Introducing dark green vegetables from early on

Here at Little Tummy we really love our veggies! But why are they so important in our diets and how can we help our little ones to love them too?

Let’s start with a few healthy facts!

• Veggies are packed with vitamins and micronutrients, such as potassium, folate (folic acid), vitamin A, and vitamin C. Filling your little one’s stomach with veggies will support growth and development like no other food group.

• They are also abundant in fibre. Our healthy gut bacteria need a lot of fibre to thrive and be happy. Vegetables are the best source for different kinds of fibre and a great way to boost your little one’s gut health.

• They are naturally low in fat and sugar. While this is nothing you need to worry about right now, all the food you introduce at a very young age will be accepted and liked later on as well. The first year of life is, therefore, a great time to start a lifelong love for veggies.

• There is such an enormous variety of vegetables... and variety is what makes life interesting! You can prepare veggies in so many different forms. There is always something for everyone.
  
  

We have all heard (and experienced) the stories about toddlers tossing veggies. Why is that?

We are all born with a preference for specific tastes, one of them is (surprise, surprise) sweet and the other one is salty. At the same time, we have a dislike of bitter and sour tastes.

Researchers think that this is because sour and bitter tastes are associated with unripe or poisonous foods.

Hence, babies and toddlers usually love to eat banana or apple sauce but are much more sceptical of vegetables like broccoli or kale.  

The good news is that babies can quite easily get used to vegetables.

The best way to introduce bitter tasting vegetables to your little one’s diet is to start as early as possible when weaning. Getting babies and toddlers used to vegetables is hard work but one you will not regret! 

Want to see more helpful weaning tips from Dr Sophie? You'll love this post.