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We had little trouble getting our kids to try new foods, but it wasn't because of our own upbringing. I was raised in an orphanage, and never had the choice to refuse food. Immediately after that, I went into the service, and for three more years, I had little opportunity to eat anything except what was available in the mess hall or in the field. Actually, I didn't have much choice of foods until I was 21 years old.

While my menu was always bland and repetitious, at least I had enough nutritious foods to eat throughout my early life. My spouse was a Depression baby, and missed many meals while growing up in a dirt-poor family. In those days, government assistance was called "relief" and poor families were lucky to get farm surplus of potatoes, corn or beans when they lined up at the food distribution centers.

When we raised our own kids, we had experienced a lifetime of forced discipline and totally unreal rules on eating. I'm sure the first cliche we used on our kids when they refused to eat something was, "There are starving children in Africa who'd be thankful to get one-tenth of the food on your plate." What tiresome pap. Fortunately, it didn't take us long to loosen up and work with our kids instead of on them. We all flourished under that umbrella of love and consideration.

We had some rules, the main one passed on to my spouse by the previous generation. It was, "No matter what you think about that new food, at least try a little. Then, if you don't like it, we won't force you to eat any." It always worked, and most of the new foods were eventually accepted.

We did prepare meals that were nutritious, and tried to limit heavy fats and sweets. Fortunately, our kids became dedicated to school sports, and with more influence aimed at them from coaches and teachers, they voluntarily ate the right foods. Very little fast food, candy and cake. We never had problems with obesity, and we as parents made sure we kept our own eating habits as sensible as those of our kids. I can remember our son, on a visit to relatives, when offered some chocolate candy, asked instead for an apple. We were pleased, but our relatives and their kids ... overweight, of course ... were just plain shocked.

As our kids grew older and started high school, we made sure they shared in choosing foods and menus. We also welcomed them into the kitchen to make their favorite dishes. We offered advice when asked, and gave praise on the many, many occasions when it was warranted. Our daughter grew up to be a very talented amateur chef, and within the past year, she has attended gourmet cooking sessions in Spain and Italy. She is the envied hostess of her group of friends, who fight to be invited over for dinner.

Today, both are happy, slim and healthy adults. We must have done something right.

Learn more about this author, Ted Sherman.
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