Toddlers and preschoolers want and can do more and more on their own. They can often already use their little hands very precisely. Washing, cleaning and cutting vegetables, mixing or stirring in a pan … they love to help in the kitchen. Cooking together encourages your child to get started with vegetables in a fun way: touching raw vegetables, smelling them and, of course, tasting everything in between. Cooking together is not just fun … Did you know that it actually has an effect on the amount of vegetables that “a difficult vegetable eater” dares to taste?
With children and vegetables, it is searching for the right recipe. The recipe for success contains a challenging combination of ingredients. The main ingredient: practice, practice and practice again up to 10 times! Also essential are three hands full of patience, a pinch of creativity and a can of compliments. Finish with a reward to taste. A dish you have made yourself can be eaten with pride. A sticker (with a picture of vegetables) can also increase appetite. Need inspiration? The adventurous and vegetable-rich recipes you make easy with your little one(s) in can be found in the Vegetable Heroes Cookbook.
What you expect from your preschoolers’ table manners is very personal. Eating from a spoon and using a fork often go well. Know that sometimes it is still a challenging exercise. It still requires a lot of concentration and even more patience. After a busy day at daycare or school, that concentration is sometimes hard to find. Such an exhausting day is an ideal Knoeid Day! On this day, preschoolers are allowed to eat with their hands. For even more fun at the table, the rest of the family joins in, of course. Don’t forget a grunt and a smack! Did you know that eating with your hands really has a positive effect on the right amount and even on the preference for healthy food? What more could you want?
