"By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge its rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant treasures." Proverbs 24:3

Get your kids to try a new fruit or veggie

Take them on a "special trip" to a farmers market or local produce store.
While you are there:
  1. Treat it more like a museum than an errand.  
  2. Tell them they will be able to choose something new to take home and try.
  3. Let them use their senses.  Discuss the sizes, textures, colors, and smells of the produce.  For example:  they can observe that some melons are rough and some are smooth.  
  4. Talk about the produce with a sense of wonder  Say things like, "I wonder what that tastes like."  "Look at how colorful these are!"  "Do you think these grow on a tree or in the ground?"  "It's amazing that God made so many different kinds of things for us to eat."
The funny-looking gourds of fall
5.  Laugh at the produce that looks funny or interesting.  (Like these gourds in the picture.)
6.  Let the kids ask lots of questions.  If you don't know the answer ask the store personell, or write it down to look up it up at home.
7.  When they are all done exploring let them pick out their special treat.
8.  If they don't want anything, that's ok!   Pick up a couple of extras in case they change their mind at home.  (Which they might when they see brother or sister eating their fruit or veggie and they have nothing.) 
9.  Let them rate it.  Make a chart with a rating system.  Whenever they try a new fruit or veggie they can mark it on the chart and rate it.   Click on the logo for printable fruit and veggie charts.  Fruits & Veggies—More Matters®

Our results:  My kids picked out two apricots, a honey dew melon, and a mango.  They did not like the apricots, they did like the melon, and they loved the mango.  They wanted to try more than one thing and this was one occasion I didn't mind giving in.  "OK, I guess you can pick one more."

Feel free to leave a comment and share you ideas on how to get kids to try new fresh produce...

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