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A new favorite for Cordy

Cordy, like many preschoolers, is a picky eater. Most days, it's hard to get her to eat anything other than a waffle, PB&J sandwich, Goldfish crackers, bananas, and mac 'n cheese. That is her standard daily diet, with occasional substitutions. I'm always trying to convince her that new foods are fun, but she remains unconvinced. Vegetables are the worst - aside from the occasional carrot she refuses to eat anything green or orange.

Making it worse is that she also demands a proper presentation of her food. Her sandwiches must be cut into triangles (two diagonal cuts). Bananas can only be peeled down so far before I have to hold it for her. And mac 'n cheese can only be eaten with her green Gerber spoon in a small bowl - no other utensil or a larger bowl will do.

But after experimenting with different vegetables in different presentations, I've finally found one that works. I bought some of the Green Giant Just for One broccoli and cheese trays for myself a few weeks ago. Since I'm the only vegetable eater in the house (aside from Mira, who takes hers pureed), the single serve bowls were perfect for me. However, the first time I prepared one, Cordy was peering into my little black tray filled with broccoli and cheese before my first forkful, asking, "Mommy, what's that? That looks yummy!"

"Cordy, this is broccoli. You don't like broccoli, remember." OK, I should have encouraged her to try it, but I was feeling a little selfish and didn't want to share my lunch.

"Can I have a little bite?" I was stunned. Was she really asking to eat broccoli? I gave her a bite, thinking she'd make a sour face and run away, but instead she said "yum!" and asked for another bite. I took a bite, and had to agree with her: the cheese added a lot of flavor without overpowering the flavor of the broccoli, and the broccoli was wonderfully crisp without being hard to chew.

The Green Giant Just For One vegetables are the perfect size serving for a hungry preschooler, and the small trays look like children's bowls, making my picky preschooler feel like they were made just for her. It is the right presentation to convince Cordy to eat them, and the small pieces are easy for a young child to pick up. Plus, with only 60 calories, it's a great snack or side dish for adults, too.