Do you have trouble eating vegetables to your children and in general, to make them discover new flavors? According to an OpinionWay study for HelloFresh, more than one in two eats less than ten different foods per week. More serious, the survey demonstrates that one in four children (24%) does not exceed five different foods, for their meals.
Brussels, salsify and fennel cabbage: the most shunned vegetables
This survey shows that vegetables are the main victims of this food selection: Brussels, fennel and salsify cabbage are among the most shunned foods, both by children and by their parents.
But they are not the only ones. 76 % of children aged 8 to 18 have never tasted certain vegetables such as the Pak Choï or the Parsnip.
Claire Trommenschlager, dietician-nutritionist interviewed by True Medicalrecalls that children do not need to love a food right away. “”The important thing is to expose them regularly, in various forms and without pressure. The more opportunities to taste, the more they end up accepting … and even appreciating! “ she says.
“Finish your plate”, a moment of negotiation of parents towards their children
Family dinner remains perceived as friendly, since 90 % of households consider him pleasant, but only 27 % of parents live him as a real moment of pleasure. Indeed, half of the parents say they are “in constant struggle” so that their children eat vegetables and 40 % even admit that the famous “finished your plate” often turns into a battle.
So how do you remedy the situation? For Claire Trommenschlager, the secret is elsewhere. “”To take full advantage of family dinners, the key is regularity and a relaxed atmosphere at the table. Serving vegetables with each meal gradually increases the chances that they are tasted. Even if the child does not touch it right away, the simple fact of seeing them on the plate contributes to better familiarity“.
The specialist recalls that the difficulty of children to accept vegetables is multifactorial.
“Between 2 and 6 years old, children are going through a normal phase of food neophobia, that is to say a distrust of new foods. During this period, they will often refuse to taste what they do not know. This attitude is completely normal. It can be accentuated by family habits: children reproduce what they see at the table, and if parents especially cook what they like, the exposure. food remains limited “.
Prepare vegetables in an attractive way, to make you want
Likewise, the lack of competence or desire to cook certain vegetables can slow down their discovery.
“”It is important to offer vegetables in different forms – steam, gratin, puree, roast – and varying textures and cooking. The child can touch, feel, cook, taste … and even spit out if he doesn’t like“Recalls the nutrition expert.
To make some vegetables more attractive, she recommends preparing them in different ways.
“Brussels cabbage can be roasted in the oven with a little olive oil and honey to reduce their bitterness. Salsify can be integrated into a potato gratin, combining the familiar taste with novelty. You should not go too fast: a new vegetable per week is enough. It allows you to think about its preparation, bring newness gradually and avoid frustration or discouragement.”
“”You are your child’s model “ Finally underlines the specialist. “”The best way to encourage them to more diversity is to eat vegetables for each meal and vary them according to the seasons! Also remember to cook those you like less, to re -hole, and stay neutral in your facial expressions. The idea is not to succeed in each meal, but to establish a regular and positive exhibition. Over time, sown seeds will eventually germinate in the child’s mind “.