Pass the Veggies

Tonight for dinner I wanted to try out a new recipe for the kids.  I made spaghetti with ham and peas, with a creamy sauce made from yogurt.  It was fantastic.  Tessie has recently developed a dislike of peas, a sad fact since she used to gobble them down.  I wanted to get more veggies in her dinner so I peeled, sliced, and steamed some assorted carrots my mom had passed along from a friends garden.

As she often does, Tes wandered into the kitchen while I was cooking to try and work her way into a bite.  I gave her a raw carrot and she wandered off chewing it.  Moments later she was back, asking for another.  I gave her one and then warned her, that was it until dinner.

I served us all a plate and we sat down to eat.  The kids liked the pasta and Tessie’s veggies were gone within seconds.  “More carrots please!” She said with a smile. I got her a second helping which was also gone, quick as a flash.  This time, when she asked for more, I asked her to please eat some pasta first, and then she could have more carrots.  This is when I laughed at myself. 

Getting Tes to eat more carbs or cheese, or anything else other kids find irresistible, by bribing her with more vegetables is a pretty common occurrence in our house.  Tonight it struck me as particularly funny that she would rather eat multi colored carrots than her creamy, delicious pasta.  I guess I should stop being amazed and just pass the veggies.  What a beautiful little mystery.