Comments on: Kids Just Don’t Like Vegetables http://thedanafiles.com/2007/10/26/kids-just-dont-like-vegetables/ Where Current Events Aren't Clouded By Baby Powder Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:32:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: daisy http://thedanafiles.com/2007/10/26/kids-just-dont-like-vegetables/#comment-24574 daisy Sun, 28 Oct 2007 15:56:08 +0000 http://thedanafiles.com/2007/10/26/kids-just-dont-like-vegetables/#comment-24574 My grandmother did the same thing with me and green beans. I still won't eat them from a can. I will eat them if they are fresh and just barely steamed so they are still crunchy. Anything more and I just can't do it. I do eat a lot more veggies now tho than I did as a kid. I was lucky in the my daughter liked veggies and we didn't have that problem and she didn't seem to notice that I wasn't eating a lot of them (until she was old enough and liked them anyway). My grandmother did the same thing with me and green beans. I still won’t eat them from a can. I will eat them if they are fresh and just barely steamed so they are still crunchy. Anything more and I just can’t do it. I do eat a lot more veggies now tho than I did as a kid.

I was lucky in the my daughter liked veggies and we didn’t have that problem and she didn’t seem to notice that I wasn’t eating a lot of them (until she was old enough and liked them anyway).

]]> By: Michelle http://thedanafiles.com/2007/10/26/kids-just-dont-like-vegetables/#comment-24551 Michelle Sat, 27 Oct 2007 21:18:26 +0000 http://thedanafiles.com/2007/10/26/kids-just-dont-like-vegetables/#comment-24551 Oh no! They always say that we will turn into our parents one day! It is hard to avoid power struggles at the table, but we can never force a kid to eat. That is one place where kids can actually have a little control in their lives for a change - they can decide what does or doesn't go into their mouths. The best thing we can do is to keep giving them healthy options and eventually they will make the right choice. On my blog, I have been talking about this book, and its rival, The Sneaky Chef. I love that they offer good information about the nutrient content of certain ingredients and that they offer healthier alternatives to many other "typical kid foods." But I don't like that they are advocating dishonesty. Check out the article (http://whatscookingblog.wordpress.com/2007/10/08/is-deceptively-delicious-too-deceptive/) and see some of the discussion about balancing the act of getting our kids to eat well with being honest. Oh no! They always say that we will turn into our parents one day!

It is hard to avoid power struggles at the table, but we can never force a kid to eat. That is one place where kids can actually have a little control in their lives for a change - they can decide what does or doesn’t go into their mouths. The best thing we can do is to keep giving them healthy options and eventually they will make the right choice.

On my blog, I have been talking about this book, and its rival, The Sneaky Chef. I love that they offer good information about the nutrient content of certain ingredients and that they offer healthier alternatives to many other “typical kid foods.” But I don’t like that they are advocating dishonesty.

Check out the article (http://whatscookingblog.wordpress.com/2007/10/08/is-deceptively-delicious-too-deceptive/) and see some of the discussion about balancing the act of getting our kids to eat well with being honest.

]]> By: Dana http://thedanafiles.com/2007/10/26/kids-just-dont-like-vegetables/#comment-24550 Dana Sat, 27 Oct 2007 19:42:18 +0000 http://thedanafiles.com/2007/10/26/kids-just-dont-like-vegetables/#comment-24550 Suebob, I feel ya. I can't eat a lima bean unless it's in chili. (Wait. Maybe it's kidney beans that go in chili. I can't remember!) I tell Dawson that broccoli is a bunch of baby trees and it's the only way he'll eat it. I tried to say the same thing for cauliflower, but no deal. Suebob, I feel ya. I can’t eat a lima bean unless it’s in chili. (Wait. Maybe it’s kidney beans that go in chili. I can’t remember!)

I tell Dawson that broccoli is a bunch of baby trees and it’s the only way he’ll eat it. I tried to say the same thing for cauliflower, but no deal.

]]> By: Suebob http://thedanafiles.com/2007/10/26/kids-just-dont-like-vegetables/#comment-24527 Suebob Fri, 26 Oct 2007 20:54:43 +0000 http://thedanafiles.com/2007/10/26/kids-just-dont-like-vegetables/#comment-24527 Kids just think some things are yucky, but fortunately there a lot of different foods to eat. I didn't eat a raw tomato until I was over 25 years old. They just grossed me out. So did peas (mushy). But my mom got us to eat artichokes, asparagus, beets and other stuff by telling us that they were rare and valuable. She made it seem like a special treat to get them. She also called broccoli "trees" which made them fun to eat. Now I will eat any vegetable except radishes and big old lima beans (fresh baby ones are fine). Kids just think some things are yucky, but fortunately there a lot of different foods to eat. I didn’t eat a raw tomato until I was over 25 years old. They just grossed me out. So did peas (mushy).

But my mom got us to eat artichokes, asparagus, beets and other stuff by telling us that they were rare and valuable. She made it seem like a special treat to get them. She also called broccoli “trees” which made them fun to eat.

Now I will eat any vegetable except radishes and big old lima beans (fresh baby ones are fine).

