Eat More Veggies for St. Patrick’s Day and Beyond

Most Americans aged 2 and older do not eat the recommended amounts of vegetables. Vegetables provide vitamins and minerals and most are low in calories and fat, so it is important to add more vegetables to your meals and snacks. Try to vary your veggies and eat the colors of the rainbow for more nutrients.

5 Ways for Children to Eat More Veggies

• Add spinach to a smoothie.
• Dip raw vegetables like broccoli, carrots, tomatoes, bell peppers or cauliflower in hummus, yogurt-based dip, or another low-fat dip. Raw vegetables are considered choking hazards for young children. Make raw vegetables safe by chopping finely or cutting into thin strips before serving them.
• Make mini pizzas by using whole-wheat English muffins as the crust and top with pizza sauce, low-fat mozzarella cheese, and chopped veggies.
• Create bugs on a log by choosing celery, cucumber, or carrot sticks as the log and top with peanut butter or another type of nut butter, and raisins or cranberries for the bugs.
• Let children help with food prep, based on their age and skills, and they are more likely to eat foods they normally do not like.