Do you have picky eaters at your house? We sure do! We have kids that only want to eat spaghetti with Parmesan cheese - and no spaghetti sauce!

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

Parents might want to use Green Eggs and Ham as a resource to teach children not to be afraid to try new foods. My youngest grandchildren really like the rhymes and illustrations. Believe it or not, I have some grandchildren who are very picky eaters. I know what a challenge this can be because I was picky and i remember what a hard time my mom had trying to introduce new foods to me. Although I love vegetables and fruits now they were some of the hardest to add to my diet.

In Green Eggs and Ham, Sam-I-am asks, “Do you like green eggs and ham?” The character, No-Name, replies, “I do not like green eggs and ham.” No-Name, like a child, puts his nose and hand in the air to ward off the foods. He defiantly refuses to eat the new foods.

Sam-I-am tries to entice the a picky eater to try the new foods. He uses rhyming situations to get the stubborn No-Name to eat a tiny bite. Would No-Name "try them in the rain on a train? Would he try them in a box with a fox? Would he try them with a mouse in a house?"

As my mom learned, and all parents need to learn Just keep trying! Sam-I-am does not quit. He keeps trying and surprisingly No-Name tries finally the green eggs and ham. Guess what happens? No-Name likes the food! This is often just what happens at our house! Once the food is finally tried the kids are amazed that it tasted good and then they wonder why they didn't want to eat it.

The Green Eggs and Ham theory works if parents keep offering new and healthy food, as hopefully, and eventually children will try them. Don't hesitate to try this method.




Note: Green Eggs and Ham book from large collection of Dr. Seuss books in my personal library.