Should You Force Your Kids To Eat Food They Dislike?

They don’t crib and break into tantrums when I give them any of the foods but they just don’t like fruits. I do believe that they will come around and I am not going to pressurize them or force them. What are your food struggles with your child? 
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My kids eat nutritionally packed meals with lots of nutrient-dense meals. Be it seasonal foods, local foods when we travel, comfort foods or literally whatever is available. Yes, the last 3 months has taught us to do that as well.

They don't crib and break into tantrums when I give them any of the foods whether it is sonth ke laddoos, amla juice, baingan bharta, white butter, bajra rotis or even a simple dal ice when we have been camping.

While they are extremely easy with all foods there is one thing that they don’t eat and that is fruits. And while I tried all of it presenting it attractively, plating it well, changing form, sneaking it in, it just didn’t work after they were 3. My kids just hate the smell of the banana and just refuse to it. The family joke is that I ate too many of them so they just dislike it. As they grew older the battle gets tougher.

What the last 12.5 years have taught me is

Respect my child’s opinion
We experiment with healthier swaps and try it out like a family
Plus we ensure we write a meal plan together as a family, so everyone's favourite is included

When they have a sugar craving, I just let them indulge so they don't feel deprived and sometimes I make something with replacements like dates, jaggery and 100% maple syrup.

Constantly talk to them and reason with your kids. When you reason with them and tell them well you aren’t eating this so the nutrition your body needs has to come from somewhere, they get it. 

When I think of the 'ideal meal plan' for my family that would keep their immunity up I think of all the learnings from @rujuta.diwekar and my two moms. 

I do believe that they will come around and I am not going to pressurize them or force them. Let's respect them and make sure we give them nutrient-dense foods, that are simple, local and why they enjoy. What are your food struggles with your child? 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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