Okay I follow a lot of blogs most are American and every now and then one of their ‘unique’ ideas pop up. Now I’m not saying its wrong I just don’t think it’s necessarily the right solution. So yesterday I was reading one of my favourite blogs and its was posting how to make kids like their vegetables. A commen problem Im well aware of. Initially they went on to write about how to get the kids involved in growing the vegetables which does work a treat but their ultimate solution. Trick them. They (the writer) went on to write how they add butter and salt and a little more butter to the vegetables (fine I think…to a point) then a commenter wrote how she mixes chocolate with the vegetables…what the heck? Tricking them is indeed the answer they think. Now that kind of doesn’t make sense to me. They hide it away in other foods. Cauliflower in cake, zucchini in cup cakes, telling the kids that the squash that is laced with butter, sugar and salt is pop corn…the kid will only be slightly confused when he rocks up to a movie theatre on his own for the first time don’t you think?
Now I’m all for loading up the spaghetti, chilli mince and stew with vegetables but seriously whats the point of hiding the vegetables just to avoid the inevitable argument that they must be having. Have the argument only make sure you win…if the kids don’t eat the veg if he doesn’t even try them; they will go hungry. Well that’s the rule in my house. I certainly don’t have the time to slave in my kitchen as my child’s short order cook to make them meals that hide everything that is good for them. What happens when they are adults…Ummm…honey whats that orange thing on my plate? And that green thing…is that’s safe to eat? That’s not what my momma use to make.
So the rule in my house. My FIFO kids have to try the vegetable by try they must eat the whole portion on their plate. If they eat all of it and still don’t like the veg fair enough and that goes for all foods that I cook. They are also aware that they are entitled to nothing else after dinner if they don’t eat their vegetables. I won’t make them anything else special and there will be no treats. If they refuse their dinner. They don’t eat. We don’t make a big deal. They just go hungry they aren’t going to starve between dinner and breakfast. However if they do eat all their dinner we make a big deal, man you going to run so fast tomorrow or B1 I think your muscles are as big as daddies. We often compare muscles half way through dinner…as you do.
The biggest thing I found helpful was talking about what each food was good for what part of the body. Superheros are massive in our house so if Spiderman didn’t eat that meat which is full of protein he wouldn’t be able to climb the buildings the way he does…which equates to B1 not being able to climb trees if he doesn’t eat his meat. Broccoli is good for your heart so to run fast you need to have a good healthy heart that sort of idea. Pretty soon they are munching away with out question. I know I would rather do a little investigation into what foods can do for each part of body than loading it up on sugars and salt and having a grossly overweight child who is confused as to what the hell a miniature tree is doing on his plate when he finally has to see a dietician because his momma was unprepared for a little strong parenting at dinner time.
So I wrote my comment, a little similar to this; I was trying to be helpful to that poor woman that has to be ‘inventive’ to get her child to eat vegetables. I would hate to be that inventive every night to appease a two year old. It must so freaking tiring. Anyway they haven’t published nor have I heard back from them.
Have a fantastic Monday my lovelies, it’s a public holiday here so I have one more blissful day of all my favourite people under one roof. Then life will return to the unwanted normal.
Xx Deb
PS Im not saying my idea is right but it works for me…no fussy eaters in this house..the odd hungry one maybe but thats their choice not mine.
