In a world of catchy fast-food jingles and slickly packaged carbs, parents don't do much to sell kids on eating vegetables.Time to call on Cornell University Prof. Brian Wansink, director of the school's Food and Brand Lab, the same guy Birds Eye went to when it wanted to raise its vegetables' profile with consumers. Wansink, author of the bestseller "Mindless Eating," has plenty of ideas for parents:
Accentuate the positive. Research indicates that a person's expectations have a tremendous influence over experiences. If you think those green beans are going to be soggy, boring and bland, you're more likely to hate eating them. Wansink suggests you give kids a reason to think a vegetable might be good, maybe invoking a favorite relative: "This is grandmother's favorite recipe for green beans." You also can talk up the place of origin: "These green beans are from California. Have you heard of California?" If your kid is intrigued by the place, he might give the beans a fighting chance.
Cede power. Kids like power, much like their older counterparts. You can give it to them by letting them choose among alternatives: tomatoes or corn? Spinach or peppers? "It's all about ownership," Wansink says. "If you give them a variety of things, then the ownership becomes, 'What do I want?' They can still think they're master and commander of the food situation."
Sell the product. Giving vegetables cool names such as "X-Ray Vision Carrots" or "Broccoli Bits" has been shown to be effective in increasing consumption, Wansink says.
Look for growth. You're born with a fixed number of taste buds on your tongue, Wansink says. When you're little and your tongue is small, the taste buds are concentrated in a small area and you're supersensitive to sour tastes and bitter tastes. As you grow, your tongue does, too, and the sensitivity abates.
"The number of taste buds per square centimeter starts dropping, which is why many adults find broccoli pretty decent," Wansink says. "Most kids who have gone through puberty find it pretty decent but a little less so, but once kids are younger than that" broccoli is a tough sell.
The bottom line: After a growth spurt, your little darling might want to give those sour or bitter vegetables another try.
