Eat your veggies -- with the kids

Article by: JULIE PFITZINGER , Special to the Star Tribune
Updated: May 7, 2012 - 9:36 AM

No surprise: The best way to broaden your child's palate is to have the produce available.

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Tricia Cornell, author of "Eat More Vegetables," picked up two heads of locally produced lettuce at the Petersen's Flowers stand during the first day of the farmers' market on Nicollet Avenue in south Minneapolis.

Photo: Kyndell Harkness, Star Tribune

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Not long after her oldest child was born, Tricia Cornell decided it was time to get serious about vegetables. She and her husband, Bruce Manning, were splitting a CSA (community-supported agriculture) share with friends, but week after week, Cornell was dismayed to realize their fresh produce was languishing in the vegetable crisper and ultimately going to waste.

"I would see the stuff I wasn't using rotting away. It was criminal," said Cornell, who lives in Minneapolis. "I decided it was time to get things in hand. From that point on, I started planning all of our family meals around the vegetables we were getting every week."

A happy consequence of Cornell's decision is that Nora, now 9, and brother Arlo, 7, have become world-class vegetable eaters, without coercion.

"Are there vegetables they don't like? Sure. I wouldn't say I've sold them on Brussels sprouts. I serve them what they like -- my son will always eat green beans," she said. "Plain and simple is best for kids."

About a year ago, Cornell, a former editor at Minnesota Parent and regular contributor to the Heavy Table online food magazine, discovered she had accumulated 75 recipes she routinely made with the vegetables from the family's CSA share. This revelation was the launching point for her new cookbook, "Eat More Vegetables: Making the Most of Your Seasonal Produce" (Minnesota Historical Society Press, $27.95).

A seasonal turn

Since the family began purchasing its June through October CSA produce from Hog's Back Farm in Arkansaw, Wis., almost 10 years ago, the weekly deliveries have become an interesting way for Nora and Arlo to mark time seasonally.

"In June, they know I'll be making a lot of the lettuce rolls they love since we can easily get several heads of lettuce in our box each week," said Cornell.

For some families, the subject of vegetables can be tricky -- mostly if kids refuse to eat them -- but Cornell advises parents to just relax.

"My job ends when I put good food on the table. It's the kids' job to eat it or not," she said. "The rule we do have in our house is that if something is not on the table at mealtime, it's not on the table. I don't let my kids choose something else to eat. That's the way we've always done it, and I don't think it would ever cross their minds to ask for an alternative."

Kids' tastes can also change, which is why Cornell thinks parents should be careful about pegging a child as "the one who doesn't eat spinach."

"I believe in respecting what my children like to eat, but I don't want to be bound by that and feel like their favorites are all we can have," she said. "Yesterday, your child might not have eaten something that they will definitely try today."

Purchasing a CSA share, planting a back-yard garden or regularly visiting a local farmers market are all good ways to encourage kids to give vegetables a chance.

"The market is really such a vibrant gathering place and we see many families here," said Martha Archer, executive director of Mill City Farmers Market in downtown Minneapolis.

"Our mission is all about education and the experiential piece of learning about where food comes from, meeting the farmers and tasting what they have to offer," she said. "Kids can't help but want to go home with a bag of fresh vegetables."

Have an idea for the Your Family page? E-mail us at tellus@startribune.com with "Your Family" in the subject line.

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CHOOSING A CSA

If your family is considering purchasing a CSA share, Tricia Cornell offers some tips:

The best place to find a farm is by looking online. Cornell recommends two resources: Minnesota Grown, www.minnesotagrown.com, or the Land Stewardship Project, www.landstewardshipproject.org.

Look at the types of vegetables available and make sure you and your family like most of them.

Consider pickup sites -- if your weekly CSA box is delivered to a site that is inconvenient for you, you might regret your decision.

For some, the farmer's experience is important. When Cornell and her family first started purchasing from Hog's Back Farm, the farm was only in its second year of operation. Some might prefer more experienced farmers.

Are perks such as a "day at the farm" or a "pick your own day" important to you? How about a newsletter? Find out what different farms offer to customers.

Know that you will need to pay upfront for the CSA share and that you will receive an average of 15 pounds of vegetables a week. If that's too much, consider splitting a share with another family.

Meet the author

When: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sat. 5/12

Where: Mill City Farmers Market, Mpls.