The Little Helper

My son has always asked to help cook/make dinner/set the table.  I know it probably won't last, but I definitely take advantage of it now.  The one thing that is very easy to have a child help with is washing the vegetables.  The first time I asked my son to help wash the vegetables, we were having kale.  He asked if he could eat some of it.  I said sure, expecting him to take one bite and spit it out.  But he ended up eating 2 or 3 stalks.  Another time we were washing bok choy, and he ate a couple heads of that too.  Then, of course, when his sisters see him eating the raw vegetables they want some too.  On these days, my kids have their servings of vegetables before we even sit down at the table for dinner.

When your child has some hand in helping with dinner, they take pride in it.  They are much more likely to eat it, also.  I also find that when kids feel "forced" to eat their vegetables, it's a good idea to get them involved.  Bring them to the grocery store and let them pick the vegetables.  Give them choices.  If all they ever choose is corn, go with that for a while, then ask them to try one new vegetable a week.  Once you get home, ask them to help cook the vegetable (or ask how they would like it).  Giving your child some say in the food they are eating (within reason) will let them feel in control.  Then the "eat your vegetables" conversation isn't so difficult.