Importance of Fruits & Vegetables for Children

Fruits and vegetables are a crucial component to any diet, and that also applies to children. While kids, if given the choice, may prefer a chocolate cupcake or sugary soda, regular daily servings of fruits and vegetables play a key role in their development. Fruits and vegetables have a number of vital nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Teaching kids to eat and enjoy them will help ensure they continue doing so into adulthood.

Nutritional Value

• Oranges and other citrus fruits are a good resource of vitamin C, an essential nutrient in human diets that helps fight a variety of ailments, according to WebMD. Many fruits and vegetables are loaded with fiber.

Good Habits

• Getting kids to eat fruits and vegetables early helps set good eating habits. If a child grows up regularly eating fruits and vegetables every day, they are more likely to carry those good habits into adulthood, when they don't have a parent or someone else preparing their meals. Finding ways to add these healthy foods to recipes children already enjoy can be a good way to increase their consumption. Pairing fruits and vegetables with a tasty but healthy dip can make them more appealing.

Snack Deterrent

• There's only so much room in a child's stomach, and if that stomach is being filled with healthy foods like apples, oranges, and carrots, it's less likely the child is also eating a significant amount of junk food. Unhealthy snacks can have remarkably high levels of fat, calories, sugars, and salts, while offering little to no productive nutritional value. Reaching kids to eat fruits and vegetables not only helps them eat healthier, but it can keep them away from detrimental foods.