As a largely meat-eating nation, vegetables rarely make it to our list of favourite foods — barring French fries, or course. Be it fast-food, desi cooking or any other culinary menu, meat continues to reign supreme as is evident from the plethora of non-veg recipes that inundate our food channels. The poor little greens and its siblings only come to the fore — read rescue — when one is compelled to stick to a strict diet or have to stay off greasy food when suffering from some ailment. But ask someone to reduce their meat intake to twice a week voluntarily, and s/he will probably give you a look that would be enough to turn you into a... well, vegetable.

Yet, they are there. Quietly doing their duty of keeping us healthy and providing us with nutrition that keeps us going. The importance of including a portion of vegetables in our daily diet cannot be stressed enough, not just because they are low in calories, but also because we feel fuller after eating a bowl of vegetable, and they help regulate our bowels like no other food group. They continue to be a good source of potassium and vitamins, and of course, dietary fibre.

Besides, vegetables help to maintain a healthy cholesterol level, keep our eyes sharp and skin soft and supple and fortify our immune system.

However, to go into the details of their nutritional value would be redundant since the internet is replete with reasons why the greens of all shades (and a few other colours) should be the mainstay of our regular diet. Vegetables are not just a healthy option but also easy to prepare. One does not have to live in the kitchen 24/7 as is the case when cleaning, cutting and cooking meat. Imagine being able to do so much more in that time and conserving that much more energy.

Unfortunately, such reasons, logical as they may seem, fail to makes sense to children, and perhaps a few adults as well. Mothers have wailed at their child’s adamant refusal to munch on the greens, and have spent sleepless nights planning recipes that might entice their kids into at least digesting a few spoonfuls of the perceived ‘sworn enemy’.

Kids usually build a psychological barrier against vegetables because they are pushed into eating them. Therefore, by treating the veggies as any other food group, parents might end up with better results. Many mothers resort to bribery, which does not always yield the expected consequences. Others opt to minimise the ‘impact’ by cooking veggies in pastas, noodles, fried rice, etc. But there are times when even such methods don’t pay off, and the clever children simply sort out the veggies from the ‘real’ thing, and toss the former aside.

However, there are a million and one creative ways and colourful presentations that can go a long way. One way to make kids eat vegetables is to cook them as soups and even smoothies. Yes, you read it right, smoothies. Simply toss some boiled vegetables in a blender with a few herbs and mild spices. Once in the bowl, add a blob of butter or cheese to enhance the flavour.

Psychologists also suggest that children usually eat anything that’s served to them when they’re hungry. So perhaps the best time to put the raw vegetables on the table is when your child’s stomach is growling. A blob of hummus or a sweet and sour dip might do the trick. Potatoes don’t always have to be fried; mashed or baked potatoes also work wonders, especially if seasoned in a little butter or cheese.

Also, a little encouragement goes a long way, so every time your child chooses a veggie, let him/her know that the choice is being appreciated. It also helps if the parents themselves follow the practice of eating at least one portion of veggies with every meal. Enlist the children’s help when cooking so that s/he looks forward to eating what they helped prepare.

The meaty delights will continue to beckon, and it would be too cruel to give them up completely (what’s life without kebabs and chicken tikka, after all?). However, it does not do us any service to underestimate the power of vegetables and the fact that a certain portion should become a permanent fixture in our regular diet. And here’s a thought for all those who still turn up their noses: the future Madam Pataudi happens to love vegetables!