In this post you will find several ways that you can try to make you kids eat vegetables: a veggie tomato sauce, a Russian salad, a gratin of vegetables, potato cakes, vegetable spaghetti, vegetable chips, stuffing them in a lasagna, hiding them in an omelette, topping a pizza, filling spring rolls, breading the vegetables, etc.
But neither of these tricks work, then don’t worry. There are two more solutions:
1) Replacing the nutrients of vegetables with supplements. This option is not my favorite, I would only recommend it if the next one is not either successful.
2) Feeding them fruits.
Fruits provide similar nutrients as vegetables do; all the needs in vitamins, minerals, fiber, phytochemicals, antioxidants and organic water can be fulfilled with fruits. It is true that vegetables have a higher concentration of minerals, but we don’t need such a large amount of minerals.
And don’t worry about the sugar of fruits. The main sugar in fruits is fructose, and the metabolic pathway of fructose doesn’t involve insulin, so it won’t lead to spikes in blood sugars (hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia) and consequently the spikes of insulin that sugar does. Another reason is that sugars contained in fruits are accompanied with fiber that slows down its absorption. In fact, many studies suggest that fresh fruits reduce the risk of diabetes.
Try to give the fruits before meals, because fruits are digested quicker than the rest of the food, so we prevent that fruits get blocked in the gut waiting for other food to be broken down and avoiding the risk of becoming gassy.
It is even better if fruits are eaten alone, for breakfast or snack for example, and you can even prepare a whole meal of just fruits, it’s perfectly fine.
Next time your child refuses the vegetables in a plate, give him/her a piece of fruit.
But neither of these tricks work, then don’t worry. There are two more solutions:
1) Replacing the nutrients of vegetables with supplements. This option is not my favorite, I would only recommend it if the next one is not either successful.
2) Feeding them fruits.
Fruits provide similar nutrients as vegetables do; all the needs in vitamins, minerals, fiber, phytochemicals, antioxidants and organic water can be fulfilled with fruits. It is true that vegetables have a higher concentration of minerals, but we don’t need such a large amount of minerals.
And don’t worry about the sugar of fruits. The main sugar in fruits is fructose, and the metabolic pathway of fructose doesn’t involve insulin, so it won’t lead to spikes in blood sugars (hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia) and consequently the spikes of insulin that sugar does. Another reason is that sugars contained in fruits are accompanied with fiber that slows down its absorption. In fact, many studies suggest that fresh fruits reduce the risk of diabetes.
Try to give the fruits before meals, because fruits are digested quicker than the rest of the food, so we prevent that fruits get blocked in the gut waiting for other food to be broken down and avoiding the risk of becoming gassy.
It is even better if fruits are eaten alone, for breakfast or snack for example, and you can even prepare a whole meal of just fruits, it’s perfectly fine.
Next time your child refuses the vegetables in a plate, give him/her a piece of fruit.
Gemma Calzada is a Holistic Nutritionist Ph.D. and a certified GAPS practitioner, accredited by ASCA. Her mission is to improve health through nutrition and to help people suffering from a dietary intolerance to live happily. 
