9 Ways TO GET YOUR CHILDREN TO EAT FRUITS & VEGGIES

I became a Vegetarian at the age of 16, Vegan at 19 and have been a Raw Foodist and Fruitarian at different points in my life. I have three children, including a teenager, all of whom have been Raw Foodists and Vegans since birth. 

Children desire the colorful, fresh choices created by nature. 

*** If your goal is to introduce your children to healthy eating practices and to arm them with the information they need to sustain that way of life into adulthood, Rather Than forcing them to eat foods they don't like, Try Out These Tips That Worked For Me:

1. Keep Healthy Foods at Home ~ Children eat what's around them. They want what they see. They're attracted to it. Instinctively, though, most {if not, all} children desire the colorful, fresh choices created by nature. Fruits and vegetables in their natural, organic state stimulate the part of the brain that makes one salivate in preparation of the succulent juices, vitamins, minerals and enzymes they offer. But, don't expect your child to reach for grapes instead of candy when they're more accustomed to the taste of candy! I've had many a friend at my place who claimed their toddlers didn't eat this or that, yet, whenever I'd display a vegetable filled meal, they would devour it {sometimes, asking for seconds}!! I keep fresh fruits displayed in beautiful, clear glass bowls in my kitchen and living room so they're readily available as a snack or a.m. craving {don't worry, the living room bowl is really sturdy and placed so it won't tip over}. *True Story*-> Every toddler, that's ever come over {regardless of how they eat at home}, reaches for the inviting fruits in my living room bowl! {I purposely keep it at eye level for little people} **Did you know that a home filled with fresh fruits and vegetables resonates on a higher vibrational frequency than a home filled with flesh and processed foods? Google it!* 
2. Be The Example~ Never let them see you sweat! {at least not in their early years} If you indulge in excessive sweets, fried foods or whatever, do so in a time and place where your children won't see you. Young children, especially, emulate most of their parents' behavior. Many of us have "vices" in our lives, but, when it comes to encouraging positive eating practices, your vices are simply Not Your Child's Business; not if you want them to do what you say. That just won't work. If you don't want your child introduced to it, DON'T INTRODUCE YOUR CHILD TO IT! When my eldest child was younger, I didn't allow him to eat vegan cakes and soy ice cream, although, I, occasionally, indulged myself. Having been a Raw Foodist and Fruitarian, I was conscious that consuming flour and soy products wasn't the healthiest thing I could do. I didn't want to expose my child to it at a time when his take on the situation would most likely be that of resentment: You eat it! So why can't I? Instead, I waited until the depths of our conversations about health and nutrition grew. Today, he has factual knowledge, wisdom gained from the harmful experiences of others and a broader understanding of how to maintain his personal health as a Vegan teen. 
3. Keep It Simple~ Early infant nutrition should be as simple as unpeeling/ chopping/ mashing {avocado, banana, apple, pear, melons}. As infants grow into toddlers, you can lightly steam and/or dehydrate vegetables. Just sprinkle a little fresh coconut milk, coconut- sunflower- or olive oil over cooled veggies, just before serving. NO SALT. NO PEPPER. Allow children to experience vegetables as close to their natural state as possible. Keeping it simple eliminates the perceived need to drown foods with condiments and spices just because. Spices are meant to enhance and are utilized for their healing properties, when necessary. I make most of my steamed and lightly sauteed veggies with the simplest ingredients: onions {not always}, garlic {most of the time} a wholesome oil or coconut milk and a tad bit of sea salt for minerals {not for the baby, she's 3}.

I'd just whip out an avocado and a spoon and say, "I have yummy avocado!"

