Our kids are really great about forcing themselves to eat vegetables, even if they don’t really want them. They are excited that the spoon is coming and then when it’s a bite of peas (again), they remember that they don’t want peas! No peas! Ooo, look the spoon is coming again! This joy ride will be over in the very near future as that spoon loses appeal and reality sets in that green could mean yummy avocados or yucky peas. They now like peas + carrots, but peas alone was only partially tolerable. Behold, the magic of mommy’s genius: juice!

I needed the peas a bit less thickened, so I poured in some white grape juice to thin it a bit. Suddenly, peas are the new avocados! More peas! said Zach’s expressive smile. MORE PEAS!!! said Rissa’s kicking feet and sparkling eyes. This must be the equivalent of adding a bit of sugar to vegetables when they cook, as Matt’s grandparents used to do. I’ll be honest: I judged them… I thought that was ridiculous… my kids were NOT getting sugar in their vegetables. Then I had kids and I realized that my former no-kids self had no business judging anyone! You do what you have to do! While I still have no intention of ladling in a spoonful of granulated goodness, a touch of juice goes a long way. And they need the extra fluids anyway, to aid their liver’s ability to process solids etc. I tasted it myself, and even though I love peas, I admit it was a drastic improvement! A stroke of genius touched down in Urbana today, ladies and gentlemen, and I’m going to remember this trick! It will last right up until they can chew, and then when I can’t mix liquids into the puree when needed, I’ll have to wait for the next idea to come.