Getting kids to love veg.... and a recipe for Garlic Cauliflower....

I'd count my self as being very lucky. My daughter is a good eater. People have often commented on how fortunate we are that she will try most things and enjoys lots of vegetables and healthy foods. I would argue though that this is not all luck. When she was a baby and we were weaning her I remember reading that children need to try a new taste 10 - 15 times before they like it. Of course some things they will love straight off - but this works right through childhood and I have often used it as my mantra. I'll never force her to eat something she dislikes, but if there is something new on her plate I at least want her to try it. If she doesn't like it she doesn't have to eat it all, as long as she has tried it. And keep re-offering the things they don't like that you want them to eat. If you persist you may well be amazed that in time it begins to be eaten.

My Tips to getting kids to eat veg or new foods:

1) Don't expect kids to eat a whole portion of somthing new. Offer a small amount along with other things. Encourage them to try it - but do not make them eat the whole portion if they dislike it.

2) Offer a range of vegetables with your meal. I like to offer my little girl plenty of options and often she will eat small amounts of a variety of veg whereas being offered a larger portion of one type of veg would have been less successful. Kids get bored easily!

3) Perisit in re-offering the things you know they dislike. Even if you just give them one slice of carrot, get them to have a bite and if they still don't like fine at least they have tried it. By persiting I have got my little one to love things she initially had hates against.

4) Start early... I have been offering a variety of veg since weaning to my little girl and have kept doing so.

5) Set a good example trying to get my daughter to love veg has also meant I have started to eat better myself by tring to set a good example. You can't expect your kids to wolf down thier greens if you clearly avoid them and would rather be down the chip van or in the line at MacDonalds.

6) Offer both cooked and raw vegetables. Lots of kids go through a stage of prefering raw vegetables. I'm happy if my daughter prefers to have her brocolli raw occasionally and am happy to cook ours and leave a raw bit for her.

7) Try offering raw veg with healthy dips as a regular snack. My daughter now views hummus and raw veg sticks as a treat to celebrate.

8) Most kids prefer if their cooked veg still has some texture. Go "al dente" rather than cooked to a mush and you'll be amazed how nuch better they will eat it.

9) Don't be afraid to season vegetables. Although I don't cook with added salt -I do flavour my food with seasonings. Cumin is a lovely gentle spice to use and we love it on roasted vegetables. Garlic is wonderful to add a tasty flavour and its amazing how many kids adore the taste of garlic.

10) Don't offer an alternative. If they don't like thier dinner- don't cook something else. Like it or lump it. You are not a short order cook. I make a family meal every night and that is what we all eat. I know it sounds harsh but believe me it works and pretty quickly too.

I was over at my freinds house for dinner the other night and she made her new garlic cauliflower recipe for me. She had made it when she was craving garlic bread but did not want to eat that nuch bread. So she stumpled on this. I have tweaked it to use fresh garlic and a few other touches. Suffice to say my daughter loved it and went back for second helpings...

1 head of Cauliflower - chopped into smaller florets.
4 cloves of garlic (regular or you could try smoked garlic for a delicious twist.)
A small buch of fresh flat leaf parsley.
A gernerous drizzle of olive oil.

Crush the garlic, chop the fresh herbs and mash to gether with a pestle and mortar. Add your olive oil and drizzle over your cauliflower in a roasting dish. Shake to spread the seasoning around and bake in a hot over (about 180c) for about 20 minute until going golden in places.

I think htis would also be lovely with brocolli!