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?
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You go Jessica...
I support Jessica in this one. Bought her book for my daughter too!
We have an epidemic in this country of obese/diabetic children. Training their taste buds to eat these veggies while young is SO MUCH more important than a little white lie. I’m sure my children forgave me regarding the Tooth fairy and Santa just as I’m sure my grandchildren will forgive these hidden veggies. Trust me, a well adjusted kid will be able to put this in perspective.
Betsy | 1 year, 4 months ago
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Children are not stupid
So why treat them that way? I’m not saying that this cookbook would not work, but getting the child to be active in his/her own health is, in my not so humble opinion, the better method. By all means, buy the cookbook, but have your child bake with you. I realize that with older children that might not work so well, but in that case, take them through the whole process of buying/growing the produce, telling them why it is good for you and washing and cooking them. Make them into ways that will be delicious for them, be that brownies or a mix of fruit and sweet veggies for a snack. Show them the wonder that healthy food can be and they will be more likely to eat it than if you just plop it down in front of them expecting them to eat it on blind faith and because mother said.
I think that the show Lazytown (http://www.lazytown.com/) has the right idea, and has caused more children to eat their fruits and veggies than any other marketed product I can think of.
Anonymous | 1 year, 2 months ago
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Do we really want to examine the ethics of hiding veggies in kids foods?
Anyone who has bothered to try to learn about healthy eating knows that most of the processed foods on our grocery store shelves are hiding-not veggies-but preservatives, artificial colors, chemicals for texture, to prevent caking, the list is endless…and the market is targeted at children as well as less educated and less able to understand the “dye # whatever.
I think its perfectly fine to add some veggies to another dish, however, it would probably be better to introduce kids to fresh, raw veggies or steamed veggies and foster a love of good things to begin with. Another thing-kids will eat if they are hungry.
Get rid of the junk and provide exercise and fresh air, and when they come in, they’ll crunch that carrot or apple if they are hungry.
Anonymous | 1 year, 2 months ago
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Wow, some people are so lucky!!!
I think some people are lucky to have children that will eat what they eat or are even willing to try new foods. I have a two year old that eats a lot of the same foods over and over. If he doesn’t recognize it, he won’t eat it. He loves all kinds of fruit at least. As for vegetables, forget it. He will throw them on the floor at first sight. He loves basically anything with cheese, including macaroni and cheese. So the idea of adding cauliflower is great for me. If my son distrusts me for adding vegetables to things he likes, well then our relationship was not a strong one to begin with. I believe that if I love my children the best way I can, they will not care about something as simple as that. Also, what if adding vegetables to certain recipes becomes the way we ALWAYS prepare it. Then is that lying too? Of course not, it just becomes a healthier way of cooking. I will keep trying to get my son to eat fresh vegetables, but I think in his own time he will eat them, and if not I would love to use this book for years.
It is so easy for people to criticize when they forget that EVERY child is different. Remember the saying “different strokes, for different folks”. We all try to do what is the best interest of our children. Plus, I hope all of you critics know you are not perfect either. We all make mistakes. About being ethical, aren’t we taught not to judge or maybe we should have been. Maybe parents these days can add that to the list of things to teach children.
Anonymous | 1 year, 1 month ago
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My 3 and 1/2 year old daughter loves vegetables, she even eats salads, but we still add veggie puree to many dishes. We are not lying to her about it either, she “helps” mom prepare the purees. We serve her the same meal that we are eating, so we are eating “hidden” veggies, too. It’s good for all of us, try it.
Anonymous | 1 year, 1 month ago
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GIVE ME A BREAK PEOPLE
1st for all you folks who think it is wrong, well than boy, are you gonna have a lot of explaining to do about Santa and so on.
I also suppose you never bribe your kids either, give it a rest. This book is awesome and I have some who love veggies and some who hate them,
So, i would much rather sneak them in than and be a “liar” than to not get them in at all and have a child without good nutrition going into them at all.
By the way for all of you parents who give your kids juicy juice with the veggies in it, I bet you never told them until they tried it and liked it that it is filled with veggies.
You, me all of us! Our moms have been sneaking veggies in us forever and guess what at 35 I happen to be certified in fitness and nutrition and love veggies.
I have no trust issues thanks to mom “lying” to me about the veggies in my meals growing up, love the book For those who do not like it, all I have to say is very childish, na,na,na, foo,foo my kids are healthier than yours, thanks to “lies”
ANDREA | 1 year, 1 month ago
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It's okay to trick your to eat healthy foods.
I can remember when I started feeding my first child who is now twenty-six years-old. I wanted my first born to be healthy so when she started to eat baby jar food. I would always mix sweet with sour jars like for example sweet potatoes with peas. She would eat both jars just fine after I would prepare them for her. One day my daughter asked me why she always ate her salty foods with her sweets
and I told her why.
BeatrizChavez | 1 year ago
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Go For It!
I don’t tell my children there is sugar in their brownies—or eggs—or flour—or oil—or whatever else. I would not consider it lying to NOT tell them what they are eating. If they like it—they could care less what I made it out of. I consider it my duty to get those servings of fruits and veggies into them whether they like it or not. The fewer fights there are about it the better. I am also one of the lucky ones though. Even my pickiest eater has a few favorite fruits and veggies. I wouldn’t think twice about using recipes that incorporate healthier choices.-especially if my kids liked them. I am always looking for the one step healthier version of foods. I would continue to supply the whole version of the veggies on their plates as well. -but whatever gets ‘em in, -I say Go For It!
Sierra | 1 year ago
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love
You always need to love the food you eat, just like I do.
ashlee | 1 year ago
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Really worried about this?
Are we really worried about this? I really think it’s a parent’s choice. I let my son know what he’s eating in hopes that when we are out at a restaurant or some where he is going to make a good choice. If your child doesn’t do that and you really have to hide it then who cares, not a big deal. There’s so much more going on in the world today to worry about though.
mandy | 1 year ago
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