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Last weekend, my kids came home from an afternoon playing catch at the park with my husband. While they were gone, I cooked up a storm – not just because the house was quiet, but because I was tired of playing short-order cook (no spicy things, no green things, sauce on the side). I made the foods I wanted to eat: stir-fried mushrooms, spicy ma po tofu redolent with onions and garlic, and vegetable soup.
It was kind of a gamble, but I know that kids who have just burned a lot of calories are not going to be that picky. Both my boys cleaned their bowls – well, except for the mushrooms. I silently watched my finicky fourth grader devour spoonfuls of tofu, waiting for him to complain about the chunks of ginger and red peppers. When he finally stopped to talk, he tilted his empty bowl and asked, “May I be excused?”
A new study confirms what savvy moms have known forever. If you want your kids to eat well – and eat more vegetables – you need to give them a chance to run around and work up an appetite.
Find out more about the kids nutrition study and what schools are doing about it… at Mom.me
Your dinner sounds delicious! You are wise to be persistent and continue offering healthy meals. And it’s true, a hungry kid will eat!
Any harmless “trick” to get children to eat healthy veggies is good. My sister-doctor who has 2 young children herself, advises parents try preparing/feeding a veggie 8-10 times. Don’t give up too quickly. And don’t make it such a big deal.
One day, your children will thank you for healthy exposure to good food and meals.