Helping kids to 5
Persuading some children to eat more fruit and vegetables can be a real battle! Try some of these ideas to add variety and fresh flavour to their food - without losing their interest!
Add chopped dried apricots and sliced fresh banana to their breakfast cereal, then finish off with a refreshing glass of fruit juice.
Try adding sweetcorn, mushrooms or chopped peppers to baked beans, and serve in jacket potatoes or on toast.
Dips and dunks with vegetables such as carrot sticks, peppers, cucumber and celery with a cheesy dip or yogurt make great party food, packed lunches or anytime snacks.
A handful of cherry tomatoes are easy to eat as a snack, and can be included in a packed lunch or picnic.
Add chopped celery and other vegetables to mince when making homemade burgers or Bolognese sauce.
Make a tasty fruit smoothie by liquidising yogurt and semi-skimmed milk with a favourite canned or fresh fruit, and let kids suck it through a thick straw.
Vegetable kebabs are fun to eat, cooked under the grill or on the barbecue.
Let kids sprinkle dried fruit such as apple, apricots and sultanas over breakfast cereals, or add to a pot of fruit yogurt. Also pop a mini box of raisins in their lunch box.
Use brightly coloured vegetables like tomatoes, peppers and sweetcorn to make cheery faces on pizza bases.
Sliced bananas in a currant bun or on toast makes a quick-and-easy snack more fun, especially with a thin layer of chocolate spread - as does pancakes stuffed with fresh or frozen fruit and half fat crème fraîche or low fat yogurt.
