My kids won’t eat veggies!

By on April 29, 2009
Does the picture of the boy remind you of a familiar scenario at home? Children deserve to benefit from the nutrients veggies give. Yet being a busy working mom to 3 kids ages 8, 11 and 13, who all have very contrasting food preferences, the task becomes even more daunting. My husband John and I are paying mortgage back home so giving up my job is far from being an option.

In the summer of last year, my parents, very much concerned with the frustration I was going through at mealtimes, decided to come visit for a couple of weeks. It was a very tiring time at work  so having my folks come to my rescue and bond with the kids while I take a back seat from the kitchen, offered a welcome relief! Mom’s cooking definitely turned things around. The days passed with me seeing a great improvement in how my kids enjoyed the veggie meals she prepared. "What was I doing wrong?" I asked myself.  When Mom and I were all alone by ourselves, I curiously asked her what tricks she pulled for my kids to finish up their meal. Her sage advice?

Observe
Kids get a hint from parents’ inconsistent behaviour. Mom said I tend to impose too much on the children to eat vegetables everyday. Yet at times when I don’t cook and John pinch-hits for me in the kitchen, he cooks nothing but meat. This can have some adverse effect on a child’s compliance to the order. John and I are guilty as charged!

Imagine
Cooking for a kid requires some thoughtful planning, sensitivity and creativity. Children’s taste buds are sensitive to strong flavours and therefore neutral flavors like cream, cheese, or sweet mayonnaise will not disappoint. Green salads are appreciated by children if sliced finely and topped with a mild sweet dressing. Big slices look less palatable. Also, giving funny names to it most often work! Kids have small teeth and chewing may be boring. Try putting the vegetables in a food processor  and season them up to make  a smooth cream soup of celery, asparagus or broccoli. This tiny piece of kitchen tool works wonders especially if you have kids to cook for.

Mashed pumpkin for example goes with milk or fresh cream and makes a good hearty soup kids will eat. Carrots perk up the tangy taste of tomato, roasted bell peppers bring about a sweeter taste than serving them raw. Expand the kind of vegetables your kids eat as their taste buds develop by encouraging them  to  try new ones. That should give you a clue as to what to cook next!

Samantha is an investment banker, an energetic mother of 3 and married to businessman John Green.  Her family has been living in Tokyo for 2 years now.

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