Growing up we were expected to eat whatever was put in front of us. How I remember my mom making 'caldo de pollo' (chicken stew) with all the veggies under the rainbow. Oh, how I dreaded the days I would see the big pot of boiling soup on the stove. And if I didn't eat it all, my mom would save it for breakfast. How thoughtful of her, huh? What cracks me up now, is that it is probably one of my FAVORITE meals now. Especially when I am pregnant. I request it all the time and is such a comfort food for me. My Mom taught us to love food. To be thankful for it. And that picky eating was not going to be happening under her roof. I am so grateful for that. I have had the chance to experience some amazing foods because of this and am such a foodie now. If you would have told me that I would love cow tongue tacos or sushi when I was 8 I would have asked you to 'gag me with a spoon' and barfed all over you. (I was way into my valley girl talk back then, like totally.) So, it has been a blessing to have all of my children love food, too. Of every kind. With parents like Tim and I, that have a very open mind when it comes to food, they would have to be.
I started my children off with all kinds of veggies as babies. This way they were so used to it, they couldn't decide to not like it. Miguel would eat everything on his plate and Karizma would ask for broccoli for dessert.
"Well, only if you are a good girl and finish all your dinner first."
And finish it all she would, because broccoli was amazing to her. "Trees" she called them. Even when we would go to Home Town Buffet for dinner, she would request broccoli for dessert. She was a bit of an odd duck back then.
So, the other day I remembered her broccoli for dessert days fondly when the boys and I had this conversation:
(Setting: Me preparing the broccoli salad for Thanksgiving.)
Me: Who wants a tree?
Walker, Christian, Zack: I DO!!!!!
Me: I said tree NOT treat.
All the boys again: I DO!!!!
Walker: Mom, broccoli IS a treat!
Zack: Mom, can I have some more trees, PLEASE!
Me: Ok, but only if you are going to be a good boy today.
Did you know you could bribe your kids to be good with broccoli? Hmm, or is that just my kids????
6 comments:
LOL!!
My abuelita (Nona, as I knew her) would make cow tongue stew and tripe (cow stomach) stew also. MMMM....I remember loving it! I know sort of weird. I considered buying a tongue one day and making it for the my family but the kids just said "ewwwwww". Never made it, plus I would probably ruin it anyway. LOL
Yeah, we call the broccoli, trees also. My kids like it, I wouldn't say they "love it" and prefer it for dessert. They do like green peppers lots though.
Loves ya,
Chris (your sista from another motha--ha ha ha)
Hope you had a great thanksgiving! cute post...
Ugh! Cow tongue soup? No thanks! Around here we call broccoli "dinosaur trees". Most of the kids like them. If they don't eat their veggies, they don't get a snack later. It's that simple. I have a picky eater, but he knows he has to eat to get the snack. It puts it at his feet and makes it his responsibility. Then I don't have to nag and goad him into it. It works for us!
I hope my kids aren't picky either. I am not too picky - I do pick at my meat - but I loves tons of fruits and veggies and I can always find something I love on a menu - I can't believe people who hate almost everything - Live people! Broccoli is yum!!
haha!!! just your kids.....
we "hide" the broccoli in the mac n cheese just to get them to eat it!! (which they LOVE)
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