Since I just posted a semi-critical review of Skinny Bitch, I thought I'd follow it up with a humorous look into how totally ineffective I am (so far) in getting my kids to eat better.
For the record, my husband and I have always stressed fruits and veggies. That much is NOT new. Not at all.
And, we have, over the years, tried lots of gardenburgers. I like them a lot more than everybody else.
So, it should come as no surprise that tonight's dinner (salad with lettuce from our garden, veggie burgers with soy mozzarella cheese, and bananas) went over about as well as the proverbial lead balloon.
A snippet:
"Hey guys! Time to eat." (Kids come semi-obediently to the table.)
"What are we having?" (The same question, every night, without fail.)
"Oh! Veggie burgers!" (Said with lots of enthusiasm -- it's all in the presentation, right?!)
"I HATE veggie burgers!" (I anticipated this.)
"Oh, these are special veggie burgers! With cheese! And look at our beautiful salad!"
Kids look doubtful. Twelve-year-old douses hers with ketchup, takes a bite, and proceeds to get up from the table. I turn my attention to the four-year-old, who is cheerfully eating the banana.
"Want to taste your burger?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I no yike veggie burgers, Mommy!" (Said with lots of emphasis, in case I don't understand the words.)
I repeat my oh-so-cheerful account of how these are so yummy, adding that they will make him strong -- like Spiderman. Or Ironman! Or Superman!
"No."
Meanwhile, the 12-year-old returns with a bowl of cereal. I (stupid move here) take the bowl from her, telling her that she IS going to eat vegetables and fruit and not just carbs.
"I don't LIKE those things!" (Major 12-year-old drama -- flailing arms, rolling eyes, nearly screaming)
"Well, you have to retrain your taste buds!" (Hey, I'm trying to tell it like it is.)
(Stomping out of the room) "Well, your taste buds STINK!"
(Four year old) "Mommy, she don't yike veggie burgers. You know that, Mommy?"
"Yes, I do know that." (It's actually hard not to laugh here; he is SO serious.)
"She does like bananas, Mommy. Can she have a banana?" (How thoughtful of him!)
I tell him yes, and she too has a banana for dinner.
Sigh! Only I ate the veggie burger and the salad.
About Me
- Elaine
- My interests include veganism and vegetarianism, health, ethics, politics and culture, media, and the environment. I have three kids; I teach college part-time, study piano and attempt to garden. I knit. I blog on just about anything, but many posts are related to my somewhat pathetic quest to eat better, be more mindful of the environment, and be a more responsible news consumer. Sometimes I write about parenting, but, like so many Mommy bloggers, my kids have recently told me not to. :) Thanks for reading.
We had veggie burgers and couscous here and Noah, who loves everything, HATED the veggie burgers. It was hilarious. He kept complaining because he wanted to take a bite of a whole one. Then he'd take a bite and try to brush it out of his mouth as quickly as possible, complaining and crumbling the veggie burger.
ReplyDeleteThen he'd see another veggie burger, point to it and screech for it, take a bite of it, repeat.
- Nikki
Here is the veggie burger combo that works in our house. Begin with the black bean/chipotle burgers from Garden burger, on top of that melt a little cheese (we like the jalapeno jack), then a few slices of avocado and a big blob of salsa. No bun, just a fork and knife. My kids are 8 and 5 and seriously, this always goes down without complaint. But try to sell the veggie burger as a hamburger substitute and no one will touch it...
ReplyDeleteKeep blogging Elaine!
Sharon
Thanks for the advice, Sharon! Now you know what dinner with be here tomorrow night! (Tonight is already planned, and woe to me -- frum hubby -- if I upset the "plan"!)
ReplyDelete