Which of these would you consider “eating a vegetable”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will give context later, just curious, of these foods, if your kids ate them would you have consider them to have eaten a vegetable?

Black beans
Small bits of onions, peppers, garlic cooked into the back beans
Small quantities of spinach (visible) stirred into another dish
Handful of spinach mixed into a berry smoothie (not visible)
Raw spinach as the base for a salad
Purple cabbage slaw
Corn
Avocado
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Mango
Mango salsa with red onions and cilantro visible in it
Slices of red peppers

Bold is what “counts” for my kids. I require minimum 5 servings of vegetables and fruits a day as recommended by pediatrician, which usually means 1 serving of vegetable with lunch and 2 with dinner. Other things on your list would count in theory (eg spinach in smoothie, spinach in dish) but it doesn’t sound like you are meeting the serving volume required.

Require??? Oh my.

Yup! Have you not gotten the same recommendation from your ped?

DP. Do you make your kid sit there at the table til they eat everything? Or just make them take a bite or ?? Or do you have super easy/compliant kids who never resist?

I have 1 kid who is a great eater and will generally eat everything on his plate including vegetables and fruits. There are only a few vegetables—spinach and Brussels sprouts—he doesn’t like but everything else he’ll eat. I have another kid who would refuse and fight us on it for every bite so we typically just make sure she tries the food to see if she likes it and we’ll encourage by modifying the dish to make it more appetizing to her (serving w hummus or adding butter, salt, etc) but we dont force her to eat the whole serving.

So how do you go about “requiring” your kids to eat certain foods?

I serve 2-3 different kinds of vegetables most dinners and buy produce I’m confident they’ll eat. I’m not pushing “certain foods,” just the categories.

[Anonymous]

I still can’t believe people are entertaining this question and not saying how TOTALLY INSANE THE PREMISE HERE IS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will give context later, just curious, of these foods, if your kids ate them would you have consider them to have eaten a vegetable?

Black beans
Small bits of onions, peppers, garlic cooked into the back beans
Small quantities of spinach (visible) stirred into another dish
Handful of spinach mixed into a berry smoothie (not visible)
Raw spinach as the base for a salad
Purple cabbage slaw
Corn
Avocado
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Mango
Mango salsa with red onions and cilantro visible in it
Slices of red peppers

Bold is what “counts” for my kids. I require minimum 5 servings of vegetables and fruits a day as recommended by pediatrician, which usually means 1 serving of vegetable with lunch and 2 with dinner. Other things on your list would count in theory (eg spinach in smoothie, spinach in dish) but it doesn’t sound like you are meeting the serving volume required.

Require??? Oh my.

Yup! Have you not gotten the same recommendation from your ped?

DP. Do you make your kid sit there at the table til they eat everything? Or just make them take a bite or ?? Or do you have super easy/compliant kids who never resist?

I have 1 kid who is a great eater and will generally eat everything on his plate including vegetables and fruits. There are only a few vegetables—spinach and Brussels sprouts—he doesn’t like but everything else he’ll eat. I have another kid who would refuse and fight us on it for every bite so we typically just make sure she tries the food to see if she likes it and we’ll encourage by modifying the dish to make it more appetizing to her (serving w hummus or adding butter, salt, etc) but we dont force her to eat the whole serving.

So how do you go about “requiring” your kids to eat certain foods?

I serve 2-3 different kinds of vegetables most dinners and buy produce I’m confident they’ll eat. I’m not pushing “certain foods,” just the categories.

Yeah but if I did that w my daughter then she’d be eating the same 2 vegetables every day bc the only vegetables she’ll reliably eat are broccoli and cauliflower. And I’m pretty sure if I made those 2 every single day eventually she’d refuse to eat them too. 😆

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they eat raw vegetables, have a veggie tray in the house. It’s easier than cooking vegetables that they won’t eat, and they can snack on those as well. If mom is getting free child minding, she can back off.

OP here,

I put out a variety of things, and tell the kids I won't make something separate, but they can ask for anything I'm cooking with to also be served plain. So, for example, last night the kids saw me putting red pepper in the beans, and asked for some raw.

Last night, one kid picked fish, beans and rice, cucumber, red peppers, mangos and tortilla chips. When they called mom at bedtime and reported that's what they ate, mom was upset because it wasn't balanced, and nothing was green enough. So, I thought I'd check with DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they eat raw vegetables, have a veggie tray in the house. It’s easier than cooking vegetables that they won’t eat, and they can snack on those as well. If mom is getting free child minding, she can back off.