]]> By: dana http://thedanafiles.com/2007/10/26/kids-just-dont-like-vegetables/#comment-24526 dana Fri, 26 Oct 2007 18:14:34 +0000 http://thedanafiles.com/2007/10/26/kids-just-dont-like-vegetables/#comment-24526 Mama K, I can't wait to see the photos of the recipes you try! Lotus Carroll, I agree that it's good to try to get kids to eat healthy foods like vegetables. I think I've only used sneaky tactics in desperation, just so that Dawson will eat something besides crackers and noodles! And yes, when I get the book, I'll write about what I thought! Patois, you and I can compare notes when we're done reading Jessica's cookbook! Mama K, I can’t wait to see the photos of the recipes you try!

Lotus Carroll, I agree that it’s good to try to get kids to eat healthy foods like vegetables. I think I’ve only used sneaky tactics in desperation, just so that Dawson will eat something besides crackers and noodles! And yes, when I get the book, I’ll write about what I thought!

Patois, you and I can compare notes when we’re done reading Jessica’s cookbook!

]]> By: patois http://thedanafiles.com/2007/10/26/kids-just-dont-like-vegetables/#comment-24522 patois Fri, 26 Oct 2007 16:23:43 +0000 http://thedanafiles.com/2007/10/26/kids-just-dont-like-vegetables/#comment-24522 It was over the vegetable wars that I realized my parents wouldn't beat me for not eating the dreaded peas. When I came to that realization at 7, I never ate another pea. Ever. Ever. I had to sit at the table for 30 minutes or so and not get any dessert, but that was too fine by me. I kept my vow not to force the kids to eat what they don't like. I've succeeded with one, who's now 10 and eats everything we eat. Still working on the other two getting to that point. But I've heard a lot about the book, so I'm going to pick it up. Thanks for the thoughts. It was over the vegetable wars that I realized my parents wouldn’t beat me for not eating the dreaded peas. When I came to that realization at 7, I never ate another pea. Ever. Ever. I had to sit at the table for 30 minutes or so and not get any dessert, but that was too fine by me. I kept my vow not to force the kids to eat what they don’t like. I’ve succeeded with one, who’s now 10 and eats everything we eat. Still working on the other two getting to that point. But I’ve heard a lot about the book, so I’m going to pick it up. Thanks for the thoughts.

]]> By: Lotus Carroll http://thedanafiles.com/2007/10/26/kids-just-dont-like-vegetables/#comment-24521 Lotus Carroll Fri, 26 Oct 2007 16:23:28 +0000 http://thedanafiles.com/2007/10/26/kids-just-dont-like-vegetables/#comment-24521 I've heard really mixed mommy reviews on the recipes in that book. Some love it, some say they taste absolutely horrible... suppose it's something one has to discover for themselves. My opinion is that there's nothing wrong with "mixing in" vegetables they aren't aware of, if they'll eat it that way. But I don't like the idea of "deceiving" my kids with their food. I think there's something to trying to teach a child to make wise eating choices, and modeling them as well. If they think they're only ever eating mac and cheese (even if you're hiding squash puree in it) how will they learn good food values? Maybe the best recipe is a little of both to balance things out and 'even the battle field.' Tell us what you think if you get the book! I’ve heard really mixed mommy reviews on the recipes in that book. Some love it, some say they taste absolutely horrible… suppose it’s something one has to discover for themselves.

My opinion is that there’s nothing wrong with “mixing in” vegetables they aren’t aware of, if they’ll eat it that way. But I don’t like the idea of “deceiving” my kids with their food. I think there’s something to trying to teach a child to make wise eating choices, and modeling them as well. If they think they’re only ever eating mac and cheese (even if you’re hiding squash puree in it) how will they learn good food values?

Maybe the best recipe is a little of both to balance things out and ‘even the battle field.’

Tell us what you think if you get the book!

]]> By: mama k http://thedanafiles.com/2007/10/26/kids-just-dont-like-vegetables/#comment-24519 mama k Fri, 26 Oct 2007 16:05:18 +0000 http://thedanafiles.com/2007/10/26/kids-just-dont-like-vegetables/#comment-24519 I like the book so far. I'll be posting some pics as I try out the recipes. My mom forced me to clean my plate at every meal too. It took me a long time to stop overeating just to make sure my plate was clean. I always said I'd never do the same to my kid, but never say never, right? LOL Found you via the blast. My entry is here: http://mamaknj.blogspot.com/2007/10/lay-off-jessica-people.html I like the book so far. I’ll be posting some pics as I try out the recipes.
My mom forced me to clean my plate at every meal too. It took me a long time to stop overeating just to make sure my plate was clean. I always said I’d never do the same to my kid, but never say never, right? LOL

Found you via the blast. My entry is here:
http://mamaknj.blogspot.com/2007/10/lay-off-jessica-people.html

]]> By: The Parent Bloggers Network » Deceptively Delicious Blog Blast - Just Eat It! http://thedanafiles.com/2007/10/26/kids-just-dont-like-vegetables/#comment-24517 The Parent Bloggers Network » Deceptively Delicious Blog Blast - Just Eat It! Fri, 26 Oct 2007 15:29:14 +0000 http://thedanafiles.com/2007/10/26/kids-just-dont-like-vegetables/#comment-24517 [...] Kids Just Don’t Like Vegetables [...] [...] Kids Just Don’t Like Vegetables [...]

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