How To Make Kids Eat Vegetables: Marian’s Secret to Nutritious Meals

Marian Rivera is one blessed Mom. Her kids love veggies!

Both little ones are adventurous eaters who are always ready to try anything their supermom makes for them. Zia, the eldest, is even happy to eat difficult veggies like okra and broccoli! How does Marian get her kids to eat up? She makes veggies delicious of course!

Unfortunately, this veggie enthusiasm is not the norm in most Filipino households. Based on the Department of Science and Technology Food Nutrition Research Institute’s (DOST-FNRI) 2018 – 2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey, many Filipinos are missing out on nutrients because we aren’t eating enough fruits and vegetables.  

If your kids aren’t fond of eating vegetables, here are some techniques to try to encourage them. How does celebrity Mom Marian manage?

Marian set a rule in their household that every meal needs to have at least one vegetable dish. Since she’s always eating veggies, her kids see them as a part of mealtimes and not a chore to overcome.  

Another tip is to incorporate new vegetables into your kids’ diet or find new ways to cook or flavor them. Kids need to keep trying things many times to get used to new tastes before they accept them. 

At Marian’s house, they cook lots of different dishes with veggies and the kids love watching their mom experiment in the kitchen. Marian’s secret to making those veggies tasty is Ajinomoto Ginisa Flavor Seasoning Mix. 

With AJI-GINISA®, dishes become more meaty ginisarap! Marian’s family uses it in everything, from fish to eggplant. With food this good, it’s easy to get the kids to eat their veggies! One of Marian’s favorite recipes is Creamy Vegetables & Macaroni, check it out here:

 Creamy Vegetables & Macaroni

INGREDIENTS

1 Liter (1000ml) Water

200g Macaroni

1 Tbsp. (15ml) Cooking oil (and a little more for the macaroni)

1/4 cup (25g) Onion, minced

2 1/2 Tbsp. (30g) Garlic, minced

1 cup (75g) Cauliflower, florets

1/2 cup (45g) Shiitake mushrooms, rehydrated, sliced

3/4 cup (75g) Carrot, diced

1/2 cup (100g) Corn kernels

1/2 cup (50g) Red bell pepper, small cube

1 1/2 cups (370ml) Fresh milk

1 pack (8g) AJI-GINISA® Flavor Seasoning Mix

1/4 tsp. (0.5g) Ground black pepper

1/4 tsp. (2g) Salt

1/2 cup (35g) Cheese, shredded

2 tsp. (5g) Parsley (optional)

PROCEDURE

1. In a pot of boiling water, cook macaroni pasta according to package instructions. Drain, toss in butter or oil to prevent sticking, then set aside.

2. In a casserole, heat oil. Sauté onion and garlic until fragrant. Add cauliflower, shiitake mushrooms, and carrots. Mix well and cook for 3-5 minutes. Add corn and red bell pepper then cook for 1 minute.

3. Pour in milk and mix well. Let it simmer for 1 minute.

4. Add AJI-GINISA®, pepper, salt, and cheese. Mix well, then add the cooked macaroni pasta. Mix until pasta is coated with the sauce.

5. Transfer to a serving bowl then garnish with parsley and serve!

Every day, Marian is hard at work making meals her kids will enjoy while also keeping them healthy. She makes sure to season every dish with love and AJI-GINISA®. Eat Well, Live Well, just like Marian, with delicious and nutritious meals for the whole family!