OP here,

I put out a variety of things, and tell the kids I won't make something separate, but they can ask for anything I'm cooking with to also be served plain. So, for example, last night the kids saw me putting red pepper in the beans, and asked for some raw.

Last night, one kid picked fish, beans and rice, cucumber, red peppers, mangos and tortilla chips. When they called mom at bedtime and reported that's what they ate, mom was upset because it wasn't balanced, and nothing was green enough. So, I thought I'd check with DCUM.

omg the mom is nuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they eat raw vegetables, have a veggie tray in the house. It’s easier than cooking vegetables that they won’t eat, and they can snack on those as well. If mom is getting free child minding, she can back off.

OP here,

I put out a variety of things, and tell the kids I won't make something separate, but they can ask for anything I'm cooking with to also be served plain. So, for example, last night the kids saw me putting red pepper in the beans, and asked for some raw.

Last night, one kid picked fish, beans and rice, cucumber, red peppers, mangos and tortilla chips. When they called mom at bedtime and reported that's what they ate, mom was upset because it wasn't balanced, and nothing was green enough. So, I thought I'd check with DCUM.

omg the mom is nuts.

This. Someone is taking care of and feeding ber kids. She needs to let go. Its not lime they ate cereal and mac and cheese all day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they eat raw vegetables, have a veggie tray in the house. It’s easier than cooking vegetables that they won’t eat, and they can snack on those as well. If mom is getting free child minding, she can back off.

OP here,

I put out a variety of things, and tell the kids I won't make something separate, but they can ask for anything I'm cooking with to also be served plain. So, for example, last night the kids saw me putting red pepper in the beans, and asked for some raw.

Last night, one kid picked fish, beans and rice, cucumber, red peppers, mangos and tortilla chips. When they called mom at bedtime and reported that's what they ate, mom was upset because it wasn't balanced, and nothing was green enough. So, I thought I'd check with DCUM.

I would never babysit for this person again. Why do you put up with this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they eat raw vegetables, have a veggie tray in the house. It’s easier than cooking vegetables that they won’t eat, and they can snack on those as well. If mom is getting free child minding, she can back off.

OP here,

I put out a variety of things, and tell the kids I won't make something separate, but they can ask for anything I'm cooking with to also be served plain. So, for example, last night the kids saw me putting red pepper in the beans, and asked for some raw.

Last night, one kid picked fish, beans and rice, cucumber, red peppers, mangos and tortilla chips. When they called mom at bedtime and reported that's what they ate, mom was upset because it wasn't balanced, and nothing was green enough. So, I thought I'd check with DCUM.

I would never babysit for this person again. Why do you put up with this?

Partially because I think it's mental illness, and I think it's good for the kids, who I care about, to see another kind of family life.

Partially because one of the kids is one of my kids' best friends.

They're not at my house. They're at my parents' and I know my parents will take them whether I come to help or not. So, I go over and help. And then I whine about her whining here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will give context later, just curious, of these foods, if your kids ate them would you have consider them to have eaten a vegetable?

Black beans
Small bits of onions, peppers, garlic cooked into the back beans
Small quantities of spinach (visible) stirred into another dish
Handful of spinach mixed into a berry smoothie (not visible)
Raw spinach as the base for a salad
Purple cabbage slaw
Corn
Avocado
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Mango
Mango salsa with red onions and cilantro visible in it
Slices of red peppers

Bold is what “counts” for my kids. I require minimum 5 servings of vegetables and fruits a day as recommended by pediatrician, which usually means 1 serving of vegetable with lunch and 2 with dinner. Other things on your list would count in theory (eg spinach in smoothie, spinach in dish) but it doesn’t sound like you are meeting the serving volume required.

Require??? Oh my.

Yup! Have you not gotten the same recommendation from your ped?

We don’t create food hangups in our house. Our kids are athletes and have leaned what foods fill them with better energy than others. They’re learning to be in tune with their bodies are not doing something just because mom is requiring them to do so. We also teach them that you do your best so somedays at dinner your veggie may be the sauce on the pizza!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will give context later, just curious, of these foods, if your kids ate them would you have consider them to have eaten a vegetable?

