Vitamin K Shots for Children

Vitamin K is found in green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach and lettuce. It is also found in broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Unfortunately, these are not foods that most children want to eat. Vitamin K is also found in oils such as olive, soybean and canola as well as foods that contain oils such as mayonnaise. Include these foods in your child's diet, and she will get plenty of vitamin K.

Overcooking vegetables can leach out nutrients. Resist the temptation to boil, mash or otherwise destroy that spinach to get your child to eat it. The fresher the vegetables, the better they are for your child. Involving your child in the preparation of the food may help her become more enthusiastic about eating it. Let her stir up a creamy dressing and dip mix using mayonnaise, and serve it with fresh vegetables from your own garden, a local farmer's market or the grocery store.

Even if you involve your child in the food preparation process, she still might resist downing a plateful of broccoli. Try dicing it and sprinkling some on a salad with creamy ranch dressing instead of leaving large chunks on her plate. Whip up a fruit smoothie with yogurt, strawberries and bananas and add some fresh spinach leaves to the blender -- she won't even be able to taste them. Add mayonnaise to pastas, sandwiches and dips, and cook foods in olive oil to add even more vitamin K to your child's diet.

Hiding vegetables in other foods is a time-honored tradition of moms everywhere, but sometimes it pays to be brave instead. Try something new -- your child just may love it. Kale, for example, when baked in the oven with a light brush of olive oil and a dash of dry dressing and dip mix, turns out delightfully crispy, making it a vitamin-rich alternative to greasy potato chips. Lightly brush Brussels sprouts with olive oil, then dust them with dry dressing and dip mix and roast them in the oven. Your children will devour them without even realizing that they are good for them.