Getting kids to eat


 
Brad Olson

Brad Olson

TVWBB Platinum Member
Since all of us were kids at some point and quite a few of us have become parents and even grandparents, what food tricks to get kids to eat can you recall? I'm not talking about "no dessert" or "no TV after dinner", but rather things actually done to certain food items to make them (allegedly) palatable.

I don't recall having to do much to get my kids to eat because we tried to stick to things that they liked, but when I was growing up my mom figured out that the only way to get me to eat broccoli was to give me a dish of Miracle Whip for dunking. And nowadays I love broccoli and can't stand MW!:LOL:
 
Miracle Whip-------------urgh! I used to love their sandwich spread on all of my sammiches. Saw some in the store several years ago and bought a small jar. One taste and it went in the trash.
 
I think the biggest legit idea is to get kids involved in the process. Kids can shop, make lists, pick peppers, cut veggies, can tomatoes, squeeze tomatoes, set the table, make juice, fill glasses, turn on the light in the oven, measure ingredients, stir, make apple cider, grill, squeeze oranges, plant carrots, etc.

After that, sugar and salt, condiments to dip, room temperature food, small pieces, finger food, and relating it to what they already eat. We renamed baby carrots party carrots because baby carrots are only for babies. Name and size are important.
 
I was born in 1953. My mother did put cinnamon sugar in our oatmeal and cream of wheat. We ate pretty much what she prepared or you went hungry. We didn't eat any junk food. Only on a high school trip did we even see a McDonalds. We drank milk at all meals until we were 13, then ice tea for dinner and supper. Never any sodas with our meals. My dad did get what he wanted for sure. He did not eat "Italian" food so when we had spaghetti, he got steak and potatoes. As children the world did not evolve around us. We were seen and not heard as they say. I parents did put our well being ahead of their wants . Family time together was the most important thing to them. My dad fired up the grill almost every Saturday night for steaks for all. Can you believe that, now.?
 
Fred Wileyi said:
I was born in 1953. My mother did put cinnamon sugar in our oatmeal and cream of wheat. We ate pretty much what she prepared or you went hungry. We didn't eat any junk food. Only on a high school trip did we even see a McDonalds. We drank milk at all meals until we were 13, then ice tea for dinner and supper. Never any sodas with our meals. My dad did get what he wanted for sure. He did not eat "Italian" food so when we had spaghetti, he got steak and potatoes. As children the world did not evolve around us. We were seen and not heard as they say. I parents did put our well being ahead of their wants . Family time together was the most important thing to them. My dad fired up the grill almost every Saturday night for steaks for all. Can you believe that, now.?
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I'm right there with you. However times have changed. When I was a kid the grownups got the best pieces of chicken. Now the kids do.
 
I’m just about the luckiest grandpa in the world, my grandchildren have been adventurous eaters as soon as they were eating solid food! They adore vegetables, Brussels sprouts since they were four! Grandson decided that sushi was good at seven. There are some things that are not favorites but, few. Desserts are not massive hits but, some are huge hits with granddaughter,
Saturday the peach cobbler was really a big hit all the way around.
 
If we didn't eat something that was on our plate while it was warm, we ate it cold. Didn't take too many times before we discovered warm was much better no matter how much we disliked something. My daughters never questioned what was put in front of them until they were in their teens and influenced by their friends. They're 24 years apart so were, essentially, the only child and had no siblings to tell them something was nasty. I'm thinking that has a lot to do with it.
 
I’ve got 6 kids and still haven’t figured it out. Four aren’t biologically mine and only one (the youngest) accepts me as dad. It’s a battle.

I remember when I was young, I refused to eat meat. My mom got some, I think, iodine as a replacement. All I remember is it was AWFUL....I learned to like meat REAL quick!

Anymore, it’s eat what I make or don’t eat. I’ve even locked the pantry and refrigerator so they can’t eat or drink afterwards
 
TimA said:
I’ve got 6 kids and still haven’t figured it out. Four aren’t biologically mine and only one (the youngest) accepts me as dad. It’s a battle.

I remember when I was young, I refused to eat meat. My mom got some, I think, iodine as a replacement. All I remember is it was AWFUL....I learned to like meat REAL quick!

Anymore, it’s eat what I make or don’t eat. I’ve even locked the pantry and refrigerator so they can’t eat or drink afterwards
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Sounds terrible.
 
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