Making kids eat veggies: New book tells how
MANILA, Philippines — For parents of children who are becoming more picky eaters, book author and educator Mabi David believes training kids in their younger years to eat fruits and vegetables will benefit them in the coming years.
In an interview with Philstar.com during the launch of her book “Paano Kumain ng Kulay?,” Mabi said, “The sooner we shape healthy habits, much better, kasi mas madaling turuan ang bata, mas curious. So we want to start early.”
Available in bookstores and published by Adarna House, Me and My Veg Mouth and Greenpeace Philippines, the book features a poem by Mabi in Filipino and English paired with illustrations by Yas Doctor. It aims to educate children that colorful fruits and vegetables are a great source of vitamins and minerals.
“It’s about eating colors at a literal level. We like to encourage children to eat more fruits and vegetables, but we try to use colors as the theme of the book na parang you can actually taste what color from the color of fruits and vegetables. This is inspired by the idea that the colors in plant food actually determine their nutrient contents,” she said.
“I wanted the book to tap into the creativity and imagination of kids. How do color taste? How do they smell? Does this taste happy or sad? I used to do this with my nephew when he was very young and he had amazing and funny answers. And I would like to invite parents to do this sensory play with fruits and vegetables with their kids. It’s a great way to use curiosity to introduce healthy eating habits,” she added.
Recommended for kids six to eight years old, the book encourages parents to spend more time with their children when it comes to introducing healthier foods.
“People always say it is so hard to eat healthy. One of the easiest ways to make sure we get our nutrients daily is to ‘eat the rainbow.’ Plant compounds that make malunggay green, or carrots orange, or tomatoes red, are compounds that have nutritional benefits. So a plate with different colors, not just brown, and tends to be balanced and nutrient-dense,” Mabi assured.
