How To Get Your Kids To Eat Veggies

Almost always happily.

I have been amazed at how well this little sneaky idea has worked in my life! It's pretty easy too. Are you ready for this?

{cue super intense secret sharing music}

I give them the choice: "You can choose one thing on your plate to not eat tonight."

It sounds like an automatic fail, right? Of COURSE they are going to choose their veggie! But here's the kicker--I try to make sure we have more than one veggie on our plates. Since I know my kids and what they will choose (green beans or tomatoes. Every. Time.), I can plan accordingly. Sometimes I'm adventurous and choose two that aren't their favorite--just to see which one wins. It is AMAZING how easily they eat their second least favorite vegetable when they get to choose not to eat the one they hate.

 We're putting the power in our children's hands but making sure the outcome is acceptable for us parents. That's what I call a WIN WIN!!

*Disclaimer: Results will not be immediate. Tantrums commonly occur for the first few meals, but are temporary. Hold strong!

**Disclaimer part 2: we still occasionally fight over veggie consumption. But the ratio of fights to dinnertimes has drastically decreased in the months that we have implemented this plan. 

***Disclaimer part 3: side effects may include, but are not limited to, less contention, increased health, slightly increased planning and meal preparation time (generally temporary), dramatically decreased sitting-at-the-table-whining-"I-don't-want-to-eat-this", and greater willingness to try new foods (provided you include an additional, less desired food).