How Toget a 21 Month Old Back into Eating Vegtables?

Updated on September 23, 2008
J.B. asks from Moscow Mills, MO
21 answers

how toget a 21 month old to eat vegtables again.

He ate vegatables all the time and all the sudden he will only eat.Peas and carrots
Does anyone have any advice on how toget him back into eating more vegtables.Then just peas and carrots?

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Thanks everyone with the awesome advice. I will try everyone's idea untill I get my little guy back into his vegtables.Thanks

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.D.

answers from St. Louis on

He sounds like he's just going through a stage. Don't worry about it. Peas and carrots will do for now. Don't say anything to him about it and when he gets ready he will eat other vegetables.I have 4 grown sons and I've been through an seen it all. Kids usually outgrow these things.If he liked a lot of vegetables in the past then he will again. Trust me.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

My 20 month old son use to eat veggies all the time and now avoids them on his plate. In my mind, the important part is getting veggies down him! =)
I mix veggies (even if I have to be 2nd foods again) into everything! Mac-n-cheese, applesauce, pasta sauce, whatever we are eating. At least he is getting the nutrients. I will con't to reintroduce veggies until he will take them, but I know he is getting them one way or another!
Best of luck!

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

V.G.

answers from St. Louis on

Congrats on having a peas and carrots eater. As for the other vegetables; use sauces/purees made from them that are different colors and textures. Play the color/texture game. Does the airplane and hangar game still work?

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.R.

answers from Joplin on

just keep reoffering them over and over, and i'd mix them in with peas and carrots at first to kind of disguise them. but don't be too upset if it doesn't work...he's at that age where food jags start. he may only eat pb&j for the next six months, lol, and it's perfectly normal. good luck!

S.L.

answers from Kansas City on

How about hide a few of other types in with the peas and carrots? Peas and Carrots are rather sweet. So I'm not surprised that he's going after these. Just mix a little bit of the other veggies in one at a time and hopefully it will be a phase he gets past soon.

Suzi

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.M.

answers from Kansas City on

The only way I can get veggies down either of my girls (3 and 20 months) is in soup. They love grilled cheese sandwiches and they love to dip things so they dip the sandwich in the soup and usually will eat the soup too. I like the Campbell's Chunky soups and they will also eat plan old tomato soup. My 3 yr old has even been asking for just the soup recently. We prefer the cream soups but experiment with all of them and you will probably find one or two that he likes. Don't pass one up because you think it might be to spicy or something for him. Let him try it anyway and decide for himself.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.V.

answers from Topeka on

Babies and toddlers mimic what they see in their homes, so if you have an older child who doesn't eat veggies, or if Mom and Dad are picky about veggies, then the baby won't eat them either. I don't know your situation, but you might want to look into what the other family members do and don't eat.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.S.

answers from Columbia on

I would suggest letting him dip veggies in mustard or ketchup. My 22 month old son was always great at eating veggies...still better than most...but a little pickier.
One of his favorities is edammame...a soy bean.
He loves steamed asparugus in asiane salad dressing. And loves avocado. Perhaps letting him help you pick them out at the store.
Or you could try hiding it in foods...like baked chicken...dip in pureed sweet potatoes, then dip in bread crumbs and bake.
One main thing we do is start with veggies and then move onto the main course, without letting him see what else he gets to it.
Good luck1

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.C.

answers from Kansas City on

I'm not sure I agree with hiding the vegetables-- he'll never learn to like them because he won't even know he's eating them. I think it would be better to keep offering them, along side the vegetables that he likes (not mixing them because that may keep him from eating the things he likes). I try to give my kids (6yo & 26 mo.) two different vegetables each night, and I try to make sure that at least one of them is something they are likely to eat. (Also, the less I "encourage" her to eat something, the more likely she is to eat it)

This doesn't mean that you have to cook 2 new vegetables every night. I've found that we usually have leftovers, so say I cook green beans one night and we have about half left over. Then the next night, I cook carrots--we finish off the green beans and eat about half of the carrots. The next night I cook one new vegetable and we have the leftover carrots-- so I'm only cooking one new vegetable each night, but my kids get two different ones on their plates (hopefully my 26mo will eat at least one of them).

