Promoting Fruit and Vegetables in Young Children: What Advice Can Pediatricians Give to Parents?

Fruit and vegetable (FV) intake has been linked to greater micronutrient intakes, lower risk of cardiovascular diseases, lower risk of certain types of cancer, and healthier weight across different age groups.Furthermore, bioactive compounds in FV have been associated with reduced risk of inflammatory responses that are implicated in several conditions, such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and dementia.1,3 While the benefits of FV intake are well recognized, children’s intakes remain below the current recommendations, with vegetables being particularly problematic due to their less preferred taste…