It sounds like a good idea — disguise vegetables in more “palatable” forms and get the best of both words. An article in the LA Times this past week discusses this tactic with parents sneaking vegetables into their children’s diets…and how it can backfire.
“Parents seek ways to make kids eat vegetables”
So an increasing number of parents are loading the foods their kids will eat with produce they think they should be getting. And food makers are lending a hand, offering a growing array of processed foods that sneak vegetables and fruits into chips, juice and nuggets.
But some nutritionists and public health experts wonder if parents these days are relying too much on the sneak attack. They doubt if kids will ever develop a taste for vegetables in all their leafy glory if they are hidden in smoothies and macaroni and cheese. Some say this well-intentioned sneaking could produce kids less likely — not more — to eat greens.
Seems like a balanced approach would be best, combining sneaky and normal vegetable eating. It’s what I have to do with myself, and I’m nearly 40. :) Giving myself a bit of credit, however, nowadays I actually enjoy trying new foods and overcoming my aversion to old ones. This is a motivation that was entirely absent in my youth.
Post a Comment