Parenting Mantras by Ridhi Doongursee

Author:Ridhi Doongursee [Doongursee, Ridhi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789381115787
Publisher: Leadstart Publishing Pvt Ltd

WOW! BROCCOLI FOR DINNER!

The vegetable war—what works and why

It’s bizarre that the produce manager is more important to my children’s health than the pediatrician. ~ Meryl Streep

There are two common statements we’ve all heard as children:

You’re getting chocolates and ice cream today. Wow!

You must eat your vegetables.

We can immediately associate these words with our childhoods. ‘If you sleep on time, you’ll get to eat ice cream!’, is another such promise, as is, ‘If you finish your assignments before 7pm, you’ll get a chocolate from mommy! How cool is that?’.

There are numerous such enticements that parents employ to reward their little ones for good deeds and commendable efforts. However, have you ever wondered why children consider chocolates and ice creams as rewards? Glance at the two statements above. Do you notice that, unintentionally, ice cream has been made to sound like a treat, and vegetables a stern necessity? The perception of the prized item (whatever it may be… candy, cake etc), is created in young minds only after we, the parents, make them sound exciting. Because ice cream is presented with happiness, children start associating it with good things. They start believing that sweet things are delicious and prized.

Now recall how you have usually seen parents approach their children with green, leafy vegetables. ‘You have to finish your vegetables. They are good for you and will make you stronger,’ is what some say. At times, there is even a tone of fear reflecting, ‘How do I convince them to eat this? I hope they like the taste’. There is no thrill or excitement attached to these items. No ‘wow’ or ‘yummy!’ follows. This is why children grow skeptical and when approached with a plate of veggies, they tend to feel hesitant. We are responsible for creating these associations.

If you reverse this trend, you will realize your vegetable war will come to a peaceful end before you know it. Try not to shower so much attention and awe on cakes, ice creams, and candy. I know children will always be surrounded by people who will probably do exactly that, but then you can balance it out by upping the level of excitement in your tone and expressions when it comes to vegetables. And don’t waste any time in this matter, start right at the beginning as soon as your baby starts consuming solids. Here is how I tackled the vegetable war.

Introduction to solids

When solids are first introduced into a baby’s diet, most parents tend to start with softer and sweeter flavours like apple stew. Since all moms and dads want to start the baby’s solid feeding on a good note, they feel they should initiate the process with something yummy. What I suggest you do is inculcate the taste of vegetables early. Introduce a veggie that isn’t necessarily sweet, in this phase, and make sure you express loads of excitement while doing so. You can start with any vegetables that are light and easy to digest. You’ll notice that your smile is

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