Spouse doesn't do Vegetables

[Anonymous]

DW has pretty much stopped eating vegetables and generally won't prepare them when she cooks. I do most of the cooking and usually have fresh vegetables with dinner and she will pass on them or allegedly eat a couple unseen. This is affecting DD eating habits and I have to push DD to eat them. I need DW to set an example and simply doesn't. DW will hit a farmers market during season and buy an exotic vegetable but never prepares it until it rots. Any thoughts?

[Anonymous]

You don’t “need” your DW to do anything. you sound extremely controlling and blaming.

[Anonymous]

You have to take the lead here for you and your daughter. Ignore DW.

[Anonymous]

I'm in the same boat and honestly I just don't worry about anyone but me eating vegetables. My wife has never wanted to eat vegetables, got pushed to do it as as a kid but that had zero impact on her as an adult. My daughter is a picky eater and won't eat vegetables but will eat fruit so I satisfy myself with that. Not ideal, but it saves us a lot of dinner time fights that I don't think would ultimately produce anything helpful.

[Anonymous]

Very unusual that a man is so concerned about his family's eating habits. Almost like this is reverse genders.

[Anonymous]

Focus on cooking and being a role model for your child. Stop policing your wife’s food habits.

[Anonymous]

They must have rock hard #2.

[Anonymous]

Have DD help you cook. Let her try the veggies prepared different ways. Raw carrots vs cooked carrots. Let her try different dips or dressings, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have to take the lead here for you and your daughter. Ignore DW.

Yep!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have DD help you cook. Let her try the veggies prepared different ways. Raw carrots vs cooked carrots. Let her try different dips or dressings, too.

I'm this PP. I'd also blend veggies and sneak them into sauces. Does your DD have any other aversions around texture or anything like that?

[Anonymous]

So refreshing to see someone caring for food and nutrition.

I am convinced there is a link between poor nutrition and ADHD.

My child was extremely picky. Eater and pediatricians didn’t mind kept telling me he will grow out of it. He was in the lower range of growth chart. Everything was fine until here went to grade 2. That’s when ADHD manifested. The child didn’t have any trauma and no one in the family has ADHD.

Right, you can’t really change adult habits - I’m sorry to hear that you’re struggling with that. All you can do is just ignore and keep setting the good example and keep talking about nutrition. It is working as my child is now older and finally listens…. We’re still struggling with mild ARFID but there is progress every day. Our family is such that each person eats own meal given differences in food choices, and preferences. I cannot eat what my husband eats. My body will go crazy from all the junk food….

[Anonymous]

*** oops sorry for so many dictation errors above.

[Anonymous]

When an adult has set diet habits, something really radical has to happen for that person to change their habits —- like a doctor telling you're going to die if you don’t change your diet thing…

Even then, some people cheat…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very unusual that a man is so concerned about his family's eating habits. Almost like this is reverse genders.

How are you so sure that OP is a man?

[Anonymous]

Get a veggie tray. Stock it with things like bell pepper slices or baby carrots or cherry tomatoes or whatever veggies you have on hand and enjoy. During the meal pull out the veggie tray and have it available for anyone who wants some. Afterwards just close up the tray and it is ready for the next time.