Baby - 3 Ways to Get Your Baby to Eat Greens

3 Ways to Get Your Baby to Eat Greens

Your baby may be more open to broccoli and peas than you think. Make the most of his adventurous palate.

Understand the science behind “yuck” 

Often it’s not the color of spinach or peas he’s reacting to but the bitter taste. It can take a baby up to 15 tastes to accept any new food, says Dyan Hes, M.D., a pediatrician in New York City. Mix a green bean puree with a sweet potato one; scramble spinach with eggs; or serve an avocado (a less-bitter green food) mashed up. Keep surprising them with new combinations, and don’t take the rejections personally.  

Hang in there

We know 15 tries is exhausting. But remember your loftier goal, says Dr. Hes: to create a pattern of foods your child will eat in the future. It’s okay to give your baby other foods she likes when you put a green one on her dinner plate, but don’t have a favorite one waiting in the wings. Your baby knows, “If I keep throwing broccoli I’ll get that yummy strawberry yogurt like last time!” 

Focus less on eating

Since your baby gets most of his calories from breast milk or formula until age 1, take the pressure off plate-cleaning. If he won’t eat bits of green beans, then change courses and just encourage him to grasp those pieces. Now you’re honing his fine motor skills, and that’s worth something—it’s what we call a parenting win! 

I am not the original writer of this article.

Original Article and More like it please go to https://www.fitpregnancy.com/baby/baby-feeding/3-ways-to-get-your-baby-to-eat-greens