This post is from Liza of Cira’s Lyrics.
When my children were just coming out of that baby stage and starting on solids, I had them eating so healthy. We were almost all fruits and veggies around here with some meat thrown in. Fast forward just a few short …who am I kidding, those felt like long years later, I have pretty much thrown the healthy options out the window. Not really because I purposely tried, but I would find myself sometimes adjusting what I fed the kids according to who would eat what. Sometimes I just didn’t want the fight. I hate to say that chicken nuggets, hot dogs and mac and cheese had become big lunch time staples. (Ew, I know.) And at dinner? I was lucky if one kid was eating their veggies. I’ve realized just how bad things have gotten lately when the boys are at the market with me reminding me to buy Pop Tarts – the kind with the frosting – or to get the Fruit Loops.
Um, yeah.
In the last few months my husband and I have made a conscious effort to get us all eating better. I literally have always had to buy pounds of bananas a week because the boys have always loved them. We have branched out with more salads, put out raw carrots and cucumbers to snack on here and there… and I make sure a veggie gets included at dinner each night whether they eat it or not. How hard could it be to start introducing new things?!
This past weekend at the market I thought I was taking a stand. Right there in the freezers? The brussel sprouts were staring at me. Trust. As a kid I hate hate hated them and vowed to never touch them again. My mother in law will occasionally serve them with a Sunday dinner but there is always so much food out no one really notices (I hope) that I don’t even serve myself any – or the boys for that matter. I took a deep breath and threw the steam fresh bag in the cart. No one noticed.
I made dinner. Fish tenders, rice and …the brussel sprouts. That I thought were seasoned, but alas were not. I told my husband to go with it and we sat down at the table. I knew if I told the boys I hated them as a kid no one would try them. I put 3 small brussel sprouts on each boy’s plate and told them that we were trying a new veggie. All of us. Even Mommy and Daddy. We all put one on our fork, counted to three and popped it in our mouths. My 5 year old made a horrible face but chewed and swallowed it. My super picky 3 year old took a chew and spit it back on his plate. I was pleasantly surprised to find his twin brother (who literally tries and eats just about EVERYTHING – chicken hearts, tripe… true story!) chewing and forcing a smile. “I guess I just need to get used to the taste”, he said to me. As I’m turning my attention back to the picky one I hear a noise.
You know the noise.
I turn to look at him just in time to watch him vomit all.over.himself. Like maybe even part of his lunch included.
Then my 5 year old gags. Not puke, I can not do puke! And I was not about to have several pukers on my hands. I raced to clean him up with napkins and paper towel and told him what a great job he did for trying (as he sat there and cried his eyes out). After that, I told them all they didn’t have to finish their brussel sprouts.
Sigh.
Where’s that box of corn dogs – there must be corn in there somewhere, right?
Liza maintains a personal blog at Cira’s Lyrics, is a contributor for Buy-Her, and can be found on twitter. She also recently launched a new website, The Mommy Gamer.
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Mine love them. Might have something to do with the bernaise sauce mix I make and pour on them ;) But when I serve them at Thanksgiving for the extended family? Almost NO ONE touches them.
I’m the only one in my family that likes them – steamed with lots of butter. Hmmmm, maybe it’s the butter I like… Growing up my brothers used to peel them, and then say there was nothing inside!
lol, good one. wish i’d thought of that as a kid. :)
Twitter Name: Liza_Rae
Um… not to be all hippie healthy but I think your problem is the ‘frozen’ part of the brussels sprouts situation. they are HORRIBLE when cooked from frozen or when boiled to within an inch of their lives (as they do here in the UK where I live). sprouts are super delish however if thinly sliced and sauteed. just sayin, don’t give up if you don’t have to!
Twitter Name: Alicia Lorna Blum-Ross
not giving up completely, still adding the healthy where i can. the table puking did set me back a bit though, lol. this is so bad but i don’t think i ever even noticed they sell them fresh at the market.
Twitter Name: Liza_Rae
I know the struggle well, lady. You could try preparing them by peeling all the leaves off (fresh ones) and sauteeing them in a pan with some olive oil, S&P, until they’re caramelized… add studs of cooked bacon or pancetta. I swear, it’s sweet like candy – try it.
And also? It’s Brussels sprouts – with a capital, and with an “S” on the end – like the city. I learned that about a year ago – it’s a shock, I know!
Good luck!!
thanks for the tip! maybe we’ll have a do over like that! :)
Twitter Name: Liza_Rae
I make them by frying up the bacon first, setting it aside and tossing the Brussels sprouts into the bacon grease to cook. Then toss the bacon on top and serve.
Delish. But it also probably negates the “healthy” part.
I tried a few for the first time at Christmas to be polite. They were not horrible, but given the choice I’d take ANY other vegetable over them.
Only one of my boys like vegetables. The other three hate them. I absolutely love brussel sprouts though!
Toss with olive oil, sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper and cook in 425 degree oven until browned in places. Just shake them occaisionally. Yum! Even better with a splash of balsamic vinegar.
Really? I LOVE brussel sprouts, just with a bit of butter on them. At our house, we call them ‘farts’ because…well, you know. Our kids love eating farts.
As for the healthy eating going downhill, I’m with you. Our first kid was totally healthy, organic, homemade, blah blah blah. Our third kid will not eat ANYTHING except cooked macaroni noodles with grated cheese on top. NOT A SINGLE THING. just that. And he’s huge, tall, big, super healthy…I just don’t get it.
Twitter Name: lucynamackay