NHL used to be such a good eater.  He would order pizza with broccoli and mushrooms.  Not because we promised him dessert, mind you, but because he liked broccoli and mushrooms.  Then he would proceed to eat every veggie and fungal item on his plate.  He also once wanted a taste of some spicy vegetarian chili I had ordered.  I wavered, afraid to give him spicy foods, but he liked it.  He wanted another bit and another and another.

Sometime around three or four, though, his culinary horizons collapsed inward.  Suddenly, vegetables were avoided and spicy was shunned.  About the only healthy thing he would eat was fruit.  We would implore him to eat veggies to no avail.  We tried sneaking them in, but he kept finding us out.  He, sadly, inherited stubbornness from somewhere.  (*whistles innocently*)

Recently, though, he appears to be rediscovering the joy of trying new foods.  He fell in love with broccoli awhile ago, but, on one of our rare trips to McDonald’s, he decided to try BBQ sauce on his chicken nuggets.  He loved it.  That led him to try the sweet and sour sauce that came with his “Chinese chicken nuggets” (our code name for “Sweet and Sour Chicken”).  He loved that too.  This from the kid that once refused anything that contained any kind of “sauce.”  (The lone exception being pizza.)

The most surprising, though, came a few days ago.  We were trying Green Giant’s Simply Steam Brussels Sprouts with Butter Sauce.  NHL looked at the green orbs on our plate and asked to try it.  I’ll admit, I was conflicted.  On one hand, how could I say no to a kid asking to try brussels sprouts?  On the other hand, it’s brussels sprouts!  What’s the likelihood that he would like it?

He didn’t just like it, he loved it!  He ate about a third of the package by himself.  Now, if he sees us take out a package, he asked for some.  He’s even identified them fresh in the supermarket and has asked for me to make them.  (I know that poorly made brussels sprouts can taste bad, so I’m not sure how brave I am making them just yet.)

Now, if only he could help us convince JSL to eat veggies instead of asking for Mac and Cheese for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

My Aloha Friday question for today is: Does you and/or your child eat vegetables?  If so, what kinds of veggies are your and/or your child’s favorites?

Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the McLinky there if you are participating.

Aloha Friday by Kailani at An Island Life

Aloha #88