‘Really worrying’: Why Aussie kids aren’t eating enough veggies … and what to do about it

Nutritionists are warning parents that their kids aren’t consuming enough vegetables, as new research reveals the ‘dire’ state of their nutrition intake – and what to do about it.

Aussie kids need to boost their veggie intake – and parents can help, says nutritionist Amelia Phillips. Picture: Tim Hunter.

It used to be you couldn’t leave the dinner table until you ate all your vegetables.

New research has found parents are now increasingly allowing their kids to decide how much they eat – but there’s a downside.

Most children aren’t consuming enough veggies, with a survey finding 81.4 per cent of children aged 12 and under are not meeting their daily vegetable intake – a result nutritionists have labelled “dire”.

The recommended daily serves are defined as “one cup or more” of veggies, according to nutritionists.

Those aged between 8-12 were shown to be at most risk, with 16 per cent consuming the adequate portion of vegetables per day.

Nutritionist Amelia Phillips has warned parents needs to do more to boost their kids’ veggie intake, after a study revealed they are not eating enough veggies. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Amelia Phillips, pictured with three of her four children: Charlotte 7, Angus 6 and Ella 4. Picture: Tim Hunter

It came as 78 per cent of parents revealed they let their kids take ownership of their food intake.

The study was based on a national survey of 1006 parents across Australia, commissioned by childrens’ meal company Go! Kidz.

Nearly half the respondents (48 per cent) let their kids choose how much of their meals to eat.

And only 10 per cent of kids were made to complete their meal.

About 29 per cent of parents surveyed had children who “naturally” ate the entirety of what was on their plate, while 5.2 per cent of parents admitted to “hiding” healthy foods discreetly in family meals.
Only 2.5 per cent of parents admitted to “bribing” their kids to eat, while 4.6 per cent said they “distracted” their kids into finishing their food.

Nutritionist Amelia Phillips said the results were “worrying” and there needed to be more education around “well-rounded nutrition” as “too much of a relaxed approach can compromise our children’s nutritional intake”.

“The recommended serve of vegetables for children is at least one cup per day,” Ms Phillips said.

“They really should be having five different coloured veggies, about the size of their fist.

“The stats are scary … and really worrying, particularly for growing bodies.”

Ms Phillips – a mother of four – said forcing kids to eat “large amounts of foods they don’t like just makes them dislike it even more”.

She said it takes up to 16 tries of a food before taste preferences are improved.

Given the rising cost of veggies, Ms Phillips advised parents to pick what is in season right now, and what is affordable based on price rises.

“Avocados are quite cheap right now,” she said. “Snap frozen veggies and fruit are really great – kids love packet food, they see it come out of a packet and they think it’s something special.”

Among her advice to parents is don’t give up when kids say they “don’t like” a food.

“Don’t have a dislike list, in other words – a lot of parents say, ‘oh they tried parsnip and they don’t like it, so I am not cooking it again’. Keep trying,” Ms Phillips said.

She said ultimately parents controlled the food that goes on the plate.

“It has to stay on the plate, whether they eat a large or small amount of it,” she said.

“What you’ll find is, one day they will just start eating it.”

Ms Phillips said she was “quite concerned” about how rising food costs would impact kids’ diets in the long-term.

“Put a smaller amount on their plate, but still encourage them to try it,” she said.

“If they don’t try it, pack it up as leftovers – blend it up and put it into a soup. Try and feed them in a way that you can use those leftovers.”

As for hiding veggies in pasta sauce: “If your kid is nowhere near getting their daily veggies, I don’t mind the idea of hidden veggies in pasta sauce … but it is kind of a Band-Aid treatment,” Ms Phillips said.

TIPS FOR PARENTS

1. Make it fun: Ants on a log (celery sticks filled with spreads such as peanut butter or cream cheese and covered with raisins), pigs in a blanket (healthy version), puzzle toast, veggie people. Have fun with it.

2. Make a “pile”: Sometimes they get overwhelmed with their plate so make a small pile of what you want them to try and encourage that

3. You decide WHAT goes on the plate, they decide how much they eat: Half the battle is getting kids familiar with the appearance and texture, not just taste. Even if they protest, you dictate what goes on that plate. they can choose how much of it they eat.

4. Snap frozen veggies: With food shortages and price hikes opt for snap frozen veggies such as broccoli, corn, peas, beans,

5 Go! Kidz childrens’ meal delivery service: Four star health rating, up to four serves veggies per serve, kids favourite meals done the healthy way.