School Lunch
Food Chain Radio Show #1044
Michael Olson, Author & Urban Farming Agriculturalist
School Lunch and Learning to Eat
Guest: Bee Wilson, Author of First Bite
It was, most likely, our very first rebellion against parental authority and our very first grab at controlling our lives.
Michael Olson Food Chain Radio: First Bite and School Lunch
The parents placed a healthy serving of mashed broccolli and potato in front of us and then looked on in anticipation. We considered their offering and wondered, ‘Am I supposed to eat that?’ Being hungry, we gave it a try. ‘What’s this bitter green stuff? I only like sweet!’ And so we pushed the bowl off onto the floor and let out with a “Waahhhhhhhhh!”
Then we took note of parents’ terrified expressions and realized, for the very first time, that we had a way to gain control!
From that childhood moment on, it was us against the adults, with the adults trying to get us to eat the foods they thought right, with us wanting to eat the foods we thought right.
The give and take between what adults wanted us to eat and what we wanted to eat taught us how to eat, and we likely held on to those food preferences, for better or worse, until well into adulthood.
This give and take between parents and children leads us to ask…
Comment: Should children eat what parents serve, or should parents serve what children eat?
Tune in here, for the syndicated Food Chain Radio Show #1044 February 20, 2016 Saturday 9AM Pacific
I do not think kids should be forced to eat things that they don’t want to eat. They should instead be encouraged to try new things in creative ways. I always included my children in preparing meals. Kids are more eager to try things that they helped to cook or create. It also has to be pretty and interesting. Food volcano’s, food tunnels, food mountains, whatever. Just make it creative.