I grew up thinking I hated all veg and salad. It was only in my 20s that I realised that I didn't, it was actually my mum that did. she admitted as much recently, that she hates all veg except potatoes and lentil / carrot soup, and most salad bar some green lettuce and coleslaw type salads covered in mayo / dressing. Growing up, a 'salad' consisted of some ham, grated cheddar and crisps with a big dollop of salad cream. The only veg we ever had were boiled carrots, and those frozen mixtures of carrots / green beans / peas. It was only in my 20s when I went away to Uni and started eating with others that I realised that I actualy loved salads (proper, big, dressed salads) and most veggies - I'd just never ever considered the possibility that they could taste great.
Despite this, I seem to have absorbed all my mothers teachings and am in the process of passing them onto my children - and I don't know how to stop doing this! I seem to have had this basic belief ground into me that eating veg and salad is 'weird' and that no child in their right mind would want to eat them. As a result, I don't think I've presented or offered these foods in a good light - there has been no expectation on my part that the boys would even want to eat or enjoy them.
They are 6 and 3 now. Both BLW, both started off eating most things, both got gradually more fussy as time passed, which I know is normal. Now, DS2 is okay - he'll try most veg that is put in front of him, and is less resistant to trying new foods. But DS1 will basically eat brocolli - and that's it as far as veg and salad goes (unless it's hidden in lasagne etc). Neither of them will touch anything raw - tomatoes, pepper sticks, carrot batons, sweetcorn, mushrooms, green leaves etc. And neither of them will touch any made up salads - coleslaw, egg mayo etc.
I just don't know how to introduce them to these foods. They see DH and I enjoying veg and big salads etc, but are utterly resistant to trying anything from our plates or the serving bowls. We eat together most evenings. DS1 eats lunch at school two days a week and I know he tries new things there. At home he simply will not, and any efforts to get himm to try something new very quickly descend into tears and arguing. They will both eat plenty of fruit. I don't want to get into a battle with either of them over food. I try to serve up most food in serving bowls so they can help themselves (some hope!)I would not insist on a clean plate policy but we can't afford to be offering cherry tomatoes that then get binned every time.
Advice please! Both on ways to offer these foods to them and on getting my head straight on what my expectations of them should be. I am a good cook, I enjoy cooking, I want them to enjoy it too. I don't want them to have to wait until they are 25 to enjoy a salad!