I read a news story yesterday about children and vegetables that was fascinating. My first business—which offered cooking lessons for kids—was called Picky Eaters, so I was regularly invited by groups to give talks about how to get finicky kids to eat a wider variety of foods. Parents were always seeking hints and tricks to get children to try vegetables, specifically.
According to the study featured in the news story, “186 four-year-olds were given regular carrots and, on other lunch days, they were given the same vegetables renamed X-ray Vision Carrots. On the latter days, they ate nearly twice as many.” That is remarkable, but, even better, the children ate significantly more carrots after the name change even when the carrots weren’t called “X-Ray Vision Carrots.”
When I spoke to MOMS groups, Hadassah groups or PTA groups, I shared many other ideas for enticing kids at mealtime, like incorporating fun utensils to defuse the tension of meal-time face-offs. Great utensils can make mealtime more fun. I love this Fork-Lift Fork for shoveling Vegetable Bricks. These Dinnersaurs utensils are also cool for eating Prehistoric Broccoli Trees. Soccer Field and Big Top Circus placemats are also sure to inspire.
Imagine the possibilities with cool veggie names…Power Pea Pellets, Sweet Potato Sunshine, Spinach Flower Petals. Have a great vegetable name? Post it here.