My mother is a sweet sweet soul, but she has a problem. She eavesdrops. She does not actively look for conversations to listen in on; they seem to find her. Here is a recent one.SCENE: A summer day at a local Trader Joes. A delicious aroma fills the air. An employee is preparing roasted asparagus topped with Parmesan cheese for customers. A mother with her two sons approximately 3 1/2 years old and 18 months old pushes her cart over to the sample table to assess the situation. My mother is behind her and hears the following conversation:
3 1/2 year old son: “Mom, can I taste that?”
Mother: “That’s asparagus honey. You don’t like that.”
When my mother told me this story my initial reaction was that this mother should be grateful that my mother was behind her and I was not. People pay me hundreds of dollars to get their children to eat vegetables. This sweet 3 ½ year old boy is asking for asparagus and the mother is denying him the chance? I do not understand. The sample was not a saturated fat laden pork rind lady; this was a vegetable chock full of vitamins, minerals, fiber and potent antioxidants. He may be ready for asparagus. Go with the flow. Give the kid a taste!
People, if you find your kids asking to try that chick pea, sauteed kale, squash blossom, curried chicken, sashimi (from a reputable place), roasted garlic or strange fruit you never buy at the grocery store, let them have it. This may open up a wonderful world of food for your family and reduce pesky picky eating habits.
