#ONENEWFOOD with Mommy in Sports and Oh, Honestly!
Kale Chips and Raspberries
Last week, several people said their kids love kale chips, so of course we had to try them. As soon as I pulled them out of the oven, the only thing I could think was, “There’s no freaking way.” I was right. The entire family agreed that they were gross, even the grown-ups.
“No problem,” I thought, “we’ll just do something different.” So I bought raspberries at the store. This was kind of cheating because my kids have tried raspberries before, but we don’t eat them on a regular basis. We have a bush that produces a few berries and Annelise loves them, but she’s the only one who eats them.
Anyway, I pulled them out at breakfast. Eli willingly ate his two, even though he complained that one was too mushy. Annelise refused to eat hers (Are you kidding me, kid?! You love the ones we grow!). Samuel wouldn’t eat his because they were too sour, so I mashed them up in his oatmeal. Que the freak out session.
Seriously, it was ridiculous.
Screaming, crying, banging chairs together. Into timeout he went. He wanted new oatmeal with no berries. I refused.
“You won’t even taste them!!” I cried in frustration.
Finally, finally he ate it.
“Can you taste the raspberries?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Do they taste bad?”
“No.”
“So Mommy was right?”
“No, I was right.”
“You said it would be gross.”
“Serious?! I tricked you!”
“So the fit you just threw was all to trick me?”
“Yes.”
That night at dinner Annelise wasn’t eating (typical) and I was telling Eric about the morning. He asked her if she wanted him to get her a raspberry because she likes them. She said yes (I’m assuming she thought he’d give her the ones from outside). He handed her one and she devoured it and asked for more. He put the bowl in front of her. She began to toss them in her mouth like candy.
Eli, who also was refusing to eat his supper, asked for one, then decided the tip of it was too mushy. I told him, “Tough. You asked for it; you’re going to eat it.” He refused. I provided him with a choice. Eat it or go to bed.
He chose bed. It was 6 pm.
He went upstairs, put on his PJs, brushed his teeth, went to the bathroom, and went to bed. No arguments. Until later when I wouldn’t let him get up. Que the freak out session.
So that was my #ONENEWFOOD week. They all tried their two bites. Two of them threw fits. One ate more than required. Is that a success? I’m not really sure. I think next week I need to do something different; make healthy muffins or something. I need a definitive win and so far I haven’t had one. Well, unless you count the Graham Bunnies…
My favorite photo this week was…
Echo at Domain of the Mad Mommy posted this one of her son trying cabbage. Honestly, it was nice to know someone else struggled too.
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Cynthia says
I burst out laughing when Eli chose bed, lol…that bad? Really?
I’m pretty lucky, now that is…my son will try anything once and almost always likes it. BUT my daughter was the one who would have chosen bed. She never wanted to try anything. At age 10 she gave up meat because of something she saw on tv about killing animals.
She loved to read so she researched being a vegetarian. By age 13 she had become a very strict vegetarian. It made finding something for her to eat a nightmare because she also refused vegetables! I know right?!?!
Now at 18 she loves fresh vegetables and makes great meals for herself!
Good luck with the rest of your challenges!
Lauren says
Wow, it’s impressive that your daughter would make such a well-thought out decision at such a young age and stick with it. Good for her! (But I can see how that would make your life about 100 times more difficult!)
As for Eli going to bed… I have very stubborn children. It’s one of those personality traits that’s a mixed blessing 😉
Kristen says
You tried two foods? Awesome! I am SCARED of the Kale Chips…Kale gives me heartburn…and raspberries are super fuzzy. Lila doesn’t like them, but then neither do I! I loved how you stuck to your guns! I was thinking maybe we should find a couple different ways to serve them. Like if they didn’t like raspberries plain – make them in muffins the next day. Then slowly build up to it? I’m trying snow peas again today – try and try again right? (we’ve lost our minds!)
Lauren says
Yes, I totally agree. I need to be more creative in my presentation. I think they’ll be much more likely to try a new food if I put it in something. Not hidden (necessarily haha), but at least masked. (And hey, maybe it’ll be fun to be crazy!)
Echo says
Yeah, it’s not always sunshine and zucchini bread over here, LOL!
Lauren says
Mmmmm, we do love zucchini bread!
Michelle Girasole says
Sunshine and zucchini bread. Love it!
Michelle Girasole says
Aw, no kale chips – well, you tried. (Sure you didn’t burn them? Just kidding…)
I have often thought that my kids don’t eat because they know I’m making them try it because it is healthy. Sometimes I just put healthy stuff out and see if they take it. Eggplant never goes over well. But, edamame beans were a pleasant surprise. You are a strong woman to pull the “try it or bedtime” card. I am impressed!
Lauren says
Yes! That’s exactly it!! They’re resistant to new foods anyway, so when I ‘force’ them to eat it, they’re sure it’s going to be gross. That’s why I’m going to change my tactics a bit and see how it goes next week.
Caryn says
I’m so sorry that the kale chips didn’t go over well. Maybe try another kind of kale (baby kale), sprinkle oil/salt and then bake for 6-10 minutes. They aren’t as crunchy as the curly kale, but also less bitter. I’m happy to hear that the raspberries went over ok. My son likes to stuff a cheerio inside the raspberries. He started it when he was very little and still continues doing it. Funny, I know, but it makes him excited to eat them. I’m off to make my zucchini muffins now since my son tried zucchini raw and cooked this week.
Lauren says
It was a big leap for my kids. I think I need to take smaller steps to get them used to this whole thing 🙂 (But once we get there, I’ll definitely try the baby kale!). My kids LOVE zucchini bread (probably because you can’t taste the zucchini, haha), but maybe I can use that to my advantage.
Michelle says
Funny that I just posted a recipe for kale chips and I boast about how much my kids love it. I’ve tried a few recipes and a spicy cheesy chip is really the only one I keep going back to. I use nutritional yeast instead of cheese.
I love to freeze raspberries in ice cubes.. it’s pretty and the kids will eat them.
When I try to get my kids to eat new foods I’ve tried a few non sneaky methods like renaming dinner after one of my kids. They’re excited about that and it will usually entice a first bite. We also have this rule that if you don’t like something then fine but don’t shout ‘It’s Gross!’ across the table because it really does influence the other kids eating. Kids participation is probably the best way to get them to try something.
Best of luck trying new things..
Lauren says
LOVE these tips Michelle! Thank you! I never thought about making the chips have another flavor. Maybe we’ll revisit them down the road. I love the ice idea; the kids would like it too. And you’re so right with the commenting. If our oldest says something is gross, our second immediately agrees, even though we know it’s something he likes.