Convincing kids to eat broccoli

My 3-year old misbehaved yesterday afternoon. He refused to sit in his booster seat when my wife asked him to.

So, like any good parent, I threatened to punish him.

“Hey, Mister,” I said, in a stern voice. “If you don’t go to your seat right now, you will not be allowed to eat broccoli anymore.”

My 3-year old looked at me, eyes wide-open. He hates broccoli.

“But I love broccoli,” he said. He looked confused.

“Nope,” I insisted. “No broccoli.”

“But I do.”

“That’s your punishment,” I said. “From now on, you only eat Popsicle and chocolate—and that’s that.”

“But I do,” he said, softly this time.

“No.”

My reverse psychology—or whatever psychologists call it nowadays—was working.

My 3-year old looked dejected. He slowly climbed up to his seat and, at least to me, reluctantly allowed my wife to buckle him up.

Between that time and last night, I developed a conscience. So I called my 3-year old, knelt in front of him and offered to allow him to eat broccoli again.

He looked at me, waited a second, smiled a little then said: “Yuck! That’s gross.”

Okay. That’s one way not to convince your kids to eat broccoli.

Any other ideas?

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Comments

[kelly jeanie]

Ha! Hilarious.

[Tracey]

Nice try. I used to crinkle the broccoli top pieces into his grilled cheese when he wasn't looking. Um, yeah. Doesn't work anymore.

[aruri]

What about blending brocolli and chocolate fudge.. no?
I would forget about brocolli if my one-year-old hates it. But if you really insist on brocolli, what about the reward system?
Cut up bite-sized brocolli, like 5 pieces or so, and for every piece he eats, he gets his favourite sticker, or collectible cards etc.

Give it a try and let me know?

[tracey]

Ack! SO close...