Toddlers’ hidden veg products slammed

A nutrition expert has criticised the hiding of vegetables in toddler dishes - an approach often used by baby food manufacturers to get kids to eat their greens.

Freelance paediatric dietitian and registered nutritionist Judy More has claimed that hiding vegetables in toddlers’ food may put them off vegetables in later life, because they will be unfamiliar with them.

“It’s a challenge to feed toddlers vegetables, because of their bitter taste, but they will learn to like it if it’s part of their lifestyle,” says More. “Toddlers need to recognise food. I don’t think we should be hiding vegetables. It’s not fair - you wouldn’t like it hidden in your food,” she told attendees at the Westminster Food & Nutrition Forum Toddler Diet seminar last week.

However, food giant Unilever disagrees with this notion. “If getting children to eat fruit and vegetables results in tantrums and tears, it's time to get sneaky,” the firm’s website advises parents. “A bit of clever trickery will help you help them to eat a healthier, more balanced diet - and they'll never know you fooled them!”

Baby food manufacturer Annabel Karmel, which produces a sauce with hidden vegetables, claimed it was a great way to get children to eat vegetables. “This sauce makes them invisible and what they can’t see, they can’t pick out!” she said.

Sally Preston, md of baby food processor Babylicious was also unconvinced that leaving vegetables on show was the best way to go. “I get mixed feedback from parents on this, so I haven’t made my mind up yet,” she said.