strange vegetable sticks

My journey toward a plant-based diet began unwittingly, in the first grade. We were ushered into the cafeteria, a hesitant bunch of six year olds, and invited to try some “strange vegetable sticks”. The uniformed women carefully placed carrots, celery, and perhaps cucumbers (whoa) down in front of us. Colorful, yes. Strange, well…

I tried them. And liked them! Hooray for fresh veggies!

I’d had vegetables before, of course. My mom served them at home as part of the ‘four food groups’, most often in canned form and drenched in butter. The butter part was good! The veggies, well, kinda soft. So the concept of eating the same vegetable prepared differently was new and fun. Fun in a six-year-old kind of way.

Years later as a kindergarten teacher, I coaxed my own classes of five- and six-year-olds to try some ‘vegetable sticks,’ coincidentally in the very same cafeteria. I reminded them that sometimes it takes “10 times for your tongue to decide it likes something!”—something research backs up. We counted “1-2-3”—-and down the hatch. Most kids took another bite. And another.

Change can be something that’s pretty easy to postpone, but if you’re willing to try something new, you may find yourself on a fantastic, new path to health!

*Try your veggies with a plant-based ranch dip - so yummy, you’ll want to put it on all kinds of strange vegetable sticks! ranch dressing + dip