01/08/2012
A tip to increase their 5-a-day
A simple but effective way to encourage children to eat (or at least try) more fruit and vegetables is to get them involved in one way or another.
One way of doing this with school aged children (or even pre-schoolers who are learning their letters) is to write down as many fruits or vegetables beginning with each letter of the alphabet and get their agreement to trying one each day. There are some ideas below or the supermarket shelves are good for inspiration.
Go down the list in alphabetical order with family members taking it in turns to choose an item from that day’s letter. However, you can also capitalise on any enthusiasm shown at the shops if your child finds something interesting they want to try. Once the fruit or vegetable has been chosen, let them help you buy it, and prepare or cook it if possible.
Draw up (or let them make) a “like” and “didn’t like” chart for the whole family. This way you can refer back to it when items are revisited and children can see that tastes can change over time or depending on how things are prepared.
Apple/Avocado/Apricot/Artichoke/Aubergine
Banana/Broccoli/Blueberries/Butternut Squash
Carrot/Cauliflower/Cabbage/Cherry/Chard/Clementine/Cucumber/Celery
Damson/Dragonfruit
Endive
Fig/Fennel
Grapes/Grapefruit/Guava/Gooseberry/Greenbeans
Honeydew Melon
Iceberg Lettuce
Jerusalem Artichoke
Kiwi/Kumquat
Lemon/Leeks/Lychee
Mango/Mushrooms/Mange-tout
Necterine
Orange/Onion/Olive
Pomegranate/Peppers/Peach/Pear/Peas/Pineapple/Papaya/Plantain/Parsnip
Quince
Raspberries/Red Cabbage/Radish/Redcurrant
Strawberries/Sweetcorn/Satsuma/Spinach/Sugar Snaps/Sweet Potato/Swede
Tomato/Turnip
Ugli Fruit
Victoria Plum
Watermelon/Watercress
X (Sorry, there are none!)
Yam
Zucchini