Have you ever experienced running after your kids with a spoonful of green leafy vegetables trying so hard to entice them to eat it or at least convince them that their taste is as good as their effect on their health? I often play hide and seek, landing airplanes, funny faces and yet they keep their mouths shut as if afraid of the germs that threaten to come in.
I have not met one parent who did not have a problem with getting their children to eat vegetables. Just a few days ago, I witnessed one mom trying to coax her son to stop taking the lettuce out of the burger she bought him. I looked at them amusingly and turned to look at my son who was busy finishing his share of our food. He was eating everything, meat, onions, veggies, everything.
Not to say I have not had my share of cajoling and encouraging and maybe even some bribing just to get my kids to eat one more vegetable. Although I can’t really recall the last time I had to do it. I guess I have always been lucky or I must have done something right that my kids picked up on.
I think it happened when they were at that copycat stage, mimicking everything their parents and everyone around them would do. Being the food enthusiast that I am, my face turns very expressive whenever food enters my mouth. Be it yum, yuck or otherwise. When they saw that I was putting the icky veggies into my mouth and not spitting it out, they must have thought it was good for them and so started eating it as well. Then they started having favorites and by then it was easy to "force" other varieties to them, even when they did not like it. I say force because there are still moments when they are not in the mood to eat veggies.
Leading by example. The power of imitation. Now isn’t that the perfect example of taking advantage of something that can sometimes prove to be irritating?
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was not successful in trying to convince my second child. though he eats veggies today now that he’s 16, still he is considered carnivorous he he it’s very obvious he doesnt dig the taste of vegetables.
here’s wishing you will be successful influencing your kids.
bingskee – I was taken by surprised as I read 16. I was expecting something along the lines of maybe 7 or even 10. Hehe. I think it gets easier to convince them once they are older since they naturally will feel the effects in their bodies. I do hope though that my kids grow up still liking veggies at age 16. LOL.
You’re so lucky. My kids don’t want to even try and hubby and I eat vegetables a lot. My kids see us eating them. I don’t know where they got the impression it is yucky–maybe from the thought that veggies are plants?
mixednuts – They might have seen someone else then and that made more of an impression that your regular enjoyment of veggies. Sometimes I catch the kids copying actions or expressions that we as adults take for granted. And sometimes they turn out as truth for them. Like for green mangoes, they learned that it tasted “sour” just because they see me or others say “asim!” everytime we eat them.
My daughter does not like most vegetables. There are a few she will eat: broccolli, peas, edamame, mushrooms, cauliflower. Even then, there are some nights my husband & I find ourselves pretending to be “tree-eating dinosaurs” in order to ensure she has eaten a healthy daily serving. I will also blend boiled spinach together with bananas and sweet applesauce in order to make “shamrock smoothies.” She’s a good eater, but still we do have our moments of desperation. I don’t even bother trying to give her carrots, potatoes or onions. Some battles are not worth fighting.
Gloria MC – I laughed when I read “tree-eating dinosaurs”. I guess most parents do that in their own way.
Hi ApplesH. I think it’s individual taste. Among my kids, two of them just love veggies. Even the greens in sinigang for example (kangkong), they would eat. One of them wouldn’t come near with a ten foot pole.
How about fruits? That’s one way to get the micronutrients we need without forcing the issue of veggies.
Pinay MegaMom – Maybe it is individual taste. I can only hope my kids grow up and still like veggies. I remember when I was young, my mom had to force me to eat squash from pinakbet, now its one of my favorites.
As for fruits, yes – they do love that and I think its because fruits are normally of the sweeter or sour type than the bitter one that veggies are known for.