E – Eating Rules
E – Eating Rules
Dinner Table, 8:00 PM.
Dad returned home tired after the office and reached the dinner table after freshening up. Dad saw his rebellious boy sitting on the table with a dull face. In front of him was a plate of untouched broccoli. A slice of Butterscotch cake served on another plate at a distance looking like a golden trophy. Dad understood the entire dinner table scene.
Dad: Beta, you can do anything you want, but dessert is a perfect NO until you finish your veggies!
Son: But, Papa, my veggies are already finished.
Dad: Oh! Wow… then what are these? (pointing towards the veggie plate) Child: (With a naughty smile) In my dreams!
Son: Dad I tried! (making a sad face) But the broccoli turned into tiny green zombies. It kept chasing me around my dream kitchen and yelling “Eat me!” It was so painful and scary Papa.
Dad: Scary? Dear, you are the one who once licked the floor for fallen jellybeans.
Son: Oh! That jellybean earned my heart and I love it. Broccoli did nothing for me to deserve that respect equivalent to dessert.
Mom (from the kitchen): My Sweetheart if in the next 5 minutes, the broccoli doesn’t disappear from that plate trust me baby the cake does. Magically it will get into my mouth.
The child checked the cake. It looked like it was the last unicorn on Earth.
Son (to broccoli, whispering): Look we don’t like each other, but we must work together. You need to help me Ok? I will chew fast, and please you disappear fast and reach my tummy, and we both get to live another day.
The boy grabbed a fork, and acted to stab a broccoli floret as if it were an enemy, and took a bite.
Son: Papa it tastes so tacky. It seems mixed with sadness.
Dad: That’s the actual flavor of vitamins, my boy.
Son (Answering Dramatically): I’m pretty sure Dad that sadness was never in any food pyramid! Then why for me?
Two florets later…
Son: There. Gone. Done. Happy now?
Dad: Let me inspect carefully, and like Sherlock Holmes, investigate a vegetable crime scene. Hmm. I can see some veggie bits under the table in your hands.
It looks like a small green floret isn’t it?
Dad: Nice try. One more bite.
Son (Feeling defeated): Fine. Now I have it. Can I please get my cake, Papa?
Dad: You can have the cake. But promise me you will not be rude towards the veggies anymore.
Son (gritting teeth): Fine. Veggies are… edible allies.
Dad: Good enough. He hands over the cake.
Son (mouth full of victory): Long live the dessert and I Love you so much!
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I loved the beautiful presentation of such of this issue and such an amazing way of making kids understand the importance of both.
Thank you for this beautiful blog.
This was an interesting dialogue between father and son. I enjoyed reading it. Looking forward to more!
I absolutely loved reading this! If you’re someone who struggles with mealtime drama (especially the veggie wars), you’ll totally relate. I laughed at every broccoli battle and secretly cheered for the cake. The dialogues are hilarious, and I could see myself or you saying the same things. It’s warm, witty, and reminds us how every dinner table has its own mini adventures.
What an interesting post. It made me smile. Desserts are like ‘carrots and stick’ approach for kids, eventually compelling them to eat vegetables.
Haha, I laughed while reading it. Samata, you have written about the eating chronicle in such a humorous way. Loved reading it.