These three words – “Eat your greens” – evoke strong
memories at our house, especially when our son and daughter are sitting around
the dinner table. While attending
elementary school in London, they heard these words constantly at lunchtime. The dinner ladies, as the female cafeteria staff
were called, would not allow children to leave the table until their plates
were clean. Usually that meant choking
down some mysterious green sludge.
As parents, we were happy to know our kids were eating
balanced meals that we didn’t have to prepare.
Only later did we realize that greens had become the enemy. These days we often have impromptu skits when
cooked spinach, kale, chard, beet greens or mustard greens appear as side dishes. Luckily leafy salads don’t prompt anyone to
chant “Eat your greens,” but our son did buy his sister a dinner lady action figure
a few years ago.
How can I overcome this knock on foods that I like to eat?
