Vegetables. How can something so colorful, good for us and tasty cause so much havoc in so many homes? We know our children need to eat their veggies, but how do you get them off the plate and into their mouths?

"What an emotion-laden food!" says vegan chef Melanie Wilson, the editor and publisher of Vegetarian Baby and Toddler magazine. "We love to push them, and our kids love to push them away. But because vegetables are so important to a well-rounded diet and research shows that the earlier a food is introduced and the more often it's served the more likely a child is to prefer it later in life, it's important to keep offering vegetables."

Wilson offers these ideas for making vegetables more attractive to little ones:

• Kids love dips. Offer freshly-cut, raw veggies before dinner when kids are hungriest with a bowl of ranch dressing.
• Make a sauce. Cooked veggies taste infinitely better to kids when smothered in a creamy cheese sauce or garlic butter.
• Make smoothies. It sounds strange, but adding cooked carrots to a sweet smoothie doesn't really change the taste.
• Start a "one bite" rule. Institute a rule that children must take one bite – and one bite only – of each food on their plates. This is a good way to introduce new foods, and kids are often surprised at what they like.
• Plant a garden. Get your kids out in the dirt and show them where their veggies come from. Kids who garden are often more likely to try the vegetables they grow.
• Shop together. Let your children help you choose what to buy and cook in the produce section.
• Hide them! If all else fails, hide grated carrots or zucchini in muffins, or add vegetable purees to your soups.
• Never give up. It can take up to 10 exposures before a child learns to like a new vegetable.
• Last but not least, eat them yourself! Sometimes the key to getting our kids to do anything is letting them see you do it first!

  	Veggie Strings 1 small zucchini 1 small yellow squash 1 tablespoon olive oil Butter or pasta sauce, to taste Peel the zucchini and squash to make long strands like spaghetti (chop these strings to prevent choking in younger toddlers). Sauté in the olive oil until tender. You may season with pepper or garlic if you choose. After they're cooked, top the strings with butter for a yummy side dish. Or top with pasta sauce for a new twist on everyday spaghetti! Toddler-friendly Cream Corn 1 tablespoon butter or margarine 2 cans whole kernel corn, drained 6 ounces low-fat cream cheese Salt and pepper, to taste Melt the butter in a skillet. Add the cream cheese and corn and cook, stirring, until cheese has melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Fried Zucchini Zucchini, sliced or cut into sticks Flour 1 egg, beaten 1/2 cup milk Cracker crumbs Vegetable oil for frying Salt and pepper Put some flour in a bowl. Put egg and milk in another bowl and mix. Place cracker crumbs into a bowl. Put the vegetable oil in a deep saucepan or fry pan and heat to 375 degrees F or until a few crumbs of cracker fry quickly. Dip zucchini into flour, then egg mixture, then cracker crumbs and fry until golden. Drain on paper towels. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot with ranch dressing. Crazy for Carrots Drink 1/2 of a 10.5-ounce package firm silken tofu 1 cup orange juice 1 banana, cut up 1 carrot, shredded Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend on high speed until very smooth. Pour into a tall glass and serve with a straw. Tip: To make the shake more fun, serve with a cleaned, peeled carrot. The kids can use the carrot to stir their shake, and then eat it!

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