A little over one year ago while watching his brother's soccer practice, I noticed Mac crawling along on all fours and nibbling grass.  He was biting off bits, chewing and swallowing.  My thought, apparently my son is a rabbit...or a cow...or a horse.  This is a child who

Me:  "Mac, what are you doing?"

Mac:  "Grazing."

Me:  "What?"

Mac:  "I'm eating grass."

Me:  "Why?"

Mac:  "I like it."

Me:  "Why?"

Mac:  "I'm a horse."

Being the mother of this child, I just dropped the conversation because I know Mac would prefer to be any living creature other than human (another story).    As previously mentioned, until about a year ago Mac would not eat vegetables...fruits, yes.  Trying to bribe him into eating veggies was more of a challenge than getting me to stop eating chocolate.  (Hello, my name is Melody and I am a chocoholic.)   But after this "grazing" incident, I had enlightenment.  The dang light bulb lit in my brain, and that evening at dinner I approached the "eat your veggies" challenge with a new perspective.  I gave Mac raw spinach leaves and raw broccoli.  He ate every bite with no argument, no complaints and not even a grimace.

Turns out Mac loves vegetables.  He just does not like cooked vegetables.  Mac prefers his vegetables crunchy, raw and at room temperature or cold from the refrigerator.  I discovered he has a strong dislike and/or intolerance for warm, soggy vegetables.  Who would have thunk?  Well, I --his mother-- should have because I prefer raw vegetables.  Also, I had dealt with eating disorders and difficulties with his youngest brother who has sensory issues...food texture should have been forefront in my mind.  At that moment I felt like a complete failure as a parent.  Oh well, I shrugged it off and chalked up another one to live and learn.

These days Mac eats spinach leaves, broccoli, cauliflower, sugar snap peas, and much more...raw.  He grazes happily...maybe he's pretending to be a rabbit...or a cow...or horse.  I don't really care...he's eating veggies.  Perhaps if your child is refusing to eat vegetables, he or she is a "Mac".  Try the raw approach and just say "neigh" or "moo".