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Original poster

Eat your greens!

87 replies

sheoaouhra · 12/06/2024 14:22

really, what has happened to this old staple? It used to be taken for granted that greens would be offered and encouraged to be eaten every day. I just don't see this now - many children I know are going a week or more between mouthfuls of green, as far as I can see- surely it is well known that fresh greens are crucial for a balanced diet and good health?

please tell me your children and young people are eating greens!

OP posts:
AlwaysCloudyAtNoon · 12/06/2024 14:59

Mine has sensory issues around food and can't eat cooked vegetables at all. he eats cucumbers and romaine lettuce every day as that is all I can get down him.

Once though I have him choc-chip mint ice cream and he turned his nose up. I told him to eat his greens and he thought it was hilarious. So did I to be fair. He did eat it too, so now we have a new 'safe food' for him.

Is fresh mint tea a green? Possibly. He drinks that as well. I'd never considered it.

But yes, I grew up with a green veg every single day no matter what and it is something I do try and do as a norm. Plus supplements for when DS is having a bad food week.

Abitorangelooking · 12/06/2024 14:58

HeHeHeDidIt · 12/06/2024 14:31

Parents no longer want to turn meal times into a battle I suppose.
I still have vivid memories of ‘D’F forcing me to ‘sit there until you eat it’ and having to sit at the table for hours with a cold plate of something that would make me gag as I tried to force it down. It did more harm than good and I didn’t eat veg for years.
I happily eat it as an older (veggie) adult but, with SEN DC, we certainly haven’t forced it in this house. It was always offered, but mostly left, unless hidden in sauces. Their tastes will change as they get older. I imagine a lot of parents are the same, along with not wanting to waste money on food that will just be thrown away.

I don't think it needs to be a battle I just put cooked veg in the middle of the table and they help themselves. It's not mandatory. I always try and include at least one veg that everyone likes maybe sugarsnaps or broccoli. I always think it's a good way of getting kids to try new food without committing a meal to it.

Original poster
sheoaouhra · 12/06/2024 14:54

very heartening to see so many parents do still consider it the norm, but slightly alarming that there are some on here prepared to admit they don't insist. I expect this has a lot to do with the obesity and diabetes crisis. You can't be very healthy without daily fresh greens, unless you are taking the same nutrients in a supplement or something

OP posts:
Original poster
sheoaouhra · 12/06/2024 14:50

Gabbsters · 12/06/2024 14:29

Norm where we are is that typically every meal would be served with a big plate of raw veg- carrots, cucumber etc- plus cooked green veg on the side. I think small kids probably get more veg than a lot of adults.

this is great!

OP posts:
Original poster
sheoaouhra · 12/06/2024 14:50

Revelatio · 12/06/2024 14:25

I think you are in the minority in terms of the families you witness not eating green vegetables. I’ve not seen this at all. When I’ve been out with friends there will always be a cucumber or broccoli somewhere. Especially cucumber, it’s on nearly every single children’s meal!

o that's good to hear, thank you

OP posts:
Teamarugula · 12/06/2024 14:34

I don’t think cucumber counts as “greens” any more than green apples or green grapes - it’s a fruit. “Eat your greens” is more about broccoli and leafy greens like cabbage, kale, chard, spring greens, spinach etc - I do think cabbage is a bit out of fashion and people eat more broccoli instead, and people eat salad leaves more as well now that we can get it out of season.

AngelDelightButNotStrawberry · 12/06/2024 14:33

I don’t force my asd child to eat greens either. They get given back to me. I could put veg on the plate every evening and they wouldn’t get eaten. Ever. So I hide veg in food instead.

HeHeHeDidIt · 12/06/2024 14:31

Parents no longer want to turn meal times into a battle I suppose.
I still have vivid memories of ‘D’F forcing me to ‘sit there until you eat it’ and having to sit at the table for hours with a cold plate of something that would make me gag as I tried to force it down. It did more harm than good and I didn’t eat veg for years.
I happily eat it as an older (veggie) adult but, with SEN DC, we certainly haven’t forced it in this house. It was always offered, but mostly left, unless hidden in sauces. Their tastes will change as they get older. I imagine a lot of parents are the same, along with not wanting to waste money on food that will just be thrown away.

Abitorangelooking · 12/06/2024 14:30

My kids are eating greens every night. We are very boring though and have carrots sticks and broccoli most nights. With another veg or two depending what's in Aldi super six. Lots of asparagus this week, sadly only the one of the DC like it so I'm getting extra big portions!

Gabbsters · 12/06/2024 14:29

Norm where we are is that typically every meal would be served with a big plate of raw veg- carrots, cucumber etc- plus cooked green veg on the side. I think small kids probably get more veg than a lot of adults.

AngelDelightButNotStrawberry · 12/06/2024 14:27

My kids won’t touch cucumber, never have! Or tomatoes.

Revelatio · 12/06/2024 14:25

I think you are in the minority in terms of the families you witness not eating green vegetables. I’ve not seen this at all. When I’ve been out with friends there will always be a cucumber or broccoli somewhere. Especially cucumber, it’s on nearly every single children’s meal!