Bellamy’s Organic. Asparagus: Finally a New Green Vegetable

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Convincing young children to try new things is pretty challenging for most parents; it certainly is for me. My two girls are notoriously NOT interested in trying new foods, particularly when the new food is green (not counting green jelly beans or smarties of course!) and of vegetable origin.

I introduce new vegies, particularly from certified organic producers, regularly and encourage my girls to try them. My current success rate sits at a mere 5% of vegies tried converted to now “on the menu”, but recent additions have included raw capsicum and, amazingly enough, asparagus.

When trying the red capsicum and asparagus my girls asked lots of questions about what the plants looked like and how they were grown. Both are pretty inquisitive about things in nature and it seems food (along with volcanoes and crystals) is one of those interesting things. Maybe my efforts in encouraging mindful thinking about food are paying off!

So, with a background in agriculture and a passion for certified organic food production, I answered their questions with relish (and probably a little too much science). I talked about why we should farm sustainably and look after nature so that when they are older, they will have good wholesome organic food to eat, and a healthy environment to live in.

My oldest, ever the deep thinker, responded to my encouraging chat by reminding me that if we looked after the environment then all the frogs would be happy. Such an insightful observation for an eight year old! On the other hand, my youngest – serious look on her face – told me the most important thing about eating asparagus is… “It makes your pee smell funny!”

I laughed.

Enjoying the experience of talking, and laughing about food and where it comes from, can really develop a mindful attitude to eating.

And remember, children are better equipped to make mindful choices if they see parents choosing nutrient-rich foods, such as organic fruits and vegetables, low-fat or fat-free milk, cheese and yoghurt, and whole grains.

To find out more, head to our website www.bellamysorganic.com.au