Comments on: Does Deception Belong at the Dinner Table?

By: Amanda

Amanda — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:37:58 +0000

I quite agree with Deb, and if you don’t like the “deceptiveness” tell your kids what your putting in your food. I have had my 5 year old sons taste something and then told him what was in it and he was surprised not angry and it gave him the idea to try the vegetable on it’s own. I think that kids are so different in their personalities that you have to figure out what works for your own kids. I don’t think it will stop families from making “regular” vegetables. The book states several times that she serves regular vegetables too and veggies and dip before meals. I think it’s just another way to get more. I like the idea even for myself.
Perhaps your child just won’t eat vegetables not matter what you try, probably just a stage and they will change with time and encouragement, but in the meantime don’t you want them to get some vegetables one way or another? I don’t usually sit down and list all the ingredients before meals whether I’m putting in puree’s or not, so my kids probably know one way or another. I suppose if they asked I would probably say “taste it and then I’ll tell you”. I will continue to do what I can to get as much fruits and veggies in my children “naked” and “hidden” FYI – I just discovered that my children will eat plain spinach salad with a simple honey mustard vinaigrette and a few sliced almonds. I was pleasantly surprised

By: Deb Fennema

Deb Fennema — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:06:17 +0000

Thanks for the welcome Michelle.
I don’t know about Ms Lapine’s children, but from the Oprah show it sounded like Jessica Seinfeld’s kids liked their vegetables, some anyway. At least she wasn’t overly concerned about how much they actually ate since the rest of the meal had hidden special ingredients. That was my take on it anyway. It doesn’t help when we make the table a battleground, right? So if hiding veggies in the main dish, and not having to make a big deal about the actual vegetables works, I consider that a big plus!

By: Michelle Stern

Michelle Stern — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:38:28 +0000

Hi Deb,
These books bring the importance of cooking for our families to the forefront, and for that I am very grateful. It is easy to be ideological about how things should be done – but at least both of these women are trying to feed their children home made and nutritious foods. Maybe one day, their kids will enjoy veggies for veggie’s sake. Thanks for visiting my blog.

By: Deb Fennema

Deb Fennema — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:19:14 +0000

Well, just my 2cents worth….”Sneaking’ veggies into our childrens meals is something that has been going on for decades. My oldest will be 33, and my friends and I discussed how to hide nutritious ingredients in the meals. My grown daughter(no children) for years has used applesauce, and now pureed veggies in cake mixes and such in place of the oil. It makes them moist and not so fattening! Two women each wrote a cookbook about this subject. How about ‘great minds think alike’? One person thinks Jessica Seinfeld really doesn’t cook anyway… what do you base that on? If you watched her on Oprah, she stated that she puts ‘real’ veggies on the plate with the doctored food, and then doesn’t make a fuss about ‘eating your veggies’. Let’s not make a federal case out of hiding veggies in our kids meals. I know wives who hide vegetables in their husbands meals! Buy whatever book you want, or don’t, and celebrate the health of your children. And let’s leave the world, and the internet community a better place with positive comments

By: Michelle Stern

Michelle Stern — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:01:51 +0000

Hi Emily,
I don’t really know if any nutrients are lost the second time the dish is cooked.

But I would rather see people eating home-made food than nutrients all wrapped up in a pill. (Just my humble opinion!). I get worried about what pills teach kids about problem solving…but don’t get concerned about eating home cooked healthy meals

By: emily

emily — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 21:55:18 +0000

My question is this: How much nutritional value is really added to the food when you’ve steamed and pureed and cooked a vegetable a second time? Would it be much more than is already included in a daily multi vitamin and regular fruits and vegetables that are included with meals?

By: Molly

Molly — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 04:13:43 +0000

Probably the only reason I absolutely LOVE eating Brussel sprouts, broccoli, green beans, carrots, and other vegetables is because my parents fed them to me at a young age, and I accepted them as they were, with no frills, because vegetables are just what we ate. This book sends the wrong message to parents looking to feed their kids healthy food. I looked through the book to see what all the hype was about, and was disappointed that it was becoming a bestseller. It’s just wrong.

By: Michelle Stern

Michelle Stern — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 17:52:37 +0000

Idetrorce,
You don’t agree with ME or the nutritionists in the article? What don’t you agree with? I enjoy seeing other points of view…

By: Idetrorce

Idetrorce — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 01:55:36 +0000

very interesting, but I don’t agree with you
Idetrorce

By: Michelle Stern

Michelle Stern — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:16:35 +0000

Florinn – thanks for your comments. I admit – I am thrilled that so many people are buying Seinfeld’s book because they want their kids to eat better. We have tried a few of the recipes here, too. My kids helped and I made a big deal about the “secret” ingredients that made them healthier than some of the traditional versions. While the recipes tasted fine, the actual amount of veggies per serving was quite low. Better than nothing, I suppose… But I would rather try some fun and new veggie dishes to highlight why they are special separately. Overall, the book is getting families cooking, which is better for everyone than simply opening packages and doing take-out. I just hope that parents don’t lose sight of serving and enjoying veggies for their own sake (they are delicious) and teaching by example.