Trying New Foods and Lying to the Kids

Getting my kids to try something new has always seemed like a task based in futility. New sports or activities are easy but when it comes to trying new foods it is like they have a pre-set button that says "No, don't like that" before they even try it. Telling them to broaden their horizons, don't knock it until you've tried it and how do you know you don't like it have gotten me nowhere. Sneakiness is where I have found it works also outright lying.

I don't recommend lying but when it works, it works. I have gotten my kids to try new foods by hiding them inside casserole dishes, quiches and even stews. Spinach, carrots and peas are just to name a few. The latest dish that was up for question was Pumpkin Roll.

My mom's best friend makes the best pumpkin roll ever. She has made it for as long as I can remember and it is still one of my favorite Thanksgiving and Christmas deserts. My sons had issue with trying this new food. It was pumpkin. Like the same pumpkin we carved for Halloween. After seeing the insides they were not about to try this new food. So I lied.

I told my children there was actually no pumpkin in the pumpkin roll. It was just called that because of the color. At least at their ages they are still slightly gullible. I had a piece which I ooohhed and ahhhed over while showing them how delectable this dish was. This prompted their investigation. They needed to try it but only if it didn't have pumpkin.

I sliced a piece for each of them so they could try it for themselves. Smiling secretly to my self as their taste buds were delighted to new levels. When they asked for more I came clean on my white lie. I explained that the only reason I lied was to get them to try a new food. After I stood in the corner for 2 minutes as my punishment for lying they proceeded to ask for more pumpkin roll. The lying worked in getting them to try something new. I will probably do it again to them to try new foods.