Is It That Unusual for Kids to Eat Vegetables???

[EdnaMarie]

Bref- DD's third birthday party today.

Served before cake were two veggie platters, organic cauliflower, broccoli, sugar snap peas, baby carrots, celery. "All-natural" ranch dip in a cup on one, salsa in the other.

Children all raised in relatively mainstream in some ways, but more or less conscious-minded households.

Several adults at the party were gawking at the kids eating the vegetables. "Oh my God, that baby [said baby was 15 months] is eating cauliflower!" or "Look, he's [5-y-o] eating carrots!" A conversation on this topic ensued.

The comments were pretty over-the-top, but I know for a fact that they all get veggies at home.

Is this THAT unusual? Or were the adults just totally clueless?

(The kids eating were between 15 months and seven years old, with two three-year-olds, and a two-year-old.)

[alacrity]

My eleven month old eats vegetables all the time. Tonight for dinner she at spinch, broccoli, asparagus, and carrots with some grains. When we go to the grocery store I usually pull out an asparagus spear for her to gnaw on to keep her happy for the trup. She loves them.

We're vegan though so I guess maybe it is because she gets them constantly.

If she has beans, fruit, and veggies on her plate she eats the beans first then fruit then veggies so i give her veggies first most of the time.

[onelilguysmommy]

It confuses me when people are amazed by that too.

[mama2mygirl]

I don't know but people comment that my six-year-old eats "real" food all the time.
We moved this summer and lots of different people watched her. One woman was so excited because dd was happy to have tofu and veggies and brown rice. "What little kid is happy to have tofu and veggies!!!" My little girl's favorite food is kale. She once got into an arguement with a woman taking the last of the brussel sprouts at the farmer's market. (Woman relented and shared.)
So, I don't know. My little one eats veggies.

[Viola]

My children ate vegetables when they were younger, but now at 6 and 10, they refuse them most of the time, even though I still serve them. I just had a birthday party for my 6 year old today, and some of the children ate broccoli, but not many.

[avalonfaith]

i diligently handmade all of my sons baby food. at 1, he revolted. he would not eat anything (or it seemed like to me). we serve him veggies with every meal but they never, ever get eaten. i am one of those parents that is so amazed (read: jealous) when other kids eats veggies. my son barely will eat fruit!

[samy23]

My 6yr old loves veggies, always has.

[Rosehip]

My kids eat veggies daily. Would they prefer a steady infusion of french fries & cookies? Maybe, at least some days. But it's not an option in my house. At dinner, everyone must have some protein and some veggie before diving into the starch. And they do it happily!

Some of the favorites here are roasted cauliflower (oil, garlic, lemon juice, then tossed in parm), asparagus (anything you're allowed to eat with your fingers is fun) and broccoli. I also throw veggies into other things I'm making when possible - mashed potatoes? Chop up some leftover cabbage and add it in. Beef & bean chili, or sloppy joe? I add LOADS of veggies - celery, onion, carrots, mushrooms, etc. Pasta? Most sauces do nicely with some peas added in.

[Liquesce]

My kids are just as willing to enjoy broccoli and cauliflower as french fries and cookies, as are all other kids I know. I find people who are amazed by children eating vegetables (not that popular a viewpoint on MDC) and people who think starchy/fried/salted/sweetened foods must be forbidden for children to "develop a taste for real foods" (far more popular a viewpoint on MDC) both equally confounding. Both seem to be equally taking notes from a doctrine that supposes that whole foods are by default inferior when being judged on flavor alone.

[Bekka]

My older 2 kids will eat a small variety of vegetables, but we've added them slowly, one at a time, and they are 9 and 11. Cucumber, carrot, peppers, peas, green beans. All raw only, not cooked. Our 5 year old only eats cucumber. Our 3 yo eats NO veggies and NO fruits.

So yeah, I'd be the one who was really impressed! I wouldn't dare try vegan because my children live on cheese.

[BetsyS]

My children only like very basic vegetables (carrots, celery, cucmbers, corn, green peas). It's not for lack of trying--they get a different vegetable, prepared lots of ways, on their plates every single night. I figure they'll grow into them one day.

