Garbage Plate

When I was a kid we often times would have a vegetable supplement to our dinners. This would be a big pile of fresh veggies, whatever was in the fridge, cut up and set on a plate. This plate was referred to as the "garbage plate".

The garbage plate was always prepared first, prior to the meal, so that if we got hungry we could munch on fresh veggies (my mom was a GENIUS, I tell you!).

I believe that my love for fresh, wholesome fruits and veggies has a lot to do with the raw foods my parents fed me as a kid...so grateful!

I honestly had forgotten all about the garbage plate, having exited my childhood years many, MANY years ago. So that brings us to the here and now...where I would add veggies to my kids' dinner plates. And they would sometimes eat them...and sometimes not.

I was at a friend's house for dinner one evening and her son asked for some food prior to dinner...and she set out a veggie tray she had prepared. Suddenly I was reminded of my own youthful excitement of the veggie tray. Why hadn't I been making my kids garbage plates???

The next night I cut up cucumber, celery, carrots, green pepper, added some olives and voila! I noticed 4 things immediately - 1) It's waaaaay more fun to eat from a garbage plate than a side dish on your own dinner plate 2) They ate their veggies first...which is better for digestion 3) By offering variety, my kids can pick what they like best - but it's ALL good options and 4) My kids were EXCITED about eating vegetables.

So if you are having troubles getting your kids to eat their veggies...maybe try a pre-dinner garbage plate, it worked for me and it works for them!