Pages

Ticker

Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers

August 2, 2011

Perseverance and Changing Tastes

I LOVE roasted asparagus.
Drizzle a little olive oil, add a dash of Cajun seasoning…perfection will be mine in 12 to 15 minutes. I could eat an entire pound by myself, but I dutifully share (somewhat equally) with the hubs.

When the girls began eating table food, I wasn’t anxious to reduce my portion size exactly, but I was anxious for them to fall in love with one of Earth’s most perfect vegetables.

I gave them a sampling of the most tender stalks, and I stood back and waited.

They both spit them out.

That’s OK…we’ll try again. I’ve read on numerous occasions how it can take up to 15 times of sampling a new food for a child’s taste buds to acclimate.

So every time I made asparagus – at least a couple of times a month – I would serve some to the girls. And each time, they spit it out.

After a while, this almost became a source of “Are You Sure We’re Related?

I had all but given up…but still, I dutifully gave the girls a sampling every couple of weeks.

The last time I made asparagus, I gave the girls their obligatory two bites. We were all eating supper, so I wasn’t paying super close attention…I think I almost choked on my asparagus when I heard a little voice say, “More asparagus, please!

Really???

Sure enough, the girls magically decided they both liked asparagus! Yep, them’s my girls, after all! Between the two of them, they ate at least half of what I’d served myself.

And I was really content with sharing. Not only have my girls finally come around to enjoying one of my favorite veggies…in the meantime, Husband decided I “burned him out” on asparagus. He said the girls could have his portion.

Score, all around!

This lesson in perseverance and changing tastes brought to you by the Greater Council for the Promotion of Asparagus. [Not sure if there is such an organization…but if there is, and if they happen to read this post…I would welcome any coupons. Asparagus ain’t cheap!] :)

9 comments:

Deanna said...

Yum! I am hoping this happens with my girls and broccoli. They won't touch it right now, but I keep putting it on their plate!

I love asparagus, but rarely fix it at home. I'm going to have to try your recommendation...even if neither the girls nor Jeremy will eat with me!

Holly G said...

I love asparagus too! Good for you for pressing on! I really need to keep serving different veggies to my kids in hopes that one day they will no longer think that all vegetables are poisonous. lol

Anonymous said...

hahaha. it always happens when we least expect it, doesn't it??

i swear my son is trying to kill me: he wants nothing to do with ice cream or cupcakes!!! lol.

you are always an inspiration with good, healthy food for the kids.

Andrea said...

Yummy!! Asparagus is one of my favorites too! This post cracked me up!! Glad you and the girls get more now that hubby got burnt out! :):)

Johanna at The Baker Twins said...

I've heard you have to try a few times for most foods to become a favorite. :) Mine love asparagus too - I think it was that they were vegetarian while gestating. They haven't picked up my disdain for meat, but definitely my affinity for all things green.

Unknown said...

Yeah! We have a ton of asparagus in our garden...so much this year that I was even sick of it and thankful when the crop was done! But, that's a good thing, right? (esp since you already noted - its not cheap!) The only thing I really hate? is how it makes your pee smell (TMI? sorry!)

My kids are all really good about veggies thanks to our garden. Even Adam will eat a salad!!

championm2000 said...

Yay for asparagus!

I understand your excitement. I was beaming tonight as the babies gobbled their broccoli!

Rebecca said...

Mmmmm...I love asparagus, but the Crazies spit it out and Husband hates it. I keep making it too.

For some reason, I'm having trouble accessing your posts through Google Reader. Are you doing something different?

Renae said...

So funny! I am not at all a fan of asparagus (sorry), but recently had some cooked on a grill at a BBQ and found it tasty enough to eat a decent sized portion. That doesn't mean we'll be having it at our house anytime soon, though. More for you!!!

At our house, any time I think the kids won't eat a certain food or even try it, I just serve it to myself and leave it off their plates. 9 times out of 10 they'll ask why they don't have it and demand to get their portion. When I tell them that it's all for me, that pretty much ensures that they'll at least try it, and usually they'll eat at least all of what I've given them. This is one of my favorite mommy tricks. I'll be so sad when they figure it out and it doesn't work anymore.