If you just keep offering a variety, eventually he will eat a variety. This worked well with my 6yo and she loves all kinds of vegetables (even lima beans-- yuck!) PS-- Both of my kids love to have frozen vegetables for snacks, especially frozen peas, corn & green beans (the beans might be a bit tough for your 21mo). They're like mini popscicles. Maybe not something that an adult would choose to snack on, but who am I to argue?

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.H.

answers from Kansas City on

Try veggies that he can dip. My little girl will eat just about anything that she can dip in mustard, ranch, ketchup, etc.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.L.

answers from St. Louis on

Trust me their taste buds change on a cycle keep offering different foods and eventually he may latch back onto a few he likes.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.L.

answers from St. Louis on

At that age, my son loved a recipe I came up with. I would take a variety of garden vegies and puree them into a sauce, lightly season it with Italian seasoning, add a small amount of water if necessary, add a tablespoon of olive oil or coconut oil, add less than a teaspoon of honey, and cook rice in the sauce. It turned out something like Spanish rice, but with Italian flavor, much like spaghetti. My son just loved it and I could switch up the vegies without any fuss.

Also, if your child likes potato soup, you can always toss in other root vegies such as turnips, kolrabi, and yams. Once they are cooked, just puree the vegies and return them to the broth. Other vegies add color and flavor. Some people like to garnish a potato soup with green onions. I find that kids prefer very thinly sliced celery sprinkled on top. I have even made 'potato' soup without a single potato, unless sweet potatoes count. Pumpkin soup is another fun idea and it is the season for it.

Also, cooking green beans brings out a bitterness in them that children can detect better than adults. Try giving them raw green beans and sugar snap peas. They are much sweeter to the taste when raw. Don't confuse snow peas with sugar snap peas. Snow peas are flat and sugar snap peas are plump. There is a huge difference in flavor. A creme cheese or peanut butter dip can add to the fun.

I also found that I could toss a variety of vegies in with macaroni and cheese. It was common for us to serve mac and cheese with tuna and mixed vegies.

Hope this helps. Bon Appetite!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.B.

answers from Wichita on

I would definately offer the veggies first. If that is not the issue then I always cooked mine with either chicken or beef broth. Drain the liquid out of the can or just add it to the frozen like you would with water. It actually adds a nice flavor. For the really picky eaters (trust me I have 3 of them) they like it when I mix it with melted cheese. It really isn't half bad. It is becoming a tradition. My 7yr old prefers soft veggies only. My 5yr old likes them crunchy. My 2yr old.....well we are still trying to figure her out....LOL!! These are some suggestions that I have done. Sometimes cooking them with butter and add just a tbsp of sugar to kind of sweeten it works sometimes with my kiddos. I do canned veggies! Good luck!

~S.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.K.

answers from Kansas City on

I think it's the age! My son is the same way. You could do
worse-peas and carrots aren't bad choices. I ended up trying
veggie burgers and veggie chicken patties, and my son loves
them. Especially if they are covered with ketchup! (too bad
ketchup isn't considered a vegetable!)
Anyway, I tried the Boca brand and the Morningstar as well and
he loves them both.
Other than that you can occasionally offer something new to
him and he may try it out of curiosity one day and throw it
on the floor the next. Welcome to the 'twos'!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.D.

answers from Springfield on

my two year old did the same thing. i found that if i give him his veggies first on the plate by themselves he eats them, but if i give him his veggies with his fruit and entre all on the plate, his veggies are always left over. just a suggestion.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.V.