[Bekka]

Originally Posted by Rosehip

At dinner, everyone must have some protein and some veggie before diving into the starch. And they do it happily!

Some of the favorites here are roasted cauliflower (oil, garlic, lemon juice, then tossed in parm), asparagus (anything you're allowed to eat with your fingers is fun) and broccoli. I also throw veggies into other things I'm making when possible - mashed potatoes? Chop up some leftover cabbage and add it in. Beef & bean chili, or sloppy joe? I add LOADS of veggies - celery, onion, carrots, mushrooms, etc. Pasta? Most sauces do nicely with some peas added in.

How my kids eat is a major source of stress to me. The will not eat anything you've described, they don't do sauces or dips, or mashed potatoes, or anything mixed, or chili or sloppy joe. Pasta is plain or with parmesan cheese on it. Not even butter. I've complained about it elsewhere, so I will not do so more now.

[BetsyS]

Originally Posted by Bekka

How my kids eat is a major source of stress to me. The will not eat anything you've described, they don't do sauces or dips, or mashed potatoes, or anything mixed, or chili or sloppy joe. Pasta is plain or with parmesan cheese on it. Not even butter. I've complained about it elsewhere, so I will not do so more now.

My kids hate mashed potatoes, sauces, and dips, too! Everyone always insists that all kids love mashed potatoes, but not my crazy ones.

[greenluv]

I think it's unusual enough that some people notice. I had a friend who fed her kids lots of processed/boxed/bagged foods and they had little in the way of experience with veggies. They came to our house and shared a veggie tray with my kids and asked the kids about each and every veggie. One of my friends kids was amazed to find that he liked cukes. When I asked my friend about the veggie issue she said she didn't serve them because she didn't know what to do with them. That's when I understood why she "cooked" boxed meals all the time. She used to tell me frequently " I can't cook the way you do because I don't know how!" I tried to help out but I don't know how well I did before I moved away.

[verde]

My DD eats a lot of vegetable because DH and I eat lots of vegetables.

What amazes me is how few adults eat vegetables.

[LaLaLaLa]

My DS, who is 3 1/2, eats everything we put in front of him, including a wide variety of vegetables. I eat lots of vegetables, good modeling and all that. Plus, I just really like vegetables. Seems both of my children should be good, healthy, veggie-lovin' eaters.

My DD, who is 5, eats peppers. And, occasionally, corn. And that's IT for vegetables for her. I would, indeed, be amazed if she chowed down on a veggie platter at a party. Even more so if she used the dip--she HATES dip and sauces and..... well, the list goes on and on.

Some kids are just like that. As a kid, my brother never ate vegetables, either. Most of my friends' kids have a couple of things they'll eat, but few of them are willing to eat a wide variety of vegetables. My friends and I would all be amazed by the scenario in the OP.

[Drummer's Wife]

Originally Posted by verde

My DD eats a lot of vegetable because DH and I eat lots of vegetables.

What amazes me is how few adults eat vegetables.

same here. Though, DH didn't used to eat as many vegetables as he does now.

I guess b/c I love veggies myself I have a hard time understanding how other adults could be that picky. There are so many different ways to prepare them, surely if you understand the importance you can learn to like them and eat them!

[mumkimum]

Originally Posted by verde

My DD eats a lot of vegetable because DH and I eat lots of vegetables.

What amazes me is how few adults eat vegetables.

[funkymamajoy]

It seems that its assumed that kids won't eat veggies so they're not offered.

And, for some reason, a veggie tray at a party is more fun then a salad at dinner (especially if there's dip).

[Adamsmama]

My 6yr old and 4 yr old would never eat any veggies ... (my 6 yr old has SPD and autism which has a lot to do with his issues with his diet) about 6 months ago my 4 yr old started showing an interest in salad type veggies: lettuce, cucumbers, celery, and tomatoes ... he will eat large amounts of these raw veggies. He will now eat a little bit of cooked carrots and green beans. My toddler will also eat the same veggies as the 4 yr old. So, I would probably have a similar reaction if my kids were eating a huge assortment of veggies because we've had issues until recently.