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September 2, 2004
Prairie Fare: Turning Over a New Leaf and Eating It, Too
As a nutrition specialist, I’ve read a lot about theories of introducing new foods to kids. As a mom of three, I’ve tested those theories at home. And my children have tested me a few times, too. Recently cabbage and ham were on our dinner menu. Sniffing loudly, my children wrinkled their noses and quickly guessed what was for dinner. “I suppose it’s nutritious. Actually, cabbage is evil,” announced my 9-year-old son. “Listen, it’s growling at me,” he said as he stared at his portion, with a hand hiding his mouth. “Hey, I heard that, too. Maybe I didn’t cook it long enough,” I said. His little sister giggled. “Mine just growled, too.” “Now it’s attacking me,” my son said with a grin. Sure enough, a leaf of cabbage had somehow leaped from his plate onto his face without me seeing it. Amazingly, the same thing soon happened to his younger sister. I tried not to react to these antics, although amusing, because I figured the next stop for that mischievous cabbage would be the ceiling. “Take a look at your baby sister,” I told them. “She likes cabbage, and so do Dad and I.” They looked at their 1-year-old sibling in astonishment as she nibbled small pieces of cabbage and stared wide-eyed at us. Then they really surprised me. They ate most of their cabbage, without too many complaints. I didn’t think my youngest would become the “model eater” in the family, but if the technique works, I’ll use it. Modeling is one of the best ways to get kids to try new foods. Children are especially influenced by the eating habits of their parents, so eating together as a family is a worthwhile goal. It doesn’t have to be a fancy meal, and it doesn’t have to be “dinner” to count as a family meal. Breakfast works fine. Family meals foster good communication, healthier overall diets and even less chances for risky behavior when children become teens. Aim for a little variety in your menus, but introduce one new food at a time and don’t force the issue of trying foods. The best bet for parents is to be patient because it may take 10 or more times to get a child try a new food. Try some cabbage. It’s nutritious, low in calories and quite inexpensive at this time of the year. It’s part of the cruciferous family of vegetables that includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower. They’re a good source of vitamin C and plant chemicals that have protective properties against cancer and other diseases. Here’s a recipe featuring fresh cabbage and fermented cabbage or sauerkraut. This recipe has been served at the Lidgerwood, N.D., Heritage Days.
### Source:
Julie Garden-Robinson, (701) 231-7187, jgardenr@ndsuext.nodak.edu |
Market Advisor: |
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North Dakota State University |
