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Need tips to get your children to eat more vegetables? June 17 is Eat Your Vegetables Day. Read more about the research into the eating behavior of Dutch children here.

Tips to get your children to eat vegetables | HelloFresh

en-Tips to get your children to eat vegetables | HelloFresh

en-NL|SEO|rule-set

June 17 is International Eat Your Vegetable Day. Is it always pleasant at your dining table? How do you ensure that your child finishes his plate? <a href="https://www.hellofresh.nl/meelbox" title="Meal box">Meal box</a> company Hellofresh investigated this.

How do you keep it cozy at the table and ensure that your child eats his plate empty?

<h2>June 17 is International Eat Your Vegetable Day. Is it always pleasant at your dining table? How do you ensure that your child finishes his plate? <a href="https://www.hellofresh.nl/maalbox">Meal box</a> company Hellofresh investigated this.</h2>

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<h1>How do you keep it cozy at the table and ensure that your child eats his or her plate empty?</h1>

Almost a third of children finish their plate and three quarters eat more than half. A great score for Dutch families! Is it not always as easy at your dinner table as it is with these families? You are not alone, more than half of Dutch parents indicate that their children complain about the food, all have different tastes and preferences and that it is difficult to find the time to do the shopping and cooking.                    

and June 17: International Eat Your Vegetables Day

Most parents have difficulty thinking about what exactly they put on the table (41%), followed by introducing variation into the weekly menu (33%). Letting your child eat new things (31%), leaving the plate empty (30%) and letting them eat vegetables (29%) are also in the top 5 struggles of Dutch parents.

and-What are we eating today?

In the center and south of the country, half of parents think they have adventurous children at the dinner table, ten percent more than in the rest of the country. We also see differences per city. An adventurous child means they love unfamiliar foods. The most adventurous children live in Utrecht (54%) and the least in Maastricht (39%). Amsterdam kids are not doing too badly either, more than a fifth of their parents even call them 'very adventurous', while in Arnhem this is only 12%.

en-Utrecht has the most adventurous children

Two-thirds of Dutch parents say that their children have difficulty trying new things. Raw and cooked vegetables are by far at the top of the list! In Groningen and Maastricht, almost half of all children have no difficulty with a specific product group, and only a third of children there have difficulty with vegetables. While in Amsterdam half of the children prefer not to try new vegetables! So it's high time we look at how we can make that easier... 

and-Try new things? Vegetables are the hardest!

In the survey among all HelloFreshers with children, almost all parents indicated that life becomes a lot easier if their children eat well. Of course we immediately asked them how they do that, which 'tricks' work and which don't. We have listed the five best tips for you!

and-Eat your plate empty, including your vegetables! 5 Tips for Hopeless Parents:

Variation in the weekly menu is the second most difficult thing parents have to deal with, but still leaves 40% with empty plates. So it is definitely worth investing a little more time and effort! Did you know that 50% of Dutch parents cook with only 5-10 ingredients per week? That could be better! You make it easy for yourself, for example, by planning the menu for the entire week during the weekend. You can also save the leftovers and make a delicious fresh vegetable soup at the end of the week, or pie, pizza, there are plenty of dishes to use leftovers.

en-Tip 1: Variation in the weekly menu

A third of parents indicate that it motivates a child to finish his plate if he has helped with the cooking. Of course, this does not necessarily have to mean filleting the salmon or flambéing the crème brûlée, a child can quickly help with washing the carrots. If you want to be completely assured of success, let your child decide what to eat. Almost half of parents experience that this helps and 20% say that this also helps to let your child try new things.

en-Tip 2: Involve your child in the preparation

Do you think you are being smart by bribing your child? Extra screen time, dessert... only a fifth of parents indicate that this makes sense. Do you hide the beans under the meat? Or do you cut the pepper so small that it no longer stands out in the pasta sauce? Too bad: most children also don't fall for hiding or disguising vegetables (85%). 

en-Tip 3: Don't outsmart your child

Do you think you are being smart by bribing your child? Extra screen time, dessert... only a fifth of parents indicate that this makes sense. Do you hide the beans under the meat? Or do you cut the pepper so small that it no longer stands out in the pasta sauce? Too bad: most children also don't fall for hiding or disguising vegetables (85%).


Are you trying to please everyone and are you preparing a spicy curry for you and your partner, baked potatoes with fish and spinach for your eldest, and macaroni and cheese for your youngest? Save yourself the trouble, because no fewer than 35% of parents indicate that it helps if the whole family eats the same meal. What a great tip, you immediately have more time to think about variety and shopping. 

and-Tip 4: Everyone eat the same

Some children want to be fed, others want to eat themselves. Letting your child only leave the table when the plate is empty can help, but your child may then get negative associations with the meal, which of course you also want to keep pleasant. Children are often excellent negotiators, you may be able to make a good deal. Or make a game of it, spoon applesauce over everything, or maybe that extra screen time will help your child as a reward... Anyway, every child is different so you may have to try a lot first before you find your golden tip. Or just be patient, 50% of the parents interviewed indicate that they only started discovering new things and flavors between the ages of 15 and 25. So do you have a fussy eater? Who knows, maybe it will work out later... good luck! 

en-Tip 5: Don't give up!

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How do you keep it cozy at the table and ensure that your child eats his or her plate empty?

June 17 is International Eat Your Vegetable Day. Is it always pleasant at your dining table? How do you ensure that your child finishes his plate? Meal box company Hellofresh investigated this.

and June 17: International Eat Your Vegetables Day

and-What are we eating today?

en-Utrecht has the most adventurous children

and-Try new things? Vegetables are the hardest!

and-Eat your plate empty, including your vegetables! 5 Tips for Hopeless Parents:

en-Tip 1: Variation in the weekly menu

en-Tip 2: Involve your child in the preparation

en-Tip 3: Don't outsmart your child

en-Tip 3: Don't outsmart your child

and-Tip 4: Everyone eat the same

en-Tip 5: Don't give up!

Be surprised by the tastiest vegetarian recipes from HelloFresh!