If you have picky eaters, you’ve probably tried everything to get them to eat their veggies: new recipes, sneaking vegetables into meals, and making their meals into food art. It can be really frustrating, but no matter how picky your kids are, there are ways to encourage them to eat their vegetables without a ton of work and stress.  In this episode, I sat down with Nikki Dinki, foodie, chef, TV host, comedy writer, and author of More Veggies Please!: Easy Kid-Approved Meals and Family-Friendly Comfort Foods with Surprising Veggie Twists.” As a kid, Nikki Dinki was called “picky Nikki” because she was the pickiest kid around, living off only bread and cheese, even into her young adult years. She found a way to turn it all around and today, she’s helping parents find creative ways to add more veggies into their kids’ meals.  Nikki talks about her best tips to get kids to eat their veggies, her meat-on-the-side approach, and how she gets healthy meals on the table every night by using her freezer.  Welcome  1:52 Let’s talk about your story! 5:38 Do you think kids should be rewarded for eating their vegetables? 10:24 Why do you think it’s so hard for parents today to get their kids to eat healthy? 11:56 What should parents know that can re-assure them about feeding their kids? 16:37 You take a meat-on-the-side approach—explain! 20:43 What are your best tips for getting kids to eat their veggies? 23:21 We’re all so busy. What are your tips and tricks to get healthy meals on the table every day?  26:25 What are your favorite recipes from your book? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Julie mentions this recent study that suggests rewarding kids for eating their vegetables is effective.  Julie mentions Dr. Mark Hyman and his “condi-meat” approach. Nikki mentions the book, “Modern Freezer Meals," by Ali Rosen. Purchase Nikki Dinki’s book, "More Veggies Please!" Learn more about Nikki on her website NikkiDinkiCooking.com Follow Nikki on Instagram. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift.