“Do play with your food!” An overview of effective strategies for increasing vegetable acceptance in young children

Most people know they should be eating around five pieces of fruit and vegetables a day. This is an important public health message – increased consumption of fruit and vegetables is associated with lower calorie intake, reduced obesity and a lower prevalence of several diseases (including certain cancers and cardiovascular disease). Diets rich in fruit and vegetables are also associated with better cognitive performance in children, as well as greater psychological health and well-being in later life. However, whilst many children will happily consume a range of fruit, getting children to like vegetables can be a real struggle for many families.