I always tell my daughters to go for their dreams, to reach for the impossible and to always try the unknown.
This last one is especially true for the food. I am really proud that they eat everything – they love vegetables, fruits, even fish and mussels. I met many parents and they were complaining how their children are picky. And then when we discussed it, it turns out that they were picky too. How could they expect from children to eat everything when they are not?
I guess I was lucky because my father was always bringing recipes home from his business trips and my mother was a great cook, so we ate all kind of things. And that’s why I love trying new tastes and foreign cuisines. And so are my daughters.
But it was not always like that. They resisted at first. Specially the younger Tina was always complaining, afraid of what she will eat. That’s why we usually go in the restaurant to try it for the first time. She is not objecting that hard in the public place:) And the food of course is great. If we add a (non-alcohol) cocktail, we make her day.
The other thing I am doing lately is that I order fresh vegetables and fruits from local farmers. There is a great new company that delivers farm produce once a week and you can choose from several “packages”. The “packages” contain different vegetables and fruits for a whole week. And as they pack the seasonal produce, sometimes there is something in the package that I usually don’t buy. Or don’t even know how to prepare. The farmers are introducing the “old” sorts that we almost forget that existed. And it is the same as the foreign food. We have to try it. And then we search the net and cook-books and look for the recipes to prepare the food at home. We improvise a lot. And have a lot of fun doing it:)
What is really funny is how Tina is against anything new. But once she tries it, she likes it a lot. The same goes for any other thing, activity or place. As she is afraid to reach out. I sometimes just push her to do it. Sometimes I argue with her. Sometimes I explain the positive side-effects. Sometimes I even tricked her to try.
I guess it has a lot to do with the limiting beliefs. Of being afraid to step outside the comfort zone. Even her self-esteem. And the food is the perfect example I can use over and over again to reassure her that their is nothing to be afraid. And that only after trying she can always decide to not do it again. She might even like it:)
How do you teach your children to try something new? How do you introduce something new to them? Are you willing to try?
I would really love to hear your comments and experiences.
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Posts like this bihrgten up my day. Thanks for taking the time.