This Is How Giada De Laurentiis Gets Jade To Eat More Veggies
Ask any child which vegetable they prefer the most and they'll likely laugh in your face, exclaiming they prefer none. And while all parents wish they could change that fact, it may be harder than you'd think. In fact, according to a HuffPost article citing Russell Keast, a professor in sensory and food science and the director of the Centre for Advanced Sensory Science at Deakin University, it may be more science than simple aversion.
The study found, evolutionarily speaking, humans have always associated bitter things with harm, and as most vegetables are bitter — the site gives the example of Brussels sprouts and olives — there is a natural sour taste left in the mouth. Kids tend to be more sensitive to these bitter flavors, making it far more difficult to get them to eat their veggies simply based on science. Luckily, Giada De Laurentiis has a quick recipe that she claims can make even a picky eater change their tune, even if the science says it's near impossible.
A little bit of cheese and olive oil is all it takes, according to De Laurentiis
Sometimes the simplest, most obvious choice is still the best option. As Liz's Healthy Kitchen suggests, and Giada De Laurentiis backs up, mixing veggies into your child's favorite meal just might do the trick. On a recent feature for the "Rachael Ray Show," De Laurentiis whipped up what she deems to be a nutritious sheet pan meal consisting of shrimp and vegetables.
She mentions that sometimes even adults aren't into making vegetables, but this recipe makes it easy and changes things up a bit. Plus, for Jade, her almost-teenage daughter, she has to get creative, so roasting vegetables with a little olive oil and Parmesan seems to do the trick. And surely the addition of the shrimp doesn't really hurt matters much. So next time you find yourself not feeling the raw veggies, get to chopping and turn on the oven. You can make the most of this recipe by letting the heat do the work for you. And one major bonus? Using a single pan means easy cleanup!