Why do kids hate veg? The surprising science behind it – plus 7 tricks mums and dieticians swear by

From sprouts being declared “disgusting” to carrots launched across the table, veg battles are a parenting rite of passage. We dig into why kids hate vegetables so much — and reveal the clever fixes experts and mums swear by.

I hate a vegetables! I'm not eating this!

Published: August 16, 2026 at 8:46 AM

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The cutlery’s set, the broccoli’s steamed, but the moment those florets hit the table, not even the right coloured bowl can save you.

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Your child simply hates vegetables – and they’re certainly not alone.

Only 9% of children aged 11 to 18 currently meet the ‘5 A Day’ target for fruit and vegetables, with most eating a daily average of just 2.8 portions.

And at Christmas the veg hating reaches peak intensity if you dare to suggest your kid tries that festive classic – the Brussels sprout!

But is science or defiance to blame?

Experts say a dislike for veggies comes down to a combination of factors including biology, not just bad behaviour.

“There is a strong genetic influence underlying how much children like vegetables in early life, but this is combined with environmental influences as well,” explains Alison Fildes, Associate Professor in Psychology at the University of Leeds.

So, what’s really going on when your child flicks their peas across the table or gags on their sweet potato? Our experts reveal how genes affect our relationship with vegetables and what we can do about it without losing our cool (or our cutlery) in the process.

Why don’t kids like vegetables?

Child is very unhappy with having to eat vegetables. There is a lot of vegetables on his plate. He hates vegetables.

Vegetables haven’t always had the best reputation, but they do pull their weight nutritionally.

Lucy Upton, a paediatric dietitian, founder of The Children’s Dietitian and author of The Ultimate Guide to Children’s Nutrition, calls them a “powerhouse” of fibre, vitamins and antioxidants.

According to the NHS, we should be aiming for five portions of fruit and vegetables each day; however, as a society, we seem to be falling short.

The Veg Power Market Research Report, released last month, reveals 64% of parents say their child (aged 5 to 11) eats two or fewer handfuls of vegetables a day, while 7% have none at all.

But why are so many kids saying ‘no’ to veg?

Several studies prove that children can be born with a predisposition to dislike certain types of foods, including vegetables.

A 2014 study, led by Dr Fildes, found genetics play the largest role in children’s preferences for nutrient-dense foods like vegetables. Meanwhile, the environment is more influential for snacks, dairy, and starches.

Although greater liking for sweet tastes and decreased preference for bitter tastes appears to be innate and universal, children still vary in the extent which they prefer these qualities.

Dr Fildes

“It is these individual differences that we have shown arise due to a combination of environmental experience (such as early life exposure) and genetic variation.”

Research has also identified a genetic sensitivity to bitter tastes like those found in vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, and kale. This may explain why some children with this sensitivity reject so many veggies early on.

Fussy eating appears to be linked as well. A 2016 study shows kids who dislike veg in their formative years share common genetic factors with fussy eaters (fussy eating itself is also believed to be genetic).

There’s another, more primal theory around ‘neophobia’ (rejection of unfamiliar food) that can help us understand why some kids are reluctant to experiment with vegetables, too.

“Researchers have suggested children’s reluctance to try vegetables specifically, may be an adaptive response to the fact that plant toxins are particularly risky when it comes to potential for poisoning,” explains Dr Fildes.

Beyond this, vegetables tend to be less sweet with textures that can be off-putting for little ones, like the sliminess of cooked leeks or the seeds inside a tomato.

Will my child hate veggies forever?

The good news is that even if your child was born with a predisposition to dislike certain vegetables, their preferences aren’t set in stone.

“Just because fussy eating behaviours are under strong genetic influence in early childhood, it doesn’t mean that these behaviours cannot be changed,” says Dr Fildes.

This is where exposure comes in.

“Genes are often dependent on environmental exposure, such that genes can have a stronger effect, or no effect, depending on the environment,” she says.

For parents, this helps explain why the grassroots approach to weaning, and food experimentation generally, focuses on repeated exposures.

While this alone won’t stop your child from throwing their carrots on the ground, Dr Fildes reminds parents that it’s important not to give up—no matter how messy your floor is.

