Skip to content
Veg Namesx35_FINAL_COMPLETE-Brussels Sprouts

Brussel Sprouts

All children hate sprouts right? Wrong! If your child has a strong aversion to bitterness, they may not come round, but many do enjoy them if they are prepared well. They are best not boiled or mushy, but by bringing out their sweetness through frying or roasting. Try tossing halved sprouts with oil and salt and roasting until going golden and sweeter, or just shred or grate them finely into a salad raw, or pan-fry those shredded sprouts in butter or oil like leeks, serving as is or topped with some grated Parmesan or crispy breadcrumbs. And remember, sprouts are always cheap, and actually taste sweeter after frosts, so might be tastier after Christmas!
Homemade,Roasted,Brussel,Sprouts,With,Salt,And,Pepper
understanding-veg_0006_understaing-veg---dk-grn

Understanding Veg

Our beloved brussels became popular in Britain towards the end of the 1800s and gained their name after the Belgian capital. In season September to March, they are not just a Christmas veg, and often taste sweeter after the first frost in January/February! The amazing Stuart Kettell once rolled a Brussels sprout to the top of Mt. Snowdon using only his nose – try searching online for a great video of his challenge.

nutrition_0006_nutriton---dk-grn

Nutrition

Sprouts are great for getting in your fibre and rich in vitamin C, K and folic acid. This makes brussels a great source of folate which helps to reduce tiredness and improve alertness.

YourFood_0006_your-food---dk-grn

Shopping Guide

Look out for a bright green colour on your sprouts that feel firm to touch. Top tip: for a sweeter sprout go for the smaller or medium sized heads.

storage_0006_storage---dk-grn

Storage

You can keep your Brussels sprouts in the fridge for a week when kept dry and in the freezer for longer. Blanch the sprouts in boiling water for 3 mins first, then leave to cool before laying on a tray and popping in the freezer for a few hours. From here you can throw them in a storage bag or container.

Serving_0006_serving---dk-grn

Serving Suggestions

You can boil, steam, or microwave sprouts with a small amount of water, however many kids prefer them less mushy and more caramelised by stir-frying or roasting. Just toss them in some olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper.

Coming In:

August

At Its Best:

September - March

Engaging-Kids_0006_Engaging-Kids-dk-grn

Engage

Here are some of our favourite ways to engage kids with Brussels sprouts:

YourFood_0006_your-food---dk-grn

Your Food

Find your go-to meals in our family favourites section and see what veggies work best with them.

We’ve gathered together 15 of the nation’s favourite meals and given you step-by-step ways to make small improvements, helping you to make healthier dinners the easy way, and even showing you which veg work best with which recipes.
 
Find out how to add more veg to your suppers here.
 
Brussel Sprout

If You Like…Try

Does your child enjoy sprouts? That’s great! Brussels sprouts are usually fairly bitter and leafy, so why not try a similar texture and/or taste…

Serving_0006_serving---dk-grn

Serving

The moments before food is offered can be a perfect opportunity for engagement that can help make it more likely a child will eat it!

The first thing to do is remove the pressure. If the veg doesn’t get eaten, it’s not the end of the world. There will be other days, other dinners, other chances. Fun is key here – try not to worry about mess, perfect table manners, or playing with food. Instead, focus on making the process of getting the food to the plates, readying the table, and the actual eating relaxed.

The best principles for success here are the Three Rs (role modelling, rewarding, re-offering) which you can read about here.

But there is one more way you can serve for success, and that is giving your child a role. You don’t have to do this every time, just encourage them in their strengths through it when you can.

Here are some of our favourite ideas:

Design a menu

Come up with a silly name or story for a dish

Help with making a meal plan and choosing veg for dinners or snacks

Help to serve up the meal on dishes, lay the table or create a centrepiece to be involved in the physical ‘serving up’ process




The Wonderful World of Veg

Check out our vegepedia. When to buy in-season. How to store them to keep for longer. How to engage children with each veg, and simple ideas of how to prepare and cook them for maximum taste and minimum waste. Select a veg…

Follow on social media