Eating Vegetables:
Kids Corner

Aired on Superstation WGN
Saturday, July 16 and October 29, 2005
Show 218

Threats never seemed to work. "If you don't eat your peas, you're not watching any TV tonight." Neither do disguises or camouflage. "Hey kids, who wants some delicious snow-covered trees?" Getting kids to eat right early on is important. It affects their growth and development. And it impacts their health as an adult. But getting kids to eat more fruits and vegetables is easier said than done. Proximity is everything. When healthy foods are easy to reach, kids grab the sliced apples or baby carrots instead of a snack bar or a bag of chips. Keep those things far out of reach in a cupboard or a pantry.

Another way to encourage kids to eat well, is to do so yourself. Kids like to mimic and model your behavior. Five a day is the recommended number of servings of fruits and vegetables your kids should eat. It sounds like a lot, but it's not. Once you figure out what a serving size really is. A six ounce glass of fruit or vegetable juice is one serving, so is a medium sized piece of fruit, such as an apple an orange or a banana. About eight baby carrots is also a serving. Even a palm full of dried fruits counts as a serving.

Most of all, be creative, have fun. And involve them in the preparation and serving. And before you know it, your kids will be getting their five a day. And they'll be asking you for more of their favorite fruits and vegetables.