Top tricks

Top tricks from parents to encourage children to enjoy healthy eating!

Fruit freeze

If you have any fruit that is unlikely to be eaten before it goes off, try liquidising it all and then freezing it as ice cubes. That way they are available any time and you can defrost a couple at a time to mix with yoghurt and create a home-made fruit yoghurt!
From Georgia of Sidcup

A-Z of fruit and veg

Have you tried every vegetable and fruit you have ever heard of? It could be fun, challenging and interesting for both you and your child to make a list of all the vegetables and fruits you can think of and try a new one every day. The A-Z of fruit & veg on our Great Grub Club website will help get you started! You could give a score out of 10 on taste, texture and appearance for each one you try.
WCRF UK nutritionist Nathalie Winn

Fancy a kebab?

Set aside some time to make fruit kebabs. It’s fun so children will enjoy making them and probably enjoy eating them too.
From Rashida of Blackburn

Here is a recipe you can try:

Fruity kebabs
Ingredients - makes 4
8 strawberries, halved
2 kiwi fruits, peeled and cut into chunks
1 banana, sliced into 1” pieces
1 small bunch of red grapes, seedless
2 nectarines, stoned and cut into chunks
A few sprigs of mint to garnish

Method
1. Thread the fruits onto wooden skewers, alternating different coloured fruit.
2. Serve the kebabs on a plate, garnished with sprigs of mint.

Serving suggestion
A small tub of fromage frais makes a great dip.
Young children may require help with cutting the fruit and threading it onto the wooden skewers.

Rewarding work

Make a fruit and veg reward chart. Each time your child eats a new fruit or vegetable, reward them with a sticker. Visit the Great Grub Club website for an A-Z of fruit & veg for some ideas to get you started.
From Fyesal’s mum of Walsall

A colourful plate

For a fun way to encourage children to eat a more varied 5 A DAY set up a challenge to have at least two different coloured vegetables or fruits on their dinner plates every day. It encourages them to eat a variety and gets them into a great habit early on. The plates look more attractive too.
WCRF UK nutritionist Nathalie Winn

Salad faces

See how many different types of salad faces your child can come up with using different salad vegetables.
From Emily of Hillmorton

Mystery mash

Put cauliflower or celeriac into mashed potatoes – a simple way to add an extra vegetable into the meal!
From Ashley and Emily’s mum of Derbyshire and Kia of Staffordshire

Fruit game

Cut up a variety of fruits into bitesize pieces. By tasting each piece, see how many your child guesses correctly with their eyes closed.
From Matthew and Charlie’s mum of Brockenhurst

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