Parent’s often complaint that their little ones do not eat vegetables. Do you know that teaching about vegetables to kids from an early age can encourage children to eat them and enjoy the amazing benefits of these healthy vegetables? This is one of the reasons why we learn the vegetables’ names for nursery class and kindergarten.
Below we have shared a list of vegetable names for you to teach your children.
What Are Vegetables And Why Are They Important?
The term vegetable refers to any edible portions of certain herbaceous plants that are either eaten fresh or prepared in several ways to be eaten. Vegetables are available in a wide variety of colours, flavours, shapes, and textures. They are not just a good source of vitamins and nutrients but are also a good meal choice for kids and adults to maintain a strong and healthy lifestyle. Let’s look at some of the benefits of eating vegetables for children.
- Vegetables promote healthy growth and development.
- Vegetables help to boost the immune system.
- Vegetables are rich in numerous vitamins and minerals, like vitamin C, folic acid, etc.
Why Should Young Kids Know About Vegetables?
Knowledge gained is never wasted. Therefore, there are many benefits to teaching children about vegetables. Continue reading to learn about these amazing benefits:
- Learning about vegetables helps children to add new words to their vocabulary.
- Knowing about their veggies encourages children to eat these healthy foods.
- Learning the names of different vegetables helps them to recognise their food.
List Of Vegetables Names In English For Kids
Vegetables come in a myriad of colours, tastes, and textures! They are also an excellent source of vitamins and nutrients, both cooked or raw, which makes them a perfect meal choice for children and adults alike. Below are the names of vegetables in English with pictures to teach your child.
Vegetable Names Chart For Kids
Common Vegetable Names
Below are some common vegetable names for kids to read. These are vegetables that we see and eat every day. If you go to a market to buy some vegetables, the chances of one buying these vegetables are quite high.
1. Peas
Peas are one of the most popular green vegetables. Peas contain a good amount of fibre and antioxidants and are an excellent source of Vitamins A, K, C and Manganese.
2. Potato
The most loved vegetable by children and adults alike, potatoes are root vegetables. Children love to eat french fries made from potatoes.
3. Cabbage
Although cabbage comes in colours like white, green and purple colour, green cabbages are the most commonly used ones. This vegetable is an amazing source of Vitamin K, C and B6.
4. Onion
An onion is a bulb-shaped vegetable which grows under the ground. This vegetable is low in calories and high in calcium and vitamin C.
5. Capsicum
Also referred to as bell peppers, capsicum comes in colours like green, yellow and red. Capsicums are highly rich in vitamins A and C.
6. Cauliflower
Cauliflower contains a cluster of flowers or an inner part that we eat. This vegetable helps to fight cancer, improves cardiovascular health and maintains a healthy brain function.
7. Beetroot
Beetroot is deep purple in colour and is highly nutritious. This vegetable is an excellent source of carbohydrates and comprises 99% water.
8. Spinach
Spinach has dark and large green leaves, which are widely eaten as a vegetable. This nutritious vegetable helps to decrease oxidative stress, improve eye health, and prevent heart disease and cancer.
9. Broccoli
Broccoli is a green-coloured vegetable that is eaten boiled or cooked. This vegetable is packed with vitamins and minerals and also helps protect against certain types of cancer.
10. Corns
Corn is rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals. It is considered both vegetable and cereal grain and is usually white or yellow in colour.
11. Pumpkin
A pumpkin is round in shape with smooth, slightly ribbed skin. This vegetable is generally deep yellow to orange in colour.
12. Bottle Gourd
Bottle Gourd is also referred to as calabash. This vegetable is a commonly cultivated gourd having a variably shaped fruit with a hard shell.
13. Eggplant
Eggplant, also referred to as brinjal, is high in nutrition and is consumed as a vegetable. This vegetable helps with blood circulation in the heart due to its essential components such as bioactive compounds, potassium, fibre and vitamin B6.
14. Carrot
A carrot is a root vegetable usually red or orange in colour. This vegetable is rich in protein, iron, vitamin C and potassium.
15. Lotus Stem
Lotus stems are the edible parts of the lotus flower, which are found underwater. These are usually crunchy, fairly sweet, and flavoured like a water chestnut.
Other Vegetable Names That Kids Should Know
| Apple Gourd | Cluster Beans | Drumsticks |
| Bitter Gourd | Coriander Leaves | Fennel |
| Black Carrot | Curry Leaves | Green Beans |
| Green Onion | Jack Fruit | Lady Finger |
| Mushroom | Peppermint | Pointed Gourd |
| Red Cabbage | Sweet Potato | Turnip |
| Kale | Ginger | Banana Flower |
| Garlic | Elephant Yam | Taro Root |
| Leek | Water Chestnut | Black Beans |
| Arrow Root | Amla | Shallot |
Different Types Of Vegetables
Do you know that vegetables can be divided into different types? Yes! Let’s look at some vegetable types and enhance our little one’s knowledge.
1. Flower Vegetables
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
- Artichokes
2. Leafy Vegetables
- Cabbage
- Spinach
- Lettuce
- Coriander
- Mint
- Kale
- Fenugreek
- Dill
3. Root Vegetables
- Carrot
- Turnip
- Radish
- Beetroot
4. Tuber Vegetables
- Potato
- Ginger
- Turmeric
5. Fruit Vegetables
- Cucumber
- Pumpkin
- Tomato
- Capsicum
- Corn
- Beans
6. Bulb Vegetables
- Onion
- Leek
- Garlic
- Fennel
7. Stem Vegetables
- Asparagus
- Lemon grass
- Celery
- Swiss chard
Games And Activities That Will Help Your Child Learn The Vegetable Names
Are you looking for some activities and games to teach your child about vegetable names? Here we have covered some fun activities that your little one will surely love.
1. Flashcards
Take out a print of commonly used vegetables and paste them on a card. Now show these flashcards to your child, one by one, and let them guess the name of the vegetable.
2. What’s In My Plate
Serve your child a variety of vegetables on a daily basis and ask them to guess what’s on their plate today. This game will improve your child’s conversation skills and will also encourage them to learn the name of vegetables.
3. Play Dough Vegetable
Children love playing with play dough. Use this opportunity, and ask your child to make a vegetable using their play-dough. You can simply keep the real-life vegetable, like a potato or a tomato, in front of them and ask them to copy the shape using play-dough.
4. Pick Up The Vegetable
Take a big tray or a basket and keep different vegetables available at home in it. Now, sit with your child and say the name of one vegetable present in the basket. Your child needs to pick up the right vegetable.
5. Vegetable Painting
Your little one is going to love this activity. Take a plain sheet, some painting colours and a few vegetables like a potato, lady finger, carrot, etc. Cut the vegetables from between and ask your child to dip them in the paint and press them on the paper to make beautiful vegetable patterns.
6. Vegetable Sensory Bin
Get some plastic fruits and vegetables of small size. Take a bucket and add flour to it. Mix the plastic fruits and vegetables in the flour. Ask your child to only take out vegetables from this sensory bin and not the fruits. You can also ask them to name each vegetable they take out of the sensory bin.
Also Read:
Fruit Names in English for Kids
Number Names for Children
Food Names in English for Kids to Learn