Black beans
Small bits of onions, peppers, garlic cooked into the back beans
Small quantities of spinach (visible) stirred into another dish
Handful of spinach mixed into a berry smoothie (not visible)
Raw spinach as the base for a salad
Purple cabbage slaw
Corn
Avocado
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Mango
Mango salsa with red onions and cilantro visible in it
Slices of red peppers

Bold is what “counts” for my kids. I require minimum 5 servings of vegetables and fruits a day as recommended by pediatrician, which usually means 1 serving of vegetable with lunch and 2 with dinner. Other things on your list would count in theory (eg spinach in smoothie, spinach in dish) but it doesn’t sound like you are meeting the serving volume required.

Require??? Oh my.

Yup! Have you not gotten the same recommendation from your ped?

Not that poster but it is quite difficult to force a kid to consume something. Sounds like your kids like vegetables though so you got off easy on this one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they eat raw vegetables, have a veggie tray in the house. It’s easier than cooking vegetables that they won’t eat, and they can snack on those as well. If mom is getting free child minding, she can back off.

OP here,

I put out a variety of things, and tell the kids I won't make something separate, but they can ask for anything I'm cooking with to also be served plain. So, for example, last night the kids saw me putting red pepper in the beans, and asked for some raw.

Last night, one kid picked fish, beans and rice, cucumber, red peppers, mangos and tortilla chips. When they called mom at bedtime and reported that's what they ate, mom was upset because it wasn't balanced, and nothing was green enough. So, I thought I'd check with DCUM.

Sounds like a great meal to me. 2 veggies and a fruit. Green does not matter to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will give context later, just curious, of these foods, if your kids ate them would you have consider them to have eaten a vegetable?

Small quantities of spinach (visible) stirred into another dish
Handful of spinach mixed into a berry smoothie (not visible)
Raw spinach as the base for a salad
Purple cabbage slaw
Corn
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Slices of red peppers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they eat raw vegetables, have a veggie tray in the house. It’s easier than cooking vegetables that they won’t eat, and they can snack on those as well. If mom is getting free child minding, she can back off.

OP here,

I put out a variety of things, and tell the kids I won't make something separate, but they can ask for anything I'm cooking with to also be served plain. So, for example, last night the kids saw me putting red pepper in the beans, and asked for some raw.

Last night, one kid picked fish, beans and rice, cucumber, red peppers, mangos and tortilla chips. When they called mom at bedtime and reported that's what they ate, mom was upset because it wasn't balanced, and nothing was green enough. So, I thought I'd check with DCUM.

omg the mom is nuts.

Mom is 100% nuts, but none of that was vegetables. If mom is crazy about vegetables, get them to take a bite of spinach or something and call it a day. Or just ignore her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they eat raw vegetables, have a veggie tray in the house. It’s easier than cooking vegetables that they won’t eat, and they can snack on those as well. If mom is getting free child minding, she can back off.

OP here,

I put out a variety of things, and tell the kids I won't make something separate, but they can ask for anything I'm cooking with to also be served plain. So, for example, last night the kids saw me putting red pepper in the beans, and asked for some raw.

Last night, one kid picked fish, beans and rice, cucumber, red peppers, mangos and tortilla chips. When they called mom at bedtime and reported that's what they ate, mom was upset because it wasn't balanced, and nothing was green enough. So, I thought I'd check with DCUM.

omg the mom is nuts.

Mom is 100% nuts, but none of that was vegetables. If mom is crazy about vegetables, get them to take a bite of spinach or something and call it a day. Or just ignore her.

I can wrap my mind, sort of, around cucumbers being a fruit (I know they are botanically fruit) but how are peppers not vegetables?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they eat raw vegetables, have a veggie tray in the house. It’s easier than cooking vegetables that they won’t eat, and they can snack on those as well. If mom is getting free child minding, she can back off.

OP here,

I put out a variety of things, and tell the kids I won't make something separate, but they can ask for anything I'm cooking with to also be served plain. So, for example, last night the kids saw me putting red pepper in the beans, and asked for some raw.

Last night, one kid picked fish, beans and rice, cucumber, red peppers, mangos and tortilla chips. When they called mom at bedtime and reported that's what they ate, mom was upset because it wasn't balanced, and nothing was green enough. So, I thought I'd check with DCUM.

omg the mom is nuts.

Mom is 100% nuts, but none of that was vegetables. If mom is crazy about vegetables, get them to take a bite of spinach or something and call it a day. Or just ignore her.

I can wrap my mind, sort of, around cucumbers being a fruit (I know they are botanically fruit) but how are peppers not vegetables?

Peppers? Like a bell pepper? How is that not a fruit. It grows from a flower and has seeds on the inside. It’s literally the fruit of a pepper plant.