How important are vegetables in a toddlers diet?

Johnny does NOT eat them. Ever. Pureed sweet potatoes is it, and even then he doesn't care for them.

He eats nothing green. I've tried everything. No green beans, no peas, etc...he will not even eat corn. I thought all toddlers love corn?

I was told it could be a texture avoidance thing, since he's going through some sensory stuff already. But he wolfs down fruit, pancakes, pasta, cheese, yogurt, turkey, meatballs etc..

I started him on vitamins just in case.

Re: How important are vegetables in a toddlers diet?

if he's taking his vitamins and eating other things I'm sure he will be fine...
I would just continue offering them and hope that eventually he will eat them...
My brother NEVER ate anything green until recently and he's 37 and OK!

Re: How important are vegetables in a toddlers diet?

Could you add the pureed veg to any of the foods you cook for him - like the panckes etc - "hide" them in there.

Re: How important are vegetables in a toddlers diet?

I'd keep offering them and offering them..try try again

My DD is pretty picky but she def goes through her phases with veggies-she'll love broccoli and ony want brocolli then it's like brocolli is poison.
I'm sure you have, but have u put cheese on the veggies? My DD loves cheese on them-grated cheese especially

Re: How important are vegetables in a toddlers diet?

Does he like juice? I have been buying the "Naked." It's good, and the green machine has green veggies in it.

Re: How important are vegetables in a toddlers diet?

Posted by LuvMy2Girls

I'd keep offering them and offering them..try try again

My DD is pretty picky but she def goes through her phases with veggies-she'll love broccoli and ony want brocolli then it's like brocolli is poison.
I'm sure you have, but have u put cheese on the veggies? My DD loves cheese on them-grated cheese especially

Re: How important are vegetables in a toddlers diet?

Re: How important are vegetables in a toddlers diet?

Re: How important are vegetables in a toddlers diet?

Hopefully not that important. My DD doesn't eat any vegetables either!

Re: How important are vegetables in a toddlers diet?

I am right there with you. DS refuses all vegitables as well. Atleast your's eats Meatballs. If only I could get him to like Sauce, maybe I could hide some in there. Maybe you could try that. I am with you though. I tried putting brocolli in the cheese sauce in Macs n cheese and no dice either. I wonder if they are making the same lovely face when they realize they are eating a vegi. Ya know, that face right before it comes tumbling right out from inside their mouths.

Re: How important are vegetables in a toddlers diet?

I kind of have the opposite problem. I have to hide the veggies in hope that he will eat other things. I hide edamame in the mac and cheese and he eats all the edamame and leaves behind the mac and cheese
The way I figure it, it is all just a phase and eventually they will all eat!
Have you tried hiding the veggies in the meatballs or the hamburger? Spinach hides really easilly

Re: How important are vegetables in a toddlers diet?

Posted by Eireann

Hopefully not that important. My DD doesn't eat any vegetables either!

Re: How important are vegetables in a toddlers diet?

The only veggie Julia likes is carrots.

Re: How important are vegetables in a toddlers diet?

He seems to be eating fine to me! lol Be happy he's eating!

Re: How important are vegetables in a toddlers diet?

I've resorted to mashing peas and hiding them in pesto pasta. You can hide alot in a meatball (Carrots, celery) and I plan this week to hide veggies in his scrambled eggs (w/lots of cheese!)

Ryan eats alot of veggie protein so I try not to worry about it, it seems "normal" that most kids don't like them.

Re: How important are vegetables in a toddlers diet?

My DS is 7 and still refuses all veggies!!! I have even tried the "eat this or go to bed hungry" thing and he all he said was "fine!" he would rather eat nothing then eat a veggie!! so now what I do is buy the V-8 V-fusion juice. which is a mix of veggie and fruits. He thinks its just fruit juice but he is actually getting a full serving of fruit and a full serving of vegatables every glass. oh.. and he also gets a vitamin everyday. HTH

Re: How important are vegetables in a toddlers diet?

Are there vegetables in pasta??

Re: How important are vegetables in a toddlers diet?

Have you tried veggie burgers? I get the morningstar farms tomato basil and DD loves them.

Re: How important are vegetables in a toddlers diet?

Re: How important are vegetables in a toddlers diet?

Hide them---juice...pesto sauce with veggies..roast veggies puree them and mix with pasta...
hide them minced in meatballs---
carrot apple juice,etc...
supposedly there is a great book called"deceptionally delicious". It is even sold in Costco.
Seinfields wife wrote it...good luck!

Re: How important are vegetables in a toddlers diet?

i buy baby food veggies and mix them with everything (mac and cheese is one of her favs - its so easy to mix carrots, squash, or cauliflower puree in it!).

I mix cauliflower in with her eggs, carrots in with tomato sauce, etc....

I STILL Serve them on her plate, even if she won't eat it because maybe one day she will eat it...but I least I know she is getting some veggies once and a while!