[Koukouvagia]

I've always been so confused by the "children's food" here in the states. There is a huge market for it and they keep catering to kids. They wont' eat cheese unless it's string cheese, they won't eat fruit unless it's a cereal or a roll-up, they won't drink milk unless it's a milkshake, and the children's menus at restaurants are always the same: hamburger, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, mac n' cheese, spaghetti, and french fries.

I have a couple of friends that have grown up in this manner of eating. Now they won't get near chicken if it has a bone in it (or any other meat with bones in it for that matter), they ONLY eat american cheese (low fat now that they're grown ups), chips must accompany every sandwich, and fruit is eaten out of del monte cups.

Being a teacher in public school I am terrified of what my child will be experiencing when they get to school. I guess my child will have to grow up much like I did - an outsider much like Toula from My Big Fat Greek Wedding, who brought stuffed grape leaves and moussaka leftovers to school every day.

[mattie405]

Our kids would never eat the school lunches when they were small and neither will the oldest grandkid now. Our kids went thru stages with their eating habits, for instance....the oldest went thru a few years where the only thing he wanted was very plain roasted chicken breast on or off the bone with some simple veggies each night and maybe a simple pasta dish once a week, that was his menu for his teenage years and now in his late 30's he eats virtually everything again. The middle one only wanted pot roast with spatzle and veggies for his mainstay and the youngest was into plain chicken or lean pork for his teen years. The oldest grandson (now 8) eats anything you put before him and is a pleasure to sit at a table with, for instance we went over to their house tonight and he asked me if I would make him stuffed cabbage this weekend.....now how many 8 year olds do you know that will request something like that instead of "can we go to McDonalds"? I think his eating habits evolved because from his birth until he was 4 he spent a lot of his time with hubby and I, and us not having children around for quite a few years until he came along had forgotten how to cater to their wants when it came to food. His parents were in school and most of his meals were with us, he ate what we ate so his young tastes were influenced by what he saw us eating, by the same token his younger brothers and sister have different preferences because his parents had much more influence on their eating habits and often have to resort to fast food with the pressures of their job schedules. While the younger ones have no problems with the lunches the schools serve the older one does, he doesn't care for any kind of fried potato, likes his veggies crisp and fresh and chicken nuggets are what he calls mystery meat, being in elementary school they don't get choices like in a high school, there is one meal for everyone at his level. School has already started here and he is making his own little lunches (with his parents approval) to take everyday along with his veggie sticks to snack on and is much happier with that than what the school offers. And this weekend I'll make him his stuffed cabbage with enough for their freezer too.

[OregonYeti]

I agree that the whole idea of "kid food" is a bad idea. Once they are past breast milk or a bottle, they should eat real food rather than being "protected" against it with hot dogs and fries and all that.

The whole idea of "kid-friendly" food is a marketing thing that has done a lot of damage, in my opinion. Made money for some businesses at the expense of the kids. Why did it succeed? Because we didn't know then what we know now. And now that this junk is established in our culture, it is that much harder to do anything about.

Even parents with the best intentions and willing to do what it takes, face a challenge. If your middle-school kid feels ridiculed for not eating burgers and tater tots all the time, it's hard for the parent to explain and impossible for the kid to explain to peers. We're fuddy-duddies and advertising has won, and is reinforced by other parents who go along with it.

It's frustrating for me, as a dad who is willing to put time and effort into making good stuff for my kids, when the school (and even my wife) don't have the same idea.

[ChrisLehrer]

I will say that "kid food" has its justifications here and there. Many smallish children taste leafy greens differently from the way most grownups do -- there's an enzyme or something that most adults stop being able to detect, which is horribly bitter for those (including most small children) who can detect it. And of course a lot of spicy foods are just not appropriate for children with the un-dulled palates that come with youth. But beyond that, they can eat what we eat, and should. Jacqes Pepin and his wife Gloria made a point of this with Claudine, and apparently by the time she was 10 she'd eat pretty much anything without question, because it simply didn't occur to her that someone would serve her something that wasn't appropriate food. I can't compete with Pepin's cooking, to be sure, but he's on to something there.

He also notes the fabulous effect of getting "help" in the kitchen. If your little kids can stir the pot, throw things in, and generally feel they're doing something to make the dish, they will own it. And if the kid "made" the dish, the kid will almost certainly want to eat it. Apparently Claudine used to stir the pot when she was 2 and would eat it all. My main problem with this is time: you have to pre-prep everything, and then it's a whole production to ensure that the kid has the opportunity to help, and that at least doubles cooking times on anything. Still, I strive for it, and when I do it the results are remarkable. My son Sam thinks anything he cooks is good, but occasionally fusses -- quite randomly, actually -- about things made for him.

My own opinion is that "kid food" is a creation of what adults actually like. Americans who push "kid food" don't actually want to eat something more sophisticated themselves, and would prefer hamburgers and tater tots. Which, of course, is a self-reinforcing cycle....

[OregonYeti]

Having the kids involved in making the food is right on They love it when they cranked the pasta machine or even just picked that tomato that's going into the sandwich. Involving the kids in the food preparation, even just a tiny bit, makes a lot of difference. I didn't really try that out much until people here said to try it. It really makes a difference when the kids have a part in making the food. They have a feeling of pride and accomplishment. And all of a sudden the food tastes great to them even if they wouldn't have liked it before.

[petalsandcoco]

I agree with you on this, kids should be involved in the kitchen. This is a learning experience and the fact that we live in a world where we have to buy out the time to get stuff done , this makes for great one on one time with kids. Building blocks for a good relationships and in the end they learn to prepare and appreciate what actually goes on in the kitchen.
On a small note...how I remember my "mommy" making my lunch..... ( I am 42 and still call her mommy...I am not ashamed !)