Fruits constitute a fundamental part of infant feeding. They are a source of vitamins and minerals very beneficial for the growth of the little ones, and although they are sweet and appetizing many times children reject them or do not eat them as much as we would like.
Summer is an ideal time to awaken children's interest in fruit, as it offers us a great variety of flavors and textures. We give you then five keys to getting kids to eat fruit.
Always have fresh fruit on hand
If they see it, it will arouse interest and they will want to try. There must be always fresh fruit at home, in the fruit bowl, or in the fridge, in whole pieces, or cut.
At all hours: Offer a fruit for breakfast, also for dessert and snack. It may seem too much to you, but the key is to vary both the fruits and the way to offer them, it does not always have to be the whole piece. (Below we give you some ideas to prepare them)
Offer it in different ways
In the variety is the spice. If you don't like it in such a way, maybe the other one works. There is many ways to prepare fruits and all can be very attractive. The question is offer variety so they don't get bored of always eating the whole piece.
For example, fruit salad usually likes them a lot, so take advantage of fruit that has not been eaten to prepare one, also juices and milkshakes. Try once in a while with a chocolate and fruit fondue, or prepare homemade fruit ice cream, a cool snack that always appeals to you, and if you dare, you can even try adding fruits to a salad.
The more variety, the better
Since the baby begins with complementary feeding, fruit is one of the main foods of his diet. Always respecting his age of introduction, he offers a wide variety of fruit, depending on the season.
The first approach to fruit does not necessarily have to be in the form of porridge, but what is known as the Baby Led Weaning method. Offer the first fruits (apple and pear) cut into thin slices. If they are a little mature it will be easier for them to melt in the mouth.
Being in direct contact with food, manipulate them, touch them, discover new flavors and textures, arouses in the child the interest to continue discovering. It is a way of feeding but at the same time a form of stimulation.
Present it in an attractive way
The presentation of the dishes is key for children to accept new foods. Put a good dose of imagination when preparing your dishes. Let them enter through the eyes.
Prepare fruit dishes that are attractive to kids. Have fun to prepare and eat. You can put them to prepare these nice strawberries with apple faces for a different snack, and another simple tip: cut the fruits with shapes.
Set an example, eat fruit
Finally, a simple but the most effective advice: set an example. If you usually eat fruit, your children, most likely, will also.
You may like some more than others, but if you eat fruit every day at home, children assume it as normal. Parents, through example, are a mirror in which our children look at each other when building their own eating habits.
I hope these help you Five simple keys to getting kids to eat fruit, or that they eat more if they eat little. In any case, it is important to note that if you see that the child rejects the fruit, it is not necessary to force it in any way, nor use it as a reward or bribe. You have to have patience, a lot of patience and continue offering different alternatives, but without pressing.
