Food Fight
When a book called Deceptively Delicious was recently published, it prompted a double-barreled debate about ethics—those of its author and that of its premise.
Surprisingly, “Deceptively Delicious” is a cookbook.
Subtitled “Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food”, the book extols the strategy of deceiving finicky young eaters by hiding veggies in the few foods they deign to down. Pureed spinach in the brownies. Pureed cauliflower in the mac and cheese.
The book’s author, Jessica Seinfeld—aka, Mrs. Jerry Seinfeld—was soon accused of plagiarism by the writer of a competing cookbook who claimed to have camouflaged carrots long before Ms. Seinfeld buried beets in chocolate cake. The writer sued the Seinfelds after noting “uncanny similarities” between the two books.
Denying the charges, Ms. Seinfeld’s book shot to the top spot in its category on The New York Times best sellers list. But at the same time, an even more intense debate was being stirred by professionals and parents who claim that hiding the truth about vegetables from kids is an unethical and irresponsible form of deception.
“Lying to children via trickery—even ‘for their own good’—can feed a lifetime of distrust, as it should,” declared a famous food critic. A well-known nutritionist concurred: “It will not develop an appreciation of the flavors, textures, and interests of various vegetables.”
All of which prompted Ms. Seinfeld to put down her spoon and take to her website, asking these questions about food—if not life: “Does a hidden vegetable in a child’s food amount to lying? Is it ever okay to deceive children or do we owe them the whole truth—and the whole vegetables? Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy, for instance, are outright fictions…with which the vast majority of parents in this country routinely choose to deceive their children. Is that wrong? I don’t think so.”
What do you think?
Add Comment Share This
Comments
twilight
i love twilight/edward
bella swan | 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
twilight
i now i love twilight tooooooooooooooooo
bella swan | 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
Holy sh**
Wow this was a while ago lol see ye
Louise May | 4 months, 1 week ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
Looking for "actual" recipes
My youngest grandson has just been diagnosesd as being Type 1 Diabetic.
My daughter and i are looking for a cook book that has recipes that are right for him——we would appreciate any suggestions on cook books to buy
Claire
Claire Unger | 4 months, 1 week ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
mom
I have 5 year old twin girls. One of them is a very picky eater, without trying something she’s already saying I don’t like that. She may have been liking something for a while, and then she’ll say well I liked that last week but not any more. The other twin who would eat or try anything is now starting to be a picky eater. My concern is that they aren’t eating a good breakfast, bringing back their lunch back from school and barely eating dinner. On the other hand they are sleeping alot and always tired. I think it’s because they don’t want to eat that they are so tired. I have tried talking to them and explaining to them why it’s important to eat. I have tried different foods and snacks and I am running out of resources. What should I do?
Ana Cotto | 4 months, 1 week ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
Desert
I think that there should be some easy desert options, like ones that if a kid was looking for an idea, they could just come on here and make it themselves.
Emer Jenkins | 4 months, 1 week ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
stressfree67
I am a parent of four children; needless to say, I do not see anything wrong with hiding foods inside of foods; however, I would see something wrong with hiding a nonedible item in food. I recall when my nineteen year old was three years old and she did not like liver, beets, or squash. I decided to make a meatloaf one day (and yes) I minced up the zuchinni and added it to the meatloaf as well as the beets. To my surprise she ate every bit of it and exclaimed how good it tasted. So the next time i made meatloaf I had her watch me make it. She noticed the minced vegetables and said, I don’t like that! I replied, “ Well, you’ve been eating these vegetables in your other meatloaf.” She thought for a moment and said “ That’s okay, I can only eat them in the meatloaf, but not by themselves on a plate. Instant compromise on another level. Mrs. Seinfield did nothing immoral or wrong in writing her book. Far as hiding vegetables being unethical due to not knowing or being aware of the textures, natural flavors of the veggie itself is nonsense. By placing vegetalbes into other foods extends to a child there’s more than one way to eat your vegetable. To say that, is to say I agree with “What ever works”
Stressfree67 | 4 months, 1 week ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
arther
i like arther
aileen | 4 months ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
me-you
motherhood and nutrition is simple from the momemt of conception, that is when it all starts
eating healthy and it never lets up until you child is an adult. What your child sees is what they are likely to do. Parents have the power if you want your child to do different give them a choice if you want a certain behavior then state it;but mom should always be consistant and the same with food -no questions asked in giving no questions(battles recieved)—Sounds harsh,naw—because it is all surrounded by love. Motherhood and eating healthy is not so hard-project what you want.michelle velasquez | 4 months ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
cookbooks for kids
Please I need a cookbook for boys age 9-12yrs. With foods like roast,chiken,veggies,cakes,pies,cookies. He is a advance cook for his age. I am his Grmother and he has watched me do these things and he wants to be a chef when he becomes of age. I am proud of my Grson and just the thins he wants. He is a staight A student since he started school. Please Help
Denise Johnson | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
« First < 6 7 8 9 10 > Last » (12 pages)