4.  Take Healthy Foods Out With You~ When my children were toddlers and we'd be out all day, especially in the warmer months, I'd be sure to carry only fruits, veggies and seaweed as snacks. They'd say, "I'm hungry." Or, worse, "I want ___. And, I want ___. " I'd just whip out an avocado and a spoon and say, "I have yummy avocado!" Or, "All I have is a salad wrap with me. Want it?" More times than not, they accepted what I had. And, if they weren't into it at first, they were sure to ask for it later, when they got really hungry- even the pickiest one!  
5.  Minimize Choices~ If children seem adament about not wanting a certain fruit or vegetable, trust that there's a reason their bodies know that, perhaps, we may not be in tune with. In that case, offer a different option. make sure you allow your child time to bond with the fruit or vegetable before introducing an assorted cornucopia. Whether it's snack time or dinner time, limiting choices for days, even weeks at a time puts a particular food at the center of attention. If it's all they know, they're going to want to get to know it even more. You'll be developing a routine they will anticipate as the days pass. Pretty soon, they'll be looking at the bowl with eyes of expectance; swinging their sweet little feet with excitement. *FYI: When weaning infants/toddlers off one food and introducing to another, feed them both foods from the same plate for a few days. Then, at each mealtime, allow the new food to be served solo.
6.  Act Normal~ Don't start off by making a big deal about the fact that they HAVE to eat fruits and veggies, "or else!" Be excited. But, act as if that excitement about health is normal {it really should be}. If eating healthy is the only way of being they know, don't talk about it or entertain others' communicating about ways that draw attention to it as being not as fun as ___ or less exciting than ___. Even if you have to search high and low for books, toys, etc.. that emphasize the benefits of fruits and veggies, act as if those items are commonplace in every household. Most children love to feel they are part of an extended community, however small. They want to be connected to their peers, especially. Expose your children, regularly, to family and friends who eat well.
7.  Teach The Art of The Deal~ Children's demanding chants of "wants" are endless. I want this! I want that! So, why not familiarize them with the art of bargaining, early? After all, if a child is mature enough to express their likes and dislikes, that youngin can make a deal!! "Sure, you can have company, but you have to eat all your cauliflower, first!" "Eat three more slices of red pepper, then we can go to the park!"*Try not to bargain healthy food for unhealthy food {eat broccoli and you can have chips}. Instead, offer up a favorite activity or some other life-affirming, health conscious thing {trip to the museum, library, a game of chess or arts & crafts}. Most importantly, Keep Your Word!
8.  Discuss The Benefits~ Give them a lesson on the health benefits of eating particular foods. Discuss the healing properties of specific fruits and veggies. "I love watching you eat butternut squash. It's high in Vitamin A which gives you brain power!! That's why you're such a genius! The squash helps you out! You're really smart to eat it all, too!" Point out positives that matter to them: "Did you know that your big brother;s muscles were able to grow because he put proper minerals in his body by eating greens everyday since he was your age?"
9.  Be Brutally Honest~ Eating healthy foods is more advantageous than not. It's a fact. Educate your children on some of the harmful effects of not eating fruits and vegetables {chronic constipation, skin "problems", asthma; diabetes, on and on...}. Now, give examples of people you know who have those illnesses. Children usually want to get involved and save the world. *Support them in their attempts to educate loved ones and friends about improving their health through increasing fruit and vegetable intake. They will need your support, as many of the people they insist on helping will reject their efforts. Discuss some of the reasons people resist change {fear of failure; fear of the unknown; the "comfortability factor"; ...} People will come up with numerous reasons why they can't or won't change. Turn the experience into a project! Assist your child with developing a sound argument in favor of his/her side {write an essay, speech or debate together}. When he started attending school outside our home, my eldest sun and I wrote a book about being Vegan {stressing its coolness}. It allowed his peers to get to know him better and allowed for the other children to express their experiences with elements of being Vegan {some tried soymilk before; others had relatives who didn't eat flesh; etc...}.

You Can Change The Way You And Your Children Eat. Begin NOW!!!

In my experience, years of working with mothers and children, I found that many mothers insist on forcing their children to eat flesh {chicken, beef, etc.. as well as animal by-products} when their children, naturally, reject it in every possible way {vomitting; constant diarrhea; chronic constipation; becoming asthmatic; developing eczema; hyperactive behavior; crankiness; etc...} On the contrary, they worry about whether their children are getting enough nutrients from fruits and veggies. Rest assured, THE ONLY PROPERTIES FRUITS AND VEGETABLES CONTAIN ARE NUTRIENTS: Vitamins, Minerals, Enzymes, etc... You can Google it!

FLESH IS DEAD. What's The Benefit In That???....Duhhhh!!! I had to say that! This is 2011, I Am Exhausted of trying to convince people of already existing facts. You either understand them, or you don't. Wake The H*** Up!!!!!!!!! 

~Loving You AllWays~

*Anything Is Possible. You Can Change The Way You And Your Children Eat. Begin NOW. Envision. Focus on the Vision. Manifest the Vision, step by step by step by step...

~Health Is Wealth~