News Feature: How to entice kids to eat veggies
By Ma. Idelia G. Glorioso
Do your kids hate eating vegetables?
Vegetables are good sources of vitamins, minerals,
and fibers.
Vegetables are very nutritious since they contain
good amounts of beta-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin B complex.
These vitamins protect the eyesight, keep the skin
smooth and clean, prevent the occurrence of bleeding gums and easily- bruised
skin, and increase the body’s resistance against infection.
Encouraging kids to eat a variety of foods
especially fruits and vegetables can be easy by following these simple tips:
Be artistic. Make dishes enticing. Colorful foods
presented in different shapes are more appealing to kids.
If the kid dislikes veggies, serve them at the
early part of the meal when he or she is hungriest.
Cut veggies into bite-size pieces and combine with
the child’s favorite food.
Hide grated vegetables in foods that they love to
eat such as pastas, rice dishes, muffins and bread.
Remember the 3rd message of the 2012 Nutritional
Guidelines for Filipinos (NGF) says “Eat more vegetables and fruits everyday to
get the essential vitamins, minerals and fiber for regulation of body
processes”.
For more information on food and nutrition,
contact Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research
Institute, Department of Science and Technology, Gen. Santos Avenue, Bicutan,
Taguig City, Metro Manila, Tel./Fax:
8372934, 8373164; FNRI-DOST website: http//www.fnri@dost.gov.ph,
email:mar_v_c@yahoo.com, mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph; FNRI Facebook page: facebook.com/FNRI-DOST;
FNRI Twitter account: twitter.com/FNRI-DOST. (FNRI-DOST S&T Media
Service/PIA-Caraga)
