Children can be notoriously picky eaters, and that can pose a problem. Some parents find it hard to have their children eat anything green or leafy, for instance. But instead of giving up and having your child only eat frozen food or sugary snacks, it’s important to try and break through this dietary prejudice, and conform, not through telling but by showing, just how good healthy food can be.

Does this mean you can never pick up a treat via the drive-through of your local fast food joint? Of course, not. Does it mean you should never let them eat desserts, or cookies, or the baked goods you’re so good at making? Not at all. But like anything, moderation and habits rule the day, and in this light it’s essential to make sure your children know the value of healthy eating and that complaining about foods that are good for them will get them nowhere. Let’s consider how to achieve such a thing:

Try Steaming & Roasting Vegetables

Steaming or roasting vegetables can provide a great deal of added flavor to them. It might just be that your children aren’t too interested in boiled broccoli, or kale that hasn’t been seasoned and is wimpy and boring. Now, we’re not saying you’re a bad cook by any stretch of the imagination, but it does seem like most of our childhood memories of disliking vegetables, or witnessing a sibling who didn’t, was because those ingredients may not have been prepared in the best way. Who can say no to roasted asparagus, seasoned well, with a small bit of butter? Your children won’t.

Try Vegetables As Snacks

It can be healthy to make snacks out of vegetables. Instead of giving them potato chips, you may show them just how delicious sliced carrots and hummus can be. You may also decide to show them a greek salad, such as with small crumbled pieces of feta cheese, sliced tomatoes, onions, and if they can deal with it, a pitted olive (this may not go down a treat but at least they’ll try it). Or, sweet potato chips can be a healthier alternative to the usual variety. Giving them an education in how beautiful and varied vegetables can be will achieve so much.

Include Your Children In Cooking

Of course, welcoming your children into the kitchen and showing them the benefits of cooking properly is a fantastic use of your time. With a recipe for corn salad, you can show them just how gorgeous a beautifully constructed meal can be with all kinds of vegetables, including the color, the varying tastes, and how easy it is to put together. Moreover, you can show them how good it feels to make something quick and simple but also delicious like this. They’ll also begin to cherish their time cooking with you, something that really does grow a bond between families over time.

With this advice, you’re sure to convince your children that healthy eating is not only a good idea, but fun, interesting, tasty, and much better than boring frozen carbs.