But My Child Won't Touch Brocolli!

Aaaah- the objections surface. Someone mutters under her breath, "Do her kids *really* eat (fill in the blank)?" (And yes, sometimes the answer to that is no.)

Many of the foods we eat around here are eaten because, well, there's nothing else to eat. But other foods have taken, shall we say, creative marketing.

When my oldest son was wee, I started collecting high-quality picture books. No twaddle around here, thank-you-very-much. And I was delighted and fascinated by the number of good children's books that were full of food. Gorgeous pictures, good stories, and food? Hello! That's what paradise is made of.

"Mommy, is the pasta Strega Nona makes in her magic pot whole wheat?"
"Of course it is, dear."

Ever wanted to try millet? Read Camel Caravan and just see if you can convince your little people not to try it. Raw. Pounded. On thier oatmeal. Whatever. I cry every time we read this book. I tear up just thinking about the nursing mother/ baby camels in this story. Sniff.

I found the book Onions and Garlic

and used it in a brainwashing fashion- determined not to pass on the paternal illness of onion aversion. Did it work? Sorta. But the story is fantastic, and it definitely makes a good spring board for talking about all the health benefits of these two awesome culinary wonders.

Reading a good picture story book about a food is like sprinkling a little magic fairy dust on it. It's just as easy to read a story about real food as it is to read a story about cupcakes. Harder to find, maybe, but quite worth it!

More:
The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear
Though few children need motivation to eat red, ripe, juicy strawberries!
In the Night Kitchen (Caldecott Collection)
Silly, ridiculous, fun. We always laugh at the end because, of course, NO ONE eats cake for breakfast every morning. Um, right?
Chicken Soup with Rice: A Book of Months
Because really, is there a more perfect food?
Eating the Alphabet: Fruits & Vegetables from A to Z
OK, not a story. But a gorgeous way to introduce a vast array of fruits and veggies in a fun way. This book is not yet in our home collection, but it is on The List in a serious way. A must for the natural foodie household.


"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read and all the friends I want to see."
~John Burroughs