Mind your mouth! How we talk about food matters

Health, eating and food with mother cooking in kitchen with nutrition, vegetables and care. Home, lunch and healthy diet of asian family with young daughter tasting green veggies with mom.

Despite our best intentions, what we serve our kids is only part of the story. The energy at the table and the language we use can be just as powerful.

“The moment you say, for example, ‘if you finish your peas, you can have your ice cream’, you are up valuing the ice cream, but what you're also doing is down valuing the peas and the vegetables,” explains Upton.

“I would try not to bribe, try not to over-encourage or persuade,” she says.

Using neutral language to describe vegetables can also help, as children will naturally copy our behaviour.

For example, phrases like ‘that was a big taste’ are less judgemental than ‘was that disgusting?’ and prevent reinforcing negative beliefs about food.

What not to do if your kids refuse vegetables

If your little one is adamant that veggies are the enemy, it’s unlikely to be parenting fail you think it is. In fact, it’s quite normal for kids to go through some kind of veggie rebellion.

“Parents often feel a huge amount of blame, or can't decipher why children won't eat these foods, and they feel, ‘oh, my God, it's because I didn't do baby-led weaning, or it's because I didn't give them, you know, 20 exposures’,” says Upton.

I've never met a mum who's had a straightforward journey with food, even if their child's a fantastic eater.

Lucy Upton

That said, there are some things caregivers might be doing that are inadvertently making the process harder for kids (and us as mums!).

“The absolute worst of the worst would be forcing them; taking control, removing your child's autonomy and basically making them eat it,” says Upton.

For example, telling kids to stay at the table until they’ve finished can lead to negative associations around mealtime and the foods they’re leaving on the plate.

Overwhelm is another big one to avoid. Overloading plates can put kids off, so small portions—even as few as one or two peas—can make the experience more enjoyable and achievable.

In most situations, feeding kids is about patience, reading their individual cues and trying to relax (which is often half the battle, I know).

However, while an element of fussiness is to be expected, if your child consistently refuses to eat and you’re finding mealtimes impossible, reach out to a healthcare professional for support.

7 tips from mums to help kids enjoy veg

When it comes to kids and vegetables, textbook weaning, gentle parenting, and mindful modelling can be a great start. After that, most families tend to find their own rhythm through trial and error.

Here’s what UK mums say helped their kids (eventually!) enjoy their veggies:

  1. "Without fail our kids will eat more fruit and veg if we just put a little platter out. We don’t ask them to eat it, we just put it out near whatever they’re doing or playing and they will help themselves." — Jennifer Rivers, mum-of-two, Swindon
  2. "I give veggies fun names such as ‘dinosaur trees’ for broccoli or ‘rainbow crunch’ for peppers. This playful twist gets them curious enough to try, which can be the hardest part!" — Karen Farrell, mum-of-two, Welling
  3. "We eat the same meals together as a family to expose them to lots of different vegetables. If they don’t want to try their own, some of mummy’s or daddy’s might do the trick." — Lucy Riley, mum-of-one (with another on the way), Cirencester
  4. "The only thing that gets my boys to eat veggies is by pretending they are daddy’s friends and telling them we don’t want them to eat them. Like, ‘ooh that’s daddy’s friend Steve, don’t eat Steve!’ They find it hilarious to eat it then." — Lucy Miles, mum-of-two, Bexleyheath
  5. "I give early exposures of the whole vegetable and offer baby-led as well as purees. Then, when the fussiness starts, I hide them (blitz, blitz, blitz)." — Rebecca Burton, mum-of-three, Welling
  6. "We make pizza quite a lot. I cut up a load of vegetables and they stick it on. They eat more raw than on the actual pizza itself!" — Eleanor Hill, mum-of-two, Ross-On-Wye
  7. "If in doubt add cheese! When I make a little finger food sandwich, I put puree broccoli with cream cheese and my son loves it." — Rachel, mum-of-one, Twickenham

Veggies for dinner tonight? A final word

A lot of veggie avoidance may be down to biology, but with gentle guidance and repeated exposure, even genetically cautious eaters can learn to enjoy new flavours, including that festive nemesis – the Brussels sprout!

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Your child might think they hate vegetables right now, but more than likely they’ll grow to love them—and one day it won’t even matter what colour bowl you serve them in.

Authors

Hannah Silverman

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