So yes, my kids really eat this and that but sometimes it is not without a battle. Sometimes one of my kids will have a meltdown when he see what’s for dinner.  Most often it’s our middle son; he’s the most melodramatic.  It can be somewhat comical to watch him throw himself down on the ground and cry that he doesn’t want to eat what we’ve made.  It’s not really sad because we know he’s just overacting to try and worm his way out of eating something he thinks he won’t like.  He switches it off as quickly as it begins.  The funniest part about it is watching him eat his dinner with such enthusiasm after all the drama and he’s often the child who actually eats the most of it.  What we have to do is ignore the histrionics in the beginning and be confident in what we’ve made— we are fairly certain he’ll like it if he just gives it a chance. 

It can be challenging: how long should we let the drama go on?  Do we cave in and give him something he’ll actually eat so that he won’t go hungry?  To the former, not long because it gets ridiculous otherwise and to the latter, no.  Plain and simple, no.  Unless something is so spicy that they can’t tolerate it, I refuse to give a banana or a yogurt or some mac and cheese just so they’ll eat something.  I’d never get my kids to try half the things they do if I yielded.  They have to try the dinner.  They don’t have to eat it all.  And I won’t give dessert unless they’ve completed their meal to my satisfaction; i.e. all or most of the veggies.  But most often our meals are trouble free; especially ones they have often or include their favorite ingredients.

Twice this week my middle son was especially over-the-top.  One day he cried and cried that he didn’t like linguini white clam sauce anymore after my husband made an absolutely delicious one— before he actually tasted it.  The next day he threw himself on the floor and rolled out the back door when he found out spinach was in the pork dish we were having for dinner.  With the linguini— once he got to the table and tasted it he ate it all, slurping up the pasta with gusto.  With the pork dish— he loved it, spinach and all!

White Clam Sauce

• 50 little neck clams or 1 pt container of fresh chopped clams and 1 bottle clam juice
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 6 lg garlic cloves, sliced thin
• handful flat leaf parsley, chopped
• fresh ground pepper to taste
• 1/2 tsp corn starch (mixed with 2 Tbsp water until lump-free)
• pat of butter
• If necessary salt and/or crushed hot pepper to taste

Shuck clams over a strainer with bowl underneath to catch juices.  Chop clams until they’re about 1-2 cm pieces.  Place in fridge until later. Put pasta on to cook if using dried.  In large skillet heat 1 Tbsp olive oil and sauté garlic until they’re cooked but not brown.  Add reserved clam juice and reduce at medium-high heat until juice is about half the original amount, intensifying the clam flavor.  Add corn starch slowly until it’s the consistency you like.  Reduce to medium heat, add clams and stir gently until clams are just cooked.  Remove from heat.

Once pasta is done reheat clam mixture with pat of butter, chopped parsley and 1 Tbsp olive oil. Gently stir until hot. Add pasta, toss and serve.  

  All of our kids love this dish, but it wasn’t something they all liked right off the bat.  It had to be served a couple of times before all of them dug in and devoured it like we do!So, giving in to the 6 year-old’s whims of dislike would avoid drama but wouldn’t give the opportunity to try new foods that he actually will eat with real enjoyment.