Six ways to get kids to eat their veggies - according to science

Getting kids to eat their veggies is no mean feat. Tantrums, outbursts of "I'm NOT eating that", screams and shouts, are part and parcel of serving up a plate of broccoli, carrots and even peas.

But it looks like science may have the answer to all our problems, thanks to some fancy research by nutrition expert Richard Rosenkranz. 

Richard, who hails from Kansas State University, has been looking up rodents' eating habits (lovely), and found a few cunning little ways to get kids to eat their five-a-day, which he has published in Winning the war: How to persuade children to eat more veggies.

So, what does he have to say?

1.Take advantage of watching eyes

Make sure you serve yourself vegetables similar to the ones you give your baby and toddler – otherwise they'll question why you aren't eating it. 

2. Remember, infants learn through repeated exposure and dietary variety

Over time, your child can learn to develop a taste for food if you continue to serve it – no matter what face they make when eating it! 

3. Cut them into funny shapes (the food, not the kids)

Young school-aged children are more likely to eat veggies that are cut and arranged into smiley faces than if they are served plain in a bowl.

4. Involve kids in the cooking

Get them involved as early as possible; young kids can help with food prep and older ones can even help with the cooking aspect.

5. Make them accessible

Vegetable consumption tends to decrease as kids get older; teenagers, in particular, are guilty. However, Rosenkranz suggests parents provide fully prepared vegetables in easy-to-access places to encourage them to snack on good stuff. 

And if you plan on having any more kids…

6. You can even shape their diet BEFORE they are born 

"During pregnancy, an embryo and then a foetus is obtaining information about the outside world," Richard continued. "So, moms can set the stage for what their kids will want to eat before they're even born."