Children can be extremely picky eaters, especially when it comes to vegetables. As a parent, it can be frustrating to watch your child turn up their nose at a plate of healthy greens.

However, there are plenty of easy ways to encourage your child to eat their vegetables without turning mealtime into a battleground.

1. Get Creative With Presentation

One of the most effective ways to get your child to eat their vegetables is to make them fun and visually appealing. Cut carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers into interesting shapes, and arrange them on a plate in a fun design.

Use bright, colorful veggies like cherry tomatoes and red peppers to add a pop of color to your child’s plate.

2. Try Different Cooking Methods

Some children may be turned off by the taste or texture of raw vegetables. Try experimenting with different cooking methods to find one that your child enjoys.

Roasting vegetables in the oven with a little olive oil and salt can bring out a delicious sweetness, while blanching vegetables like green beans and snap peas can preserve their crunchiness.

3. Mix Vegetables Into Other Foods

If your child is hesitant to eat a plate of plain veggies, try mixing them into other foods. Add chopped vegetables like carrots and kale to spaghetti sauce or homemade meatballs, or blend them into smoothies with fruit and yogurt for a healthy snack.

4. Make Vegetables a Staple

One of the best ways to ensure that your child eats their vegetables is to make them a regular part of their diet. Incorporate vegetables into every meal, and encourage your child to try new ones.

Over time, they may become more accustomed to the taste and start enjoying them on their own.

5. Get Your Child Involved in Cooking

Children are much more likely to eat something if they helped make it themselves. Get your child involved in the cooking process by letting them help wash and chop veggies, or even stir the pot on the stove.

They’ll feel a sense of pride and ownership over the meal, and be more willing to try new foods.

6. Offer a Variety of Options

It’s important not to force your child to eat a particular vegetable if they don’t like it. Instead, offer a variety of options and let them choose what they want to eat.

This can help them feel more in control and more likely to give new foods a chance.

7. Set a Good Example

Children learn by example, so if you want your child to eat their vegetables, you need to eat them too. Make sure that you’re including plenty of vegetables in your own diet, and your child will be more likely to follow suit.

8. Use Positive Reinforcement

Instead of punishing your child if they don’t eat their vegetables, try using positive reinforcement to encourage them. Praise them when they try a new vegetable, or offer a reward if they eat a certain number of veggies in a day.

This will help make mealtime a more positive experience for everyone.

9. Don’t Give Up

It can take some time for your child to develop a taste for vegetables, so it’s important not to give up. Keep offering them a variety of options, and encourage them to try new things. Over time, they’ll become more open to different foods.

10. Make Mealtime Enjoyable

Finally, it’s important to make mealtime as enjoyable as possible. Turn off the TV, put away cell phones, and focus on spending quality time together as a family.

This will help create a positive association with mealtime, and make your child more likely to try new foods.