answers from St. Louis on

I have two little ones and another on the way. My first born is my picky eater. He only likes a few kinds of food so when you have a picky eater you have to learn to be sneaky. Sneak in some V8 in his juice, or finely chop some veggies into mac and cheese. The only vegatables my son currently admits to liking are broccoli and corn, and I am ECSTATIC that he likes broccoli! He has never admitted to liking any vegatable before other than corn, so for him to add one to his list of foods he likes is great. Other vegetables get mixed into his other favorite foods like pastas, mac-n-cheese, even into the batters of my baked foods, even into brownies! ..where ever I can sneak in some veggies!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

P.P.

answers from Topeka on

You're very lucky he's eating peas and carrots - those are vegetables, after all! My almost 3 year old grandson seldom eat veggies at all - maybe a carrot or a cucumber stick. His does like to dip things in Ranch dressing - we've gotten him to eat several things that way - even meat

Things will change - my toddler book says your son it going through a normal phase. Just keep putting it in front of him - even 15 times - don't make a big deal about it - only offer it once each time - eventually he will try them and probably start eating. That's where we are now and Ewan actually took a piece of corn out of his mixed veggies the other evening!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.P.

answers from Kansas City on

J.,
I agree with the others. We use the bite rule with my older son, he has to eat at least 3 - 4 bites of everything on his plate before he can get up (we're more flexible on somethings but not on veggies or fruit). Also Juicy Juice makes a fruit and veggie combo drink that tastes like fruit, you can get coupons online if you sign up at their website. I give my sons their juice mixed half with water and ice (1-2 cups a day max). Good luck, my 21 month old son is more picky too.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.S.

answers from Topeka on

He sounds like a perfectly normal almost 2 year old to me. Hide the veges. Puree them and put them in everything you can: i.e. nut breads, cakes, meat loaf. I used to worry about that all the time until I started sneaking them in. It'll be years before he comes arond to liking them. Good Luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.W.

answers from Kansas City on

I agree with the re-offering them... Show that you are eating them and do not offer anything in their place. I know my middle son does that with tomatoes still at the age of 13. He likes them one week and the next, forget it...

Good luck.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.G.

answers from Columbia on

Here are three great articles for you to read. None of them are very long, and each of them are worth reading.

Some things I think the articles talk about are having your toddler help you in the kitchen and choosing meals. He can wash vegetables, pour ingredients, shake spices, etc. He can hold onto the fruits and veggies in the grocery store cart. Basically, he'll be more interested in trying new things if he is more familiar with them and if he helped prepare them. Also, you can give him a choice of two things: "Do you want corn or sweet potatoes with dinner tonight?" You can also offer either peas or carrots that you know he will eat along with whatever side he picks. If he chose it, he's more likely to eat it.

However, as some of the other moms said, at least he is eating peas and carrots. That's great so far. Remember, it can take up to 12 times of introducing something before some kids will try it. I know you said he used to eat these things before, but it may be more of a picky toddler thing now, and he is probably trying to show some of his own authority in the matter, which is perfectly normal. That may be why letting him choose between two other items may be helpful. Also, try not to get into power struggles with him. That could cause him to resist even more. Just keep offering, eat different kids of veggies yourself, and don't make a big deal in front of him about him eating his veggies. As you and the rest of the family are eating your veggies, you can casually mention things like how green beans, etc. help you grow big and strong.

Here are the articles:

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/T030800.asp "Feeding Toddlers: 17 Tips for Pleasing the Picky Eater" It has good ideas for introducing new, healthy foods to toddlers.

and
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/T040200.asp "ABC's of Teaching Nutrition to Kids" I thought this one was especially good because it teaches parents how to make learning about healthy food fun for kids. It talks about how to educate kids so that they make healthy choices on their own later on and so they know which kinds of food are healthy and why. The only thing I didn't agree with was that he suggested rewards, but everything else was pretty good advice. The article talks about referring to "grow" foods for kids. Your son is not too young for this. The earlier you start, the better.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/health/healthspecial2/1...

Best wishes, and great job for making sure your kids get their vegetables!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches