For parents with picky eaters-- what do you give them to ensure they're getting SOME fruits/veggies?

My 3 year old (he just turned 3) is a VERY picky eater. We serve him what we're having, but I don't MAKE him eat. He likes a couple of veggies (only canned carrots and canned greenbeans, not fresh or frozen), but even they are hit or miss. He LOVES bananas, strawberries, and grapes. So I always make sure to have atleast 1 of those on hand. So my question is- to those of you who also have picky eaters- what do you give them to sneak in the fruits and veggies where you can? Like I said, I serve him what we're eating, so he's still served the veggies, but knowing he's not going to eat them I also like to sneak some in where I can.



***A couple of ways I sneak them in-- he LOVES breakfast sausage so I give him the morningstar farms veggie sausage. Also, for example, I'm making pizza tonight and am going to dice onions and peppers and add to the sauce (hoping the cheese and pepperoni will sufficiently hide them).



Oh, and another part of my particular problem that I forgot to mention-- he hates pasta. Refuses to try it. I BARELY managed to get him to eat spaghetti (a few bites) a couple of weeks ago. He has NEVER liked it, from the time he started eating solid foods. So casseroles aren't an option. :-( Also, I HAVE the cookbook by Jessica(?I think) Seinfeld. I've tried some of the recipes with him and with my daycare kids (who are a LITTLE less picky) and they hate them. The mac and cheese with bean puree in it-- even the ones who love mac and cheese won't try it.For parents with picky eaters-- what do you give them to ensure they're getting SOME fruits/veggies?
Man, its so hard with kiddies that REFUSE to eat, maybe try the V8 Vfusion, just a thought?? maybe you could also try fresh fruits with a bit of stevia to sweeten and maybe veggies with cheese sauce ie. broccoli cheese?? My daughter also likes fresh fruit smoothies, I do a banana, a few frozen strawberries a cup of strawberry yogurt and some apple juice in the blender, its a huge hit!

Good luck! and i think its normal for them to got through this stage!For parents with picky eaters-- what do you give them to ensure they're getting SOME fruits/veggies?
"A couple of ways I sneak them in-- he LOVES breakfast sausage so I give him the morningstar farms veggie sausage"



??!



Good grief! Those ''vegetarian meat" products are nutritionally terrible -- it's not vegetables, it's processed soy and oil, with salt.



Stop -- just stop -- with the canned stuff. Just keep offering a variety of fresh food at regular intervals; if he doesn't eat, so what, he will when he's hungry.



I appreciate the amount of effort you are putting in, but I don't think it's leading you in a useful direction. The Jessica Seinfeld hijinx are unwise; I mean, what are you really accomplishing if you get in a teaspoon of onion under a great deal of salt and grease?



Take him to a pick-your-own farm if possible, or at least a farmer's market, let him pick out his own veg, serve it up in appealing fashion, and just don't cater to the pickiness. Make sure he sees you eating and enjoying good food. If I want to sell my nearly-3yo on a new food, I just eat it in front of her without comment. (Don't coax!)





"FYI- I take him to McDonalds on occasion too!"



That's cool; their fries are delicious.



But "veggie sausage" still has no veggie in it.

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