Aldo Zilli’s Top Ten Tips on getting your Kids to eat Fruit and Vegetables

We all know how important it is for children to get the right balance of nutrients whilst they are growing up, and fruit and vegetables are a vital part of a child’s diet. But, as most parents are well aware, it can sometimes be a struggle to get children to eat these foods.

Celebrity chef Aldo Zilli is a father of three, so he knows the importance of incorporating fruit and vegetables into children’s diet. Aldo launched his baby food range, Baby Zilli, to introduce a variety of fruit and vegetables into children’s diets. All of the Baby Zilli products are created from recipes that Aldo has tried and tested on his own children, and they love eating them.

To set children up for a lifetime of healthy eating, follow Aldo’s tips to encourage children to eat good foods without kicking up a fuss.

Here are Aldo’s Top Ten Tips for getting your kids to eat fruit and vegetables…

1. Plan meals together with your children; if they help you create the menu, they will be excited to taste the results.

2. Give the kids two vegetable options to choose from at dinnertime; if they get to choose themselves they are more willing to eat their greens.

3. Grate carrots and courgettes and add to beef mince to sneak some vegetables into a burger, lasagne or shepherd’s pie.

4. Fruit smoothies are a tasty way to get your kids eating lots of healthy fruit. And you can even add hidden vegetables: try carrots or sweet potato in a strawberry smoothie.

5. If you have a garden, get a small vegetable patch and allow your child to get involved in growing the vegetables that you serve.

6. Children learn by example; let them see you eating and enjoying a variety of fruit and vegetables, and they will be curious to try the same foods.

7. Forget the table manners for a while: let your children play with their food. Make smiley vegetable faces on your child’s plate, make up stories and sing songs. If your child is having fun they won’t kick up such a fuss about eating the vegetables.

8. Provide a selection of healthy, tasty sauces for your child to dip their fruit and veg in; this will distract from any taste they don’t like and make eating more fun. Try hummus, cottage cheese, yoghurt or guacamole.

9. Vegetables blended into a soup are undetectable to most children; they will love the taste and be left none the wiser that their meal is full of healthy veg.

10. Have some vegetables prepared and available at all times; if there is only veg to snack on while your child grows hungry waiting for dinner, they will eat them without a fuss.

We hope you enjoy trying out Aldo’s brilliant tips!

Buon Appetito!