Shocking Survey Says That French Fries are the #1 Vegetable Consumed by Toddlers

According to a new survey published by the Nestlé Research: Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study, 27% of toddler aged children do not consume a single serving of vegetables on a daily basis. What they do consume instead are french fries. In fact, french fries are the number one vegetable being eaten in that age group.

The findings of this study are so important because by age two, most toddlers have developed eating habits that will extend into their early adolescent and adult life. These dietary habits can last a lifetime, so it is vital that parents educate their children on the importance of healthy eating at an early age.

This decrease in vegetable consumption has led to decreased levels of iron, vitamin D, and fiber. Since 2002, there has been a 18% decrease in iron levels, a 25% decrease in appropriate vitamin D levels, and a 10% drop in fiber consumption in children aged 6 to 48 months old. On the other hand, sodium levels have significantly increased, and sugar-sweetened beverages are drunk regularly. In fact, 45% of 2 to 3 year olds drink sugary beverages on a day to day basis!

Sometimes it is hard to please a picky eater, especially when it comes to convincing your child to eat fruits and vegetables, but here are some helpful tips that may help! Now is the time to introduce healthy eating habits to your toddler!

Looking for veg-packed recipes that are kid-friendly?

If you are having a tricky time getting your child to eat their daily serving of vegetables, we have some tasty and age appropriate recipes on our Food Monster App that may do the trick!

Jack-o-Lantern Stuffed Peppers

Image Source: Jack-o-Lantern Stuffed Peppers

These Jack-o-Lantern Stuffed Peppers by Jesse Lane Lee have been carved to look like Jack-o-Lanterns, making them a fun and nutritious meal for your young ones! They are not only packed with fiber and vitamins, but they are seasonally appropriate too!

Pumpkin Grilled Cheese

Image Source: Pumpkin Grilled Cheese

What kid doesn’t love a Pumpkin Grilled Cheese sandwich? This grilled cheese by Kirsten Kaminski is extra special because it is not only healthy and delicious, but is loaded with iron, fiber, and vitamins thanks to the addition of pumpkin!

Wild Mushroom and Kale Lasagna Roll-Ups

Image Source: Wild Mushroom and Kale Lasagna Roll-Ups

Wild Mushroom and Kayle Lasagna Roll-ups are a great way to sneak in calcium-packed dark, leafy greens. This recipe by Paris Marash, is kid-friendly, fun to make with the whole family, and quite nutritionally dense!

If you’re looking for some more nutritions french fries, check out How to Make Perfectly Crispy French Fries Without Frying in Oil.

For more like Nutritious Plant-Based Meals Every Kid Will Love, we recommend downloading our Food Monster App, which is available for both Android and iPhone and can also be found on Instagram and Facebook. The app has more than 10,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes, and subscribers gain access to new recipes every day. Check it out! 

Lead Image Source: Jason Lam/Flickr