Maintaining a healthy diet for growing children has always been a challenge for most parents. According to providers like Fruitezy, who source fresh fruits and vegetables, it is necessary to instil a healthy and organic diet in kids.

In particular, young children are at that developmental stage, where their curiosity frequently influences their food choices. Their attention span is quite quick that when either one of their senses is not hooked with the taste of a new type of food, they instantly reject it.

On the other hand, when fruits and vegetables are prepped right and paired with the right dose of creativity, making organic and healthy snacks, a kid’s favourite becomes a breeze.

Introducing Fresh Fruits to Picky Eaters

• There are dozens of fruits that parents can let their toddlers try. Some of these fruits include apples, blueberries, apricots, avocado, cherries, grapes, cantaloupe, and honeydew. Experts advise giving kids small portions of fruits to keep them from getting too overwhelmed by the new sensation caused by the distinct taste of their tasting fruit. Let things get messy and allow the child to explore the food with their hands as well.

• Creativity also plays an important role. Parents can use cookie cutters to produce tiny portions of the fruits they are serving. Playing with the elements of shape and colour and incorporating it in fruits captures young children's interest. Aside from cutting fruits in interesting and eye-catching shapes, parents can also use their cooking skills to bake or create meals using fruits as a base. From a simple banana pancake to a more sophisticated banana cake to the apple muffin to the more baby-friendly mashed avocados and mangoes, the key is to think outside the box.  Children are very visual individuals, so stimulating their eyesight when introducing new food groups increases their curiosity and willingness to try it.

• Setting an example is also a great way to encourage kids to eat more fruits. If they see that their parents, siblings, or schoolmates are happy eating different kinds of vegetables and fruits, they will feel more compelled to try some themselves. Avoid eating chips, candies, or chocolates in front of kids as it contradicts the purpose of adding fruits to their regular diet.

• Check for any allergic reactions. Safety precautions against unknown allergic responses to specific types of food are also among the reasons why it is more advisable to feed smaller portions of new food to young children. The tendency is some allergies are only discovered when the patient is exposed to the allergen.

• Don’t introduce the same type of fruit several times. Otherwise, the child might grow tired of that particular fruit or all fruits for that matter. Changing it up every so often makes it more exciting for the child to taste new organic food variants.

• Check where these fruits are sourced and how they are handled. Avoid pesticides and chemically induced fruits. Organically grown fruits are always safer and better for children to ingest. Look for suppliers of fresh fruits and products such as Fruitezy. If possible, ask fellow parents for some recommendations on where to buy or acquire fresh fruits.

Parents should not overlook finicky choices in a child’s diet. By taking an active role in incorporating healthy food alternatives in a kid’s daily diet, their apprehensions about vegetables, fruits, and new types of food gradually diminish.