Fun ways to help kids love eating fruits and vegetables

When young, children have not yet taken a hold of why fresh fruits and vegetables are good. This makes parents take a more holistic approach to make eating healthy fun. Children who eat healthily maintain focus, improve memory, and are happier. Here are a few more reasons why eating fruits and vegetables are important and fun ways to get your kids to love them. It is best to provide nutrients with real food, but when in doubt, child nutritional supplements (eg. Similac Gain) work too after consulting a related medical professional.^{1, 5}

1. The earlier the better for starting them on a healthy diet
   Children love familiarity, so starting them on a variety of fruits and vegetables in various formats will help them attain a wider palate. Try cooking, pureeing, and mashing differently of the least favorite items with ones they like for gradual adaptation. For example, broccoli or spinach are least favored by children for their strong flavor, but rich in vitamin C, lutein, and fiber, mixing them with fruit smoothies or soups is a way to get them to eat it by masking the flavors. Pay attention to see what works.^{1, 2}
2. Why so early?
   Children who get adequate nutrition early on are smarter and more leveled. Quality proteins, best found in walnuts & yogurt, keep the brain cells responsible for communication and retaining information efficiently, thus improving memory. Omega-3 fatty acids from soybeans & seaweed supports brain cell production and slows breakdown. A brain relies on glucose as one of the main sources of energy, the quality of carbohydrates matter. It is what will keep the stamina of the brain consistent. Packaged foods often are masked with high sugar and sodium or empty calories, natural sources like sweet potatoes, corn, bananas, and mangos are not only fresh, but the best.^{2, 3, 4,} 
3. Combine teaching with fun
   The reason why most children’s toys and readymade foods are in fun shapes and colors is because the child’s brain simply loves new and exciting things. And this is a good principle to adopt when you want a child to eat what they usually do not like. Play identification games with them at the grocery store or teach them math with weight for stimulation. It is a general rule not to play with food, but in this case if it is one way to promote healthy eating, it is waived. With assistance, let your child cut food into shapes and sizes they like or make it into a format they are willing to eat in.^{1, 2}

Early exposure to these wonderful fruits and vegetables helps them get used to eating them with no fuss, but sometimes no matter how hard you try, your child will still not eat it. In this case if you are worried that they are missing out on some nutrients, child nutritional supplements like Similac Gain can help. Packed full of the essential brain nutrients like quality protein, carbohydrates, and omega-3, can help fill in where food may be missing. An appropriate serving according to your child’s age can ease the difficulty of getting them to eat whole fruits and vegetables. Best provided to your child as a supplement, you can leverage the maximum amount of healthy nutrients for your child to have a healthy brain and enjoy growing up.⁵ 

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References:

1. https://abbottfamily.com.sg/articles/pre-school/fruits-vegetables#
2. https://centrespringmd.com/14-best-brain-health-foods-for-kids/
3. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323110
4. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323144#vegetarian-and-vegan-sources-of-omega-3
5. https://abbottfamily.com.sg/products/page/similac-2-fl-stage3