauns were actually harmed in the making of these muffins) and add in spinach for the green color. I’m guessing I should have eaten more veggies myself while pregnant and nursing to help them love the taste. Oh wait, I still need ranch dip to eat my raw veggies too….
Mary vissani
I have never really struggled to get my kids to eat veggies. I think the 2 main reasons really that my husband and I like a variety of veggies and we grow a lot of our own. Our kids help in the garden and get excited about eating from it.