6 smart tricks to make your kids fall in love with fruits

Getting children to eat fruits and vegetables is perhaps one of the greatest challenges that parents face when it comes to ensuring a well-balanced nutrition for them. A balanced meal plan contains essential nutrients that are important for their health, growth and development. Fruits provide important vitamins, fibre and other necessary nutrients. They also offer antioxidants that are known to reduce the risk of some ailments. Usually, it is much easier to get kids to eat fruits than vegetables. This is because fruits have natural sugars and serve the purpose of desserts. Here’s how you can have your children gorge on these gifts of nature. 

Sneak in fruits wherever possible  
Try and increase the variety of fruits you put in your recipes. Include them in custard and yoghurt. You can also whip up a bowl of mixed fruits with spices and sprinkles of lemon juice. 

Involve children in choosing their fruits 
Instead of forcing children to consume fruits they don’t enjoy, allow them to help you out in picking the ones they want to eat. Make it a fun little trip and take them to the fruit vendors with you, letting them explore all the options. Teach them how to peel and cut fruits so they can prepare a fruit snack for themselves whenever they feel like. 

Serve fruits in an appealing manner 
Food is not just about the taste. It has a lot to do with presentation. If children find their plate of fruits visually appealing, they are more likely to bite in. Always keep a bowl of fresh fruits handy. Try a new variety every week if your kids are picky eaters. 

Lead by example 
If children see you enjoying fruits, they are more likely to follow suit. Children learn a lot by observing. Help them develop similar taste for fruits by having them together. This can be a great bonding activity too.  

Try seasonal fruits  
While some fruits like bananas are available all year round, don’t underestimate the lure of seasonal fruits. Starting from mangoes in the summer heat, strawberries and grapes in winter, there are so many types of fruits that only surface for a couple months a year. Build excitement for these seasonal delicacies. 

Be patient 
When it comes to food, children’s preferences fluctuate constantly. If they dislike some fruit now, it doesn’t mean they’ll hate it forever. It is your job to make sure that they constantly have the option to try different varieties. So, be patient and don’t stop trying to include fruits in their meals. Also, don’t offer alternatives if they reject fruits. If no other options are put forward, kids are more likely to accept whatever is presented to them.