Aloha Friday: Expanding Culinary Horizons
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 #88
We love veggies at our house. In fact, my Aloha Friday has photos of the vegetable we eat at least 5 times a week. ;D
My kids ate veggies with green beans and corn being their favorite. They are cauliflower and cheese because I would sprinkle them with grated cheddar cheese. (hot so the cheese melted)
Our grand daughter and youngest grandson eat veggies but … our 11 year old grandson does NOT. He’s so bad about what he will eat that his parents give him some kind of vegetable capsule everyday. I’m afraid it’s just encouraging him to not eat veggies because he can take them in a pill.
Cathi recently posted..Aloha Friday – Cooking Oil
My kids go in spurts with veggies. My 4 yo likes raw broccoli and cooked carrots. the 2yo prefers cooked broccoli and raw carrots. *sigh*
Annie @ Mama Dweeb recently posted..Aloha Friday Favorite Teen Read
We love veggies and have been really lucky that our little monkey loves them too!! Broccli is a big favorite in our house!
Melissa R recently posted..Aloha Friday
Growing up, the only veggies I ate with any regularity were salad and corn (on the cob, kernels or creamed). My family always said I didn’t like vegetables… but it wasn’t until I moved out on my own (well, with my future ex-wife) that I discovered that, I do in fact like a lot of vegetables, I just don’t care for most of them cooked, or if they are cooked, I like them stir-fried or lightly sauteed.
My parents ate vegetables cooked, very well. Mushy and soft and me no likey most of them that way
There are some that I loathe – asparagus, brussel sprouts, lima beans top the list.
I don’t have kids, but my younger brother has two, and they are my brother and I all over – the eldest, like me at that age, is a very good eater and will eat most things (as he always has been.) The younger one is the pickiest eater in the world, just like my brother was. (My brother threw a fit one year when we went to our Aunt/Uncle’s for Thanksgiving and he wanted hot dogs… for a few years, hot dogs/pizza/mac-n-cheese was his mainstay.)
cr8dv8 recently posted..cr8dv8- Man- I slept wrong or something last night – my lower neck muscles have been bothering me all day
I have to admit I am not a huge veggie lover. My only veggie with dinner tonight was some baby corn!
Becca recently posted..Blog Topics
I’m a huge romaine lettuce eater. My son likes salad but, more of the lighter varieties.
Have a great Friday!
http://harrietandfriends.com/2011/05/the-zombie-apocalypse/
I eat vegetables but with my kids, I have to be creative (and tricky) when serving vegetables, or vegetables will never be eaten.
Charlotte | Life’s a Charm! recently posted..Top 3 – Blog Design and Functions
Arvi, check out this link and let me know what you call it in english http://zaiqa.net/?p=935
I definitely like veggies, my five year old is going through a similar picky stage to your son, but he will eat broccoli and sometimes corn. He also likes a lot of raw veggies like celery, baby carrots, tomatoes, etc. So I guess, overall he likes enough to get by, but I wish he’d be more adventurous.
Jen E @ mommablogsalot recently posted..Momma Cooks- Yummy Waffles I Could Make Blindfolded
I’m vegetarian, so eat lots of veggies, but carrots are my fave 🙂
rach recently posted..Aloha Friday 187
We love broccoli and carrots! Mmmmm
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Hi,
The article was quite good enough to know the things inside it. Most of the people like non-veg but there are people who love to eat veg stuffs.But they are also becoming a non-vegetarian. I like to eat veggie too. But kids generally change their habit as it depends on their mood most of the time. I also find that some kids have affection on vegetables from their childhood. Anyway thanks for sharing.
Anthony recently posted..Making a DIY Chicken Coop – How Big
Hi,
The article was quite good enough to know the things inside it. Most of the people like non-veg but there are people who love to eat veg stuffs. But they are also becoming a non-vegetarian. I like to eat veggie too. But kids generally change their habit as it depends on their mood most of the time. I also find that some kids have affection on vegetables from their childhood. Anyway thanks for sharing.