DS wants to try broccoli. Is there something else that will make him into a veg lover?

[Kiriwawa]

This is really an SN post but I'm casting the net wide for more ideas!

DS has SN and is a food refuser all round. He eats about 10 things and only one veg (corn on the cob).

He saw a photo of himself with a bit of broccoli when he was a baby and has said he's going to try it tomorrow. He is very scared of food he doesn't know but he's recently tried 2 new foods (1 liked, 1 not) so I feel we're on a bit of a roll so I really want to capitalise on his excitement that actually the bit of melon he ate wasn't the most delicious thing ever but neither did it kill him.

On the one hand, great that he wants to try it. On the other, I'm worried he'll hate it and that will be the window to the magic world of veg shut for another 3 years.

Any suggestions?

If he likes corn on the cob, which is very sweet, then maybe sweet potato, squash or carrots.

Oops sorry I should have said he has a big thing about texture. So entirely smooth/creamy = fine. Mash = most hideous texture in the world.

Crunchy = good.

Steam it, don't boil it. It tastes much nicer that way and stays greener. Only lightly steam as it will go to mush otherwise.

Good luck! I hope he enjoys it.

Would he eat it will cheese sauce? Makes it taste a lot better IMO. Tenderstem brocolli also tastes better than the regular stuff.

Does he like cheese, because broccoli tastes nicer with some grated cheese sprinkled over it

Sugar snap peas?

Can he help you shop for and prepare it?

Can you smother it in cheese sauce?

Get some other options 'interesting' veg to compare? Maybe have a mini tasting session or would that be too much for him?

Lightly steam it.

Has he tried fresh raw peas, straight from a pod? They're very sweet and crunchy.

Raw carrots are crunchy and sweet. Avocado's cauliflower puree are smooth and creamy. And butternut squash puree is lovely! fresh raw peas are sweet and crunchy too.

broccoli soup?
tempura veg? is a hit with my asd ds because he likes chip shop style fried food.
those ella type baby purees-it's baby food but it's a start and could mean you could add it in to something else he likes
juiced-i have heard of healthy types having veg juice

Ooh good ideas!

I had thought tenderstem but yes maybe some cheese would help. He won't eat soup or puree because of (perceived) grainy texture.

And raw peas is another good one. He might actually try them. And tempura is insipired! I'm very tempted because he is a big batter boy but I might keep that in reserve as I suspect if I do it once, I'm going to become the tempura queen!

I cooked some carrots for him once and he laughed at me because he thought I'd made a stupid mistake in my food prep :o

How about preparing broccoli in a few ways and show him that there are different ways to eat things, some of which he may prefer to others.

Raw - with a dip if he likes them, or just crunchy and washed
Steamed
With a cheese sauce or a baked cheese sauce
In a soup

etc

DS has SN and likes crunchy things and won't eat mashed/stewed/mixed-together things like spag sauce. He also hates pasta, rice etc but will eat lightly-steamed broccoli florets so they are bright green, and just tender to the bite, either plain or with a bit of melted butter.

He also likes raw carrot sticks, sweet potato French fries, and steamed green beans.

This all sounds v marvellous but he won't eat anything in a sauce, stew, casserole, chopped into bits etc - it has to look like and taste like a fresh, bright, raw or just-steamed vegetable. Messing about with it - no eat.

So if your boy wants to eat broccoli I suggest he gets: just broccoli. A few small bits. The fresher the better as older broccoli tastes damp and acrid. And if he likes butter or ketchup give him a small blob on the side of the plate to dip.

If he's not keen whip it away without making a comment and tuck into it cheerfully yourself.

Good luck :) hope he likes it

Might sprinkling the veg with something crunchy help? Breadcrumbs, seeds, bacon or onion bitz or combo of all or some? I know how he feels re mash. Makes me feel like it might suffocate me!

Oh yeah - serving it up on small coloured plates helps. Bright green broccoli looks great on an orange plate. Carrot sticks look bright on blue. DS is very visual as many kids with ASD are and small portions that look colourful and interesting will get tried more readily than the traditional UK all on one white plate method.

I like the idea of preparing the same veg different ways. That might be better for a 'tasting session' than lots of different flavours and colours.

Would the appeal of taking peas out of the pods help him? They are in season currently and you could get a big bag for £1 in Morrisons the other day.

Sugar snap peas.

Maybe baby sweetcorn would interest him if he likes corn on the cob?

Trucks - I think your DS might be my DS :o I'll give those ideas a go.

It's always a very delicate process because if he hates something he just stops eating altogether. But he's finally (wave your pompoms) normal weight so I feel I can mess about a bit with his food. If he doesn't eat anything other than breakfast in a day, he's not going to end up in hospital.

Thanks everyone!

Oops xposted with loads of brilliant ideas. Loving the colours, roasting and crunchy sprinkles. And the pea thing could be great.

I'm feeling quite excited now :)

My DS has ASD; what we do is put days on the calendar that are 'new food' days, then he chooses in advance what new food he is going to try, from a choice of three (which I do with pictures). I include old foods but new textures IYSWIM e.g. carrot soup, which he won't eat, instead of boiled carrot, which he eats. Once it's in the calendar, he gets reminders, and then on the day he's supposed to at least try one bite. Then I do a sort of feedback form with a picture of the food and boxes to tick - loved it, indifferent, didn't like it - which we store for future reference. DS still won't eat soup of any description, but he now eats e.g. mozzarella, chickpeas, aubergine, guacamole.
That said, I think it works with DS because apart from sticky textures, with him and food it's more about generalized distrust of the new, than sensory issues, and the whole 'structuring' of the new food experience seems to help him

in my house we call cauliflower winter broccoli - similar texture - also vg with cheese.

Raw peas from the pod are delicious - get some for yourself, too!

If you find he likes lightly cooked broccoli, then asparagus isn't a million miles away in taste or texture. The long stems are easy and fun to eat. Also, cauliflower can be eaten raw, or with a dip or sprinkles.

Asparagus? With something to dip it in?

DS has recently discovered mange tout and sugar snap peas. Well, he thinks they are both one type of food "crunchy beans". Would these work?

DS also likes raw peppers but not cooked. Again nice and crunchy