Oct 08 2007
deceptively delicious ~ your thoughts?
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Now, I’m not a fan of deceptively feeding my kids. If it’s got broccoli in it, I tell you there’s broccoli in it! But, 3 out of 4 of my kids like brocolli … so maybe that’s a bad example for me. If it’s got carrots … no wait, I know … If it’s got onions in it I tell it’s got onions in it I don’t puree them and pretend they aren’t there. I’m not sure I want pureed spinach and carrot in my chocolate brownies unless it’s to add to the irresistible flavor!
They say that you can’t even tell the pureed veggies are in the food. Even still, I’m not sure I like what this says to our kids about the food we are putting in front of them. If there’s anyone in the world you want to trust, it’s the person putting food on the table in front of you! That goes double if that person is one of your parents or another family member. If I put spinach and carrots in a batch of brownies I would definitely tell my kids what was in it, not try to deceive them on purpose. I think the recipes might be a good way to incorporate more veggies into your child’s diet, but I seriously advise against lying to them about what you’re feeding them. That’s how eating disorders get started in this crazy world.
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I’m a huge believer in “do what you have to do”. Luckily, there are aren’t too many foods my child won’t eat, but she’s not the “normal” 5 year old. I don’t, personally, think of it as LYING because it’s not like you’re telling them that there AREN’T any veggies in it! Besides, it’s really not any worse than the myths of Santa, the Easter bunny and the tooth fairy!
I’m a big fan of hiding veggies and always will be. Mine also will eat many different veggies that others won’t. We don’t have a problem with broccoli here either. But you can never get enough veggies and most of the time it’s simply because they won’t try it. Because a friend has said they don’t like it or some other stupid thing like that. lol
In case anyone is wondering, my kids also know that there is no Santa Claus …. but that’s a discussion for another day
I’m not big on this idea either. We have enough people in the world lying to our kids without starting this too. Your kids are allowed to not like some veggies!
No way. I am in the “Here’s dinner, eat it or don’t camp.” I’ll note that none of mine have starved, and they all eat vegetables.
I’ve been doing the spinach brownie trick for 2 years now (I heard about it in Parents magazine) and no one is the wiser.
oh i had such a different reaction reading it! It’s not about being “sneaky”…it’s about making a healthier version..
example: using applesauce in place of oil in brownies..i’ve done it…not to be sneaky, just to make a healthier version
Applesauce is way different than spinach though. That’s more about substituting out fat and adding in goodness, I do that with the applesauce in a few things. And my kids know I do it because they help me bake! They love it, and they usually end up having a bowl of applesauce while whatever we’re making is in the oven.
Even carrots I can see being added to bake goods and pasta sauces, they have sweetness properties … but spinach and chocolate don’t belong in the same sentence under any circumstances in my world -lol- spinach belongs in my salad bowl with the romaine lettuce and croûtons!!
I’m all for healthy versions of foods that might not be so healthy otherwise, but I am totally against the lying to my kids about what I’m serving them. Like one of the foods was pureed cauliflower mixed into mac n cheese …. why not just mix in whole cauliflower? Kids love veggies with cheese on them.
I also don’t like the idea of teaching our kids that their veggies need to be “hidden” to be good. Why not enjoy the flavors and the textures of the vegetable? It’s almost enforcing the negative attitude to hide the veggies in a pureed form in other foods.
I admit, I’m just a aunt so far. My niece is picky just like her mommy. What can you do?
What they do, and what I plan for my someday kids, is to continue to present the “disliked” food on a regular basis. All the child has to do is eat one bite. No big deal. No making them eat it. No pressure. One bite and done with it.
It takes time for kid’s tastes to develop, so trying a food often is the only solution for a picky eater.
My kids aren’t afraid to try new stuff, my rule is never to force them
to eat anything they don’t want to eat. Force and pressure don’t
belong at the dinner table, that’s for sure.
I agree on the re-presentation of new foods. Tastes change as we
grow. You never know when that thing you hated as a kid is your new
favorite food.
I bought the cookbook. Not to trick my kids, but to trick myself. I LOVE veggies, just not the really really good ones. I made the purees once, and made the brownies (from a box though) and they were delicious! HOWEVER, steaming all the veggies I didn’t like actually gave me a chance to try them again. Most squash and such out here (in the south) is fried. I don’t like it fried. Butternut squash however smelled awesome roasting in the oven and I will definitely be buying another one! I doubt I’ll puree anything in advance again. And yeah, I probably blew $17 on the cookbook. But I have found a new interest in veggies, I guess it help me be “re-presented” veggies.
The way I get my kids to want to eat veggies is pull them out as a snack and act like they are the best thing since